No doubt about it, iPad mania has made its mark in general aviation. The Debonair Sweepstakes is certainly no exception. Santa Fe Aero Services, our avionics installer, has made a special panel insert for an iPad Mini–a piece of equipment that will serve many valuable functions.
First off, the Mini will be continuously powered while it’s docked in the panel, so there’s no worries about its batteries going dead at some critical time at the end of a flight. We’ve all heard the horror stories about iPad batteries giving up the ghost just as the final approach fix is crossed, or when issued holding instructions prior to an approach. Well, that ain’t gonna happen in the Debonair. And even if it did, there will be two USB charging ports in the Deb’s panel to power the Mini–or an iPod or any other such device for that matter.
The Mini can also display electronic charts–a big enough benefit on its own merits. And with geo-referencing, you’ll be able to “see” the airplane’s progress on an electronic chart as it flies a route or procedure.
Another benefit ties into Aspen’s Connected Panel technology. This forward-looking feature will allow aviation apps on the Mini to talk to the three-screen Aspen Evolution 2500 panel and other avionics. Here, the promise is great. Engine diagnostics may one day be logged into specially-designed apps. Routes filed at home on the Mini will some day soon be sent to the Aspen system wirelessly, sparing the lucky winner the frantic hassle of manually dialing in fixes immediately before taking off. These and other wireless data feeds are just over the horizon–but they’ll be playable in the Debonair.
Wireless technology like Aspen’s Connect Panel is the future of GA cockpit design, and Aspen is to be congratulated on making this move. We’re proud that the sweepstakes Debonair will be one of the first major Connected Panel demonstrators.
The Mini is also a backup source of ADS-B traffic and FIS-B weather information. True, the Debonair will have Garmin’s GDL 88 dual-channel datalink transceiver, and the targets and text it receives will show up on the Garmin GTN 750′s big-screen display. The Mini can serve as a backup to the GDL 88′s data, but because the 88 can’t output to a portable device we added Garmin’s GDL 39 datalink antenna to the mix, which is designed to feed ADS-B data directly to Garmin’s Garmin Pilot app. And yes, that app is currently the prime mover on the Deb’s Mini.
The Garmin Pilot app has a lot more than electronic charts. There’s Garmin’s SafeTaxi, which can show your position on more than 900 airports, text and graphic weather, high- and low-altitude enroute charts for flights on instrument flight plans, sectional charts for the entire United States and Canada, and flight planning functions.
There’s a lot more to say about this very special Debonair’s panel, and we’ll touch on all of them in upcoming blogs. Stay tuned!
The mini sounds really great. I’ve been using an IFly 700 which is pretty good and shortly will be able to have XM WX. However, the mini sounds alot better with alot more to offer.
Can’t wait to fly it and let you know!
How can I enter the “Sweepstakes” ? I have seen nothing anywhere regarding how one can enter.
Thank you for a reply,
Bob Nix
bjnix79@bellsouth.net
Bob– the entry rules are posted on the website. Basically you have to be a current member to be in the running. Extra chances can be earned if you are in automatic annual renewal….
Sorry to be the party-pooper, but why is the occasion of an iPad’s batteries going dead half way through an IFR approach or hold procedure the cause for “horror stories”? These devices are not legal for use as the primary IFR instruments. They are for additional situational awareness only. If you can’t confidently and proficiently fly IFR without them then you shouldn’t be flying IFR.
Under Part 91 you can use the charts on the iPad. I still like paper, though.
Just a “cosmetics” question about the plane: Are you going to ditch the small rear window and make it look look a later model? This really dates the aircraft.
Sorry Steve, the “opera” window stays. We’re going for an authentic look for the model year.
Re:the small rear window. I say keep it. It’s iconic and just plain pretty
I feel the same way Richard
Sorry Tom but you need to read your own rules. I just read the the rules on the website as you suggested and NO WHERE does it say that you have to be a “member” to win. ??????????????? Is this thing fixed???????????
No, it’s not “fixed”. Those are the rules.
You still did not answer my question. Where in the rules posted does it say you have to be a member to win?
I have to take exception to your statement “The small third window is the mark of all Debonairs” I own a 1960 Debbie and there is no third window. I believe the first 300 Debonairs made did not have the third window. Let me know if you’d like a photo.