ANN Experiences The Complete 3-Screen Evolution Flight Display System in Action

At the 2009 AOPA Summit, over 7,500 aviation enthusiasts and industry leaders convened at the Tampa Convention Center, where vendors displayed the latest in general aviation technology.  Attendees also toured a wide-array of aircraft models at the nearby Peter O’Knight Airport. ANN’s Jim Campbell had the opportunity to fly a retrofitted Cirrus SR-22, equipped with the complete 3-screen Aspen Avionics’ total glass cockpit solution, the Evolution Flight Display System.

With Aspen’s patented retrofit technology, pilots can bring a total glass cockpit that is both easily upgradeable and substantially cheaper to install in any general aviation aircraft. The system features Evolution’s EFD1000 Pro PFD, the EFD1000 MFD, and the EFD500 MFD. The EFD1000 Pro PFD provides professional-grade EFIS primary flight instruments, including a full-featured electronic HSI and moving map capabilities.

The EFD1000 MFD not only doubles the display area, it provides full PFD instrument backup; by using the same hardware and software configurations in both units, the total Evolution system provides dual independent AHRS, Air Data Computers, compass systems, HSIs, and more to provide full redundancy of critical systems and sensors.

The Evolution Flight Display’s consistent software platform also allows the system to be highly flexible to a pilot’s changing needs and budgetary allowances. The EFDs are fully upgradeable via software updates so additional components, such as the newly announced Version 2.0, can be added without removing the display from the aircraft’s panel. Introduced during the 2009 AOPA Summit, the Version 2.0 Evolution software upgrade is available for immediate installation at any authorized Aspen dealer. 

With the Version 2.0 upgrade, Aspen PFD owners are now able to add Evolution Hazard Awareness (EHA), integrating datalink weather, lightning detection, and traffic into the navigation display.  In addition, new enhancements include improved EFD1000 functionality and interfaces, altitude trend vector display, and supporting interface with the EWR50 Evolution Weather Receiver.

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