Demostrator Panel To Be Displayed Next Month At EBACE2009

Elliott Aviation announced this week the Moline, IL-based business aviation services company has become the first authorized facility to install Garmin's G1000 Integrated Avionics Suite glass cockpit in a Beechcraft King Air B200/200 aircraft, completing the installation in a 1995 King Air B200.

The plane's old panel is shown above; the upgraded G1000 deck, below (as if we had to point out which was which -- Ed.) Following a successful test flight on April 6, the aircraft is at the Elliott Aviation Completion Center at Quad Cities International Airport (MLI), where it will receive a new interior and fresh paint.

Garmin earned FAA Supplemental Type Certification of the G1000 cockpit in the King Air B200/200 in March of this year, and is pursuing certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Elliott Aviation will feature a G1000 demonstrator panel from a King Air B200 at Booth 1098 at EBACE2009, May 12-14, 2009.

The G1000 features dual 10-inch, high definition LCD Primary Flight Displays, a 15-inch Multi-Function Display, a fully integrated Flight Guidance System, IFR approved WAAS GPS, weather radar, and VHF navigation and communication receivers. Electronic charts, XM weather, Engine instruments and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) are integrated into the G1000 displays.

The Garmin G1000 retrofit also includes Garmin's Synthetic Vision (SVT) option, which presents a 3D depiction of terrain, obstacles and traffic on the panels' primary flight display (PFD), allowing for greatly enhanced situational awareness for the pilot, especially at times of reduced visibility or at night.

"We chose Elliott Aviation for this installation based on their experience installing the G1000 in King Airs and their reputation for avionics expertise," said Gordon Markle, chief pilot for Grand Air, LLC who owns the retrofitted King Air B200. "Installing the G1000 cockpit will not only make flying safer, but also will extend the life of this airframe and help us get the most out of our investment."

In 2008, Elliott Aviation became one of the first authorized dealers to install the G1000 in a Beechcraft King Air C90B, and has completed more G1000 installations in King Airs than any other dealer.

Elliott Aviation is also an authorized dealer and installer of BLR Winglets and Blackhawk engines, which significantly enhance the rate of climb, cruising speed and fuel efficiency of the King Air B200/200.

FMI: www.elliottaviation.com, www.garmin.com