Company Goes With The Garmin G1000 All-Glass Flightdeck
In keeping itself
competitive with the other GA manufacturers, Mooney Airplane
Company has decided to jump into the glass cockpit world. On
Tuesday, the manufacturer announced that it will offer the Garmin
G1000 all-glass integrated avionics system on the new Ovation2 GX
and Bravo GX models beginning in the third quarter of 2004. Steam
gauges drivers, have no fear: Mooney will continue to feature the
current technology panel as standard on the current Ovation2 DX and
Bravo DX models. The "G" in GX stands for "glass panel" and used as
a tool to differentiate the variants.
Both GX aircraft will boast a 10.4-inch primary flight display
(PFD) and 10.4-inch multi-function display (MFD). Installations of
the G1000 on Mooney Ovation2 GX and Bravo GX aircraft will include
the following system components and features:
- Digital audio control panel with integrated marker beacon and
clearance playback capability
- Dual integrated radio modules that provide IFR oceanic-approved
GPS; VHF navigation with ILS; and VHF communication with 16-watt
transceivers and 8.33-kHz channel spacing
- Mode-S transponder with Traffic Information Service (TIS)
- Advanced solid-state Attitude and Heading Reference System
(AHRS) with rapid alignment whether on the ground or in the
air
- Digital air data computer
- Worldwide terrain database depicting topographic information
and relative terrain
- XM Satellite Radio receiver, featuring full-color, graphical
weather information via digital data link and 101 channels of
CD-quality audio (availability: 4Q04 in U.S. models only)
The certification program on the Mooney Ovation2 GX and Bravo GX
is currently underway and Mooney expects to begin delivery of
G1000-equipped aircraft in the third quarter of 2004. THe first GX
aircraft to roll off the line will be Ovation serial #333. The
company is forecasting between 80-100 aircraft deliveries this year
with 80 percent Ovation GX and 20 percent Bravo GX.
Commenting on the announcement, President Nelson Happy said,
"Our basic strategy regarding any kind of modification or equipment
change to the Mooney aircraft product line is to listen to our
owners and to the marketplace in general before we implement
anything. We do not make changes to our product unless we know that
the change is right, that it represents a substantive improvement
in the airplane and that it provides added value to our
customers.
"Mooney pilots have been flying with Garmin GNS 430/530 avionics
for several years now and we're delighted to build upon that
heritage to provide a uniquely integrated cockpit system on new
Mooney aircraft," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's director of marketing.
"The G1000 will give Ovation2 GX and Bravo GX pilots the big
picture on flight management, weather, terrain and traffic on two
large color LCDs."
"The GX flightdeck system, with its dual large-screen displays
and digital presentation of data, will meet all the requirements of
today's Mooney aircraft owners for whom the very latest in
technology is a must," said Nicolas Chabbert, Mooney's executive
vice president of marketing and sales. "The G1000 is the most
advanced flightdeck package available on a single- engine piston
aircraft and it will ease pilot workload and provide a new level of
situational awareness during all phases of flight."
Mooney customers choosing the G100 option will pay an average
$20,000 over the standard price of the aircraft and also sacrifice
36 lbs of useful load. However, the trade-off should be well worth
it. The Mid-Continent 4300 Electric AI (with battery backup) will
be installed to serve as a redundant attitude system. Mooney
stresses safety was a major concern with the transition to glass,
so their training curriculum will reflect this new
technology.
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