No Question, LSAs Are Going To Glass

There's a new EFIS offering in town. South Africa's MGL Avionics has announced its new line of full-color electronic flight instrument systems.

The full-color Stratomaster Enigma -- currently in pre-production status, but slated for production in the 3rd quarter of this year --  includes EFIS, Engine monitoring and a full-featured moving map navigation system -- all in one panel display.

Of course, it's no "enigma" why glass cockpit technology is taking off in the general aviation market. The combination of a clear presentation of all vital information on a full-color screen -- along with the inevitable "Wow!" factor -- has sold many-an airplane, ranging from Cirruses to Pipers.

Despite catering towards the lower-end of the market, MGL says the Enigma offers several high-lux features -- including a sunlight-viewable, high brightness compensated passive display that offers color performance similar to that of a TFT (thin film transistor) display, but with higher brightness at same backlight levels.

The experimental and light sport categories are seeing an increasingly wide range of available choices in glass-panel technology. In addition to the Stratomaster, avionics maker Dynon also offers an electronic flight instrument system tailored to such buyers. The company's D100 EFIS is also offered as an option on several LSA planes, including the Legend Cub and the Flight Design CT.

MGL has yet to release pricing for its Enigma... but the company promises it will be "very competitive" with other choices on the market.

FMI: www.sportflyingshop.com/Instr/Stratomaster/Enigma/enigma.html, www.mglavionics.co.za/