The list of innovative avionics introduced at Oshkosh this year grew significantly Tuesday during a press conference as the Avidyne Corporation announced several new products, software upgrades, and partnerships.

Based in Lincoln, Massachusetts, Avidyne manufactures popular multifunction displays (MFDs) and Primary Flight Displays (PFDs) for both certificated and experimental general aviation aircraft. Several of the new products introduced are designed to expand the envelope of content these units can deliver, or the aircraft in which they can be installed.

Tuesday, the company kicked off its announcements by introducing the MLB700 Broadcast Datalink Receiver. The MLB700 enables the company’s EX500 and EX5000 MFDs to present WSI InFlight weather and SIRIUS Satellite Radio programming. The unit is available in data only ($4,745) as well as data and audio versions ($5,495).

Data the unit can display includes WSI’s NOWrad radar mosaic, which depicts cell height, movement and forecast movement,
as well as datalink lightning information from
the U.S. Precision Lightning Network (USPLN).
The system can also present winds and temperatures aloft, TAF’s, AIRMETS, and SIGMETS.

"The MLB700 gives Avidyne MFD owners fantastic safety enhancements, comfort, and value," said Jamie Luster, Avidyne director of aftermarket sales.

Avidyne and WSI also announced Avidyne will develop and manufacture WSI’s new AV-300 and AV-350 satellite weather data and audio receivers, which will also deliver WSI weather data and SIRIUS Satellite Radio audio programming and will be compatible with a variety of MFDs.

"We selected Avidyne for its innovation and experience in working with a wide range of airframes," said Jim Menard, general manager of WSI’s Aviation Business Group.

Avidyne also introduced the first color, real-time, lightning-based tactical weather avoidance sensor for general aviation aircraft, the TWX670. According to the company, the unit can detect lightning more accurately than previous generation systems, especially in the critical 0-25 nautical mile range. The TWX670 presents data on storm cell intensity in an intuitive color-coded display.

"The TWX670 provides a real-time tactical tool for weather decision-making while significantly enhancing safety and situational awareness in locations or situations when datalink weather is unavailable," said Paul Hathaway, Avidyne’s director of product marketing.

The company also announced a partnership with S-TEC Corporation to jointly develop an STC for retrofitting Avidyne’s Alliant Integrated Flight Deck into Cessna Conquest II (C-441) twin-engine turboprop aircraft. STC retrofits of the Alliant system have already been developed and approved for the Beechcraft King Air 90- and 200-series aircraft.

The retrofit includes dual-redundant EXP5000 primary flight dislays (PFDs), EX500 MFD, S-TEC IntelliFlight 2100 digital autopilot, and standby "steam" gauges from Mid-Continent. The Alliant package interfaces with most popular traffic, terrain, lightning, radar and radar altimeter systems. In addition to the increased dependability of the Alliant retrofit, replacing the old, heavier avionics systems with lighter digital avionics increases the aircraft’s useful load. The company did not release pricing information on the Alliant retrofit for the C-441.

Avidyne also announced the Release 7.0 software upgrade for its Entegra EXP5000 PFDs and EX5000 MFDs, enabling the displays to support WAAS-enhanced instrument approaches. For customers whose units are under warranty or the FLEX Service Program, the software upgrade is $2,395 for systems with a single PFD and MFD, and $3,895 for systems with dual PFDs and a single MFD.

Finally, the company announced a partnership with Aerosim Technologies to create interactive training software for Avidyne’s Entegra and Envision avionics suites.

"The Aerosim package is an excellent training system for all Entegra and Envision pilots," said Hathaway. It is based on the actual software from the real-world Entegra system. It’s an important part of the growing training infrastructure we’re helping to build to support the most intuitive, user-friendly integrated flight deck in general aviation."

Attendees can learn more about these new products and developments at the Avidyne booth in South Exhibit Hangar B, 2098-2101.