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Cockpit Evolution
It's easy to see (pictures
on the right) that Cirrus anticipated glass
cockpits and designed the Cirrus SR20 and SR22
family of aircraft to accomodate them.
While the
Cirrus Perspective™(by
Garmin) cockpit gets a lot of media attention
Cirrus cockpits have always offered exceptional
capability and value.
The Avidyne (PFD/MFD) Cirrus cockpit has been
available as a Cirrus cockpit for several years
and is still offered on all Cirrus models.
Key elements of all Cirrus cockpits are :
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Primary flight instruments
directly in front of the
pilot
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The center of the airplane
accomodates a large-screen
MFD (multi-function display)
for moving map, engine
details, checklists,
approach plates and other
auxiliary information
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The pilot's right hand falls
naturally to operate the
inevitable knobs, buttons
and switches
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Full-size backup instruments
right below the primary
instruments (where
applicable)
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The centerpiece of all Cirrus
avionics suites has always been
Garmin GPS equipment. Cirrus was
the first manufacturer to adopt
the now ubiquitous GNS 430.
Cirrus Perspective also has
Garmin GPS at its heart. Garmin
audio panel and transponder have
always completed the CNS
(Communication, Navigation and
Surveillance) suite.
Avidyne and Cirrus pioneered the
use of PFDs together. Over 3,500
Cirrus airplanes are now
operating with Avidyne PFDs and
even more with MFDs. Together we
changed the industry – PFDs are
now the standard on virtually
all new airplanes.
The Avidyne (PFD/MFD) cockpit
combines what has become a
modern classic (GNS 430) with
all its broad familiarity,
training, and support
infrastructure with an
un-intimidating glass cockpit.
An excellent system for both
novice pilots and experienced
hands.
Upcoming availability (announced
mid-2008 by Avidyne) of
worldwide weather displays
continues to make the Avidyne
MFD an attractive option. |
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Cirrus SR22 Perspective Panel
(June 2008) |
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Cirrus Avidyne-based Cockpit
(2004 et seq.) |
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Early Cirrus Cockpit (circa
2000) |
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Garmin's
G1000 glass
cockpit (as
used in
Cessna,
Diamond and
some other
general
aviation
aircraft)
The
G1000 is
Garmin's
"off the
shelf" glass
cockpit.
Knobs and
buttons on
the screen
bezels are
used for
control.
The common
criticism of
the G1000 in
media
reviews is
all those
buttons and
knobs. The
sheer number
and
duplication
of switches
and buttons
is not only
unnecessary,
but
potentially
confusing.
Cirrus,
though,
notes that
G1000
applications
depend on a
single AHRS
(Attitude/Heading
Reference
System – the
electronic
gyro) as
attitude
source for
PFD, MFD
(also acting
as a backup
PFD), and
autopilot.
This means
that
everything
in the G1000
is dependent
on one
component
(that AHRS).
Further, the
autopilot is
set up to
disconnect
if virtually
anything in
the whole
G1000 system
fails.
This demands
an immediate
transition
to
hand-flying
using
(sometimes
very small)
backup
instruments.
This is
further
discussed in
The Cirrus
Approach.
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