Avidyne Corporation and Aspen Avionics announced a new autopilot interface that includes the popular Evolution Primary Flight Display and the DFC90 flight control system. The all-digital DFC90 interface was previously certified and limited to Cirrus and Piper PA-46 aircraft that are equipped with Avidyne’s Entegra suite. But the DFC90 and Evolution PFD interface opens the interface potential to a wide variety of aircraft and aftermarket retrofits thanks to Aspen’s sizeable Approved Model List (AML). The DFC90 includes full-time flight envelope protection and alerting as well as a straight and level mode. Since the DFC90 is an attitude-based autopilot the Aspen PFD is a logical interface given its proven AHARS system that seamlessly drives pitch and roll reference to the autopilot. Further, the DFC90 logically displays its mode annunciation on the Aspen PFD display using symbology and mode status color coding that was borrowed from the transport category aircraft world.
Aspen and Avidyne plan to aggressively pursue additional STC approvals to include the Cessna 182, Beechcraft Bonanza and other common aircraft models. The DFC90 is reasonably easy upgrade for existing S-TEC 55X interfaces since it drives the existing autopilot servos and shares much of the same wiring. The DFC90 can also offer a seamless upgrade for other autopilots in the S-TEC line. Aspen’s software that enables the DFC90 interface is expected in the coming months and pricing for the DFC90 starts at $9,995 not including installation. Aspen’s software unlock to make the interface work is $1,995. For more information visit Avidyne.com and AspenAvionics.com.
