Garmin’s new G3X Touch is an all-in-one, touchscreen avionics suite for Experimental and light sport aircraft that includes synthetic vision with highway-in-the-sky guidance, a color moving map with terrain warnings, weather and traffic, a digital autopilot, a graphic engine monitor, communications radio, and transponder with ADS-B Out.
The 10.6-inch display uses infrared technology to activate the sunlight-readable screen, as well as four traditional buttons and two knobs for common commands such as direct-to, radio tuning, and setting headings and altitudes.
“Our dedicated experimental engineering team, better known as ‘Team X’, continues to raise the bar with the introduction of G3X Touch,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales. “Team X listened to the requests of our customers and as builders themselves—designing products for the activity they love—have delivered a large, intuitive touchscreen flight display, which offers a number of enhanced capabilities that give our amateur-built and light sport customers what they asked for, and more.”
Aircraft owners can install up to three G3X Touch displays in their panel. The touchscreen provides a user interface that uses the same logic and commands as other Garmin products. The G3X Touch also has a split-screen function that allows pilots to divide the display between primary flight display, multifunction display, engine monitor, and IFR and VFR charts.
Weather and satellite radio are available via SiriusXM, and subscription-free weather and traffic can be displayed using a GDL39 ADS-B receiver. Pilots have the option of controlling Garmin’s Experimental autopilot through a touchscreen interface or a stand-alone control panel.
A new, 10-watt, remote communication radio with “3D audio” can be operated through the G3X Touch. Angle of attack indications can be viewed on the PFD screen, or Garmin’s new GI 260 which can be placed in the pilot’s primary field of view.
A single-screen G3X Touch with synthetic vision, video input, a built-in WAAS GPS receiver, ADAHRS, magnetometer, outside air temperature probe, interactive mapping, and more, has a retail price of $5,499. With an engine information system, the price is $6,099. The GTR 20 remote com transceiver sells for $995, and the GI 260 AOA indicator is $250.
