Garmin Introduces Electronic Flight Instrument for Experimental Aircraft

We are thrilled to introduce the G5 electronic flight instrument for experimental amateur-built and light sport aircraft. This compact and cost-effective product delivers exceptional performance and reliability serving as either a back-up instrument to G3X or other EFIS systems, or as a standalone primary flight instrument with optional autopilot mode annunciation. It boasts a bright, 3.5-inch sunlight readable liquid crystal display with built-in GPS and displays attitude, ground track, altitude, airspeed, groundspeed, vertical speed, slip/skid, lateral course deviation, vertical deviation as well as incorporating a dedicated HSI page.

The easy to install G5 is suitable for installation in place of a standard 3-1/8-inch (79.4 mm.) flight instrument, and an optional four-hour back-up batter can be included with an installation to provide pilots with added assurance in the event of an aircraft electrical failure. The flight instrument measures 3-inches in depth when paired with the back-up battery and 2.1-inches without the battery; it also incorporates pitot and static inputs that easily integrate with the aircraft’s existing pitot/static system.

The fully integrated G5 serves as a dissimilar flight instrument when paired with G3X and G3X Touch glass flight displays. In the unlikely event of a G3X ADAHRS failure, the G5 doubles as a redundant ADAHRS source, which can supply the appropriate air data, attitude and heading information to G3X displays. Further expanding its redundant capabilities, autopilot mode annunciation can also display on the G5 flight instrument in the event of a G3X display failure. G3X customers can also leverage the existing G3X magnetometer for heading information, alleviating the need to calibrate and install a separate magnetometer. Pilots who have configured airspeed bugs within their G3X system will notice the same airspeed configurations are displayed on the G5. Depending on ambient cockpit lighting, the G5 display automatically dims and brightens independently from G3X to ensure the display can be easily viewed in all lighting environments. A dedicated rotary knob allows for easy adjustments to altitude and heading bugs, as well as barometric altitude settings, which automatically syncs with the G3X or G3X Touch flight displays.

Further expanding the utility of a standard back-up display, the G5 can be paired with the GMC 307 or GMC 305 autopilot mode controllers and GSA 28 autopilot servos to serve as a standalone autopilot solution, delivering a simple and cost-effective avionics suite.

When paired with these systems, G5 displays autopilot mode annunciation alongside primary flight instrumentation. If paired with a Garmin portable such as the aera 660 or aera 796/795, the portable can easily be connected via the serial port on the G5 to allow the autopilot to couple laterally to a flight plan and vertically to a VNAV descent profile. With or without a G3X display, the G5 retains the capability to provide back-up or standalone autopilot functionality, including the ability to fly coupled GPS approaches when paired with a compatible IFR navigator. Additional autopilot modes are selectable from the GMC 307 and GMC 305 including heading, pitch, roll, altitude hold, vertical speed hold and airspeed hold. While the autopilot is engaged, airspeed protection is also provided. Additionally, Level Mode is supported, which engages the autopilot to bring the aircraft to level flight.

The G5 electronic flight instrument is anticipated to be available in April 2016 at a price of $1,199. The optional back-up battery is expected to be available in June for $150.

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