Compact Avionics -- When Space Is Limited

By Tom Woodward

Though this may be the first time you’ve heard of TQ (Technology in Quality) Avionics, they have been around and operating West of Munich, Germany, since 1994. Founded with three employees and a budget of 3-4 million dollars, TQ Avionics has grown to over 1522 employees and a value of $250 million while remaining privately held.

Their services range from concept and design, through to the manufacturing of the finished products. TQ’s customized development and production assemblies are used by a number of industries, including aviation, medical, automation and robotics. TQ Avionics has been providing the aviation industry for 15 years with engine controls, cabin management, cabin controls, air conditioning and wastewater management as well as interior and exterior lightning. If you adjust your temperature or overhead lighting on an Airbus aircraft then you are using a control unit manufactured by TQ Avionics.

So how does that help you when building your homebuilt flyer?

TQ Avionics is about to sign on with several leading Avionics suppliers to sell and service their line of compact radios, transponders, and -- soon to come in the near future -- a glass display to compete with Dynon and Garmin.

In 2016 TQ Avionics bought out Dittel Avionics that produced small transceivers popular within the Sailplane industry.

TQ Avionics improved on the Dittel product and is introducing the KRT2 radio transceiver and mode-S transponder and in 2019 will have available their eCopilot Glass Cockpit system.

The Transceiver, the most popular transceiver in Europe is an 8.33/25 kHz VHF compact transceiver with 2278 channels measuring 2-1/4" and weighing .82 lbs. It is packaged in a standard (round) or mini-landscape or Mini-portrait configuration.

Their KTX2 is the newly developed, super-light compact mode S transponder with low power consumption and a high-grade TFT color display. The Class1 Transponder is operational up to 30,000’ and 250 knots and is available in two configurations, the 2-1/4" round or 6-1/4" stack version. It has a high precision, temperature compensated altitude encoder when connected to the static port and is capable of ADS-B out. TQ expects to have their transponder certified in 2019.

The eCopilot glass display will be in production in 2019. TQ currently has a prototype in their booth at Oshkosh, in building B, spot 2106-2107. The eCopliot will have an extremely intuitive interface that you can use without referencing a 400 plus page manual. It’s target pricing is below other non-certified glass panels like Garmin and Dynon.

FMI: www.tq-general-aviation.com