Bendix-King has vastly upgraded its touch-screen AV8OR with a far larger, more capable version known as the AV8OR ACE.
The new unit has a 7-inch (diagonal) screen that can display geo-referenced approach plates, SIDs, STARs, and IFR low- or high-altitude charts. Like its smaller (4.3-inch) predecessor, the AV8OR ACE can show XM satellite weather through tie-ins with an external antenna or a separate device. The AV8OR ACE also offers an optional roads database for car use.
The AV8OR ACE can serve as an electronic flight bag (EFB) for FAA Part 91 operations. Unlike some other EFBs that use their own representations of approach plates and IFR charts, the AV8OR ACE uses actual copies. Reading the fine print requires zooming in, or scrolling up and down—a process made simple with dedicated keys. Scrolling uses the simple touch-and-drag motion familiar to iPhone users.
The AV8OR ACE weighs about 1.25 pounds.
The AV8OR ACE carries a retail price of $1,995. An IFR chart subscription covering the United States adds $399 a year, and current fuel price information adds $99 a year.
In other Bendix-King news, the company said it has completed certification flights on its KFD 840 PFD and expects final FAA approval in September. The company plans to start delivering the retrofit, six-pack replacements this fall at a retail price of $16,995.
