Oh G-D, I have to have one of these!!

Aspen Avionics maker of the award-winning Evolution Flight Display System, have announced their first offering for the rotary wing market: the EFD1000H Pro Helicopter PFD. The first STCs for the EFD1000H Pro Helicopter PFD will cover the Bell 206 Jet Ranger and Long Ranger, and the AS350 (Squirrel) , with planned availability in November 2009, at a list price of $14,995.  Aspen is working on additional STCs to cover the most popular piston and turbine light helicopters, and will announce planned availability dates in the near future.

Based on the same proven state-of-the-art technologies as its fixed-wing products, the EFD1000H Pro PFD Helicopter delivers a large attitude indicator with airspeed and altitude tapes, an altitude alerter and altitude trend vector.  It also includes a full electronic HSI with dual bearing pointers and symbolic moving map with flight plan waypoints and leg overlays.  When connected to a GPS navigator, the Pro Helicopter PFD also presents a full-time visual indicator of winds aloft direction and speed.

The EFD1000H uses Aspen’s proven, highly-integrated Air Data, Attitude and Heading Reference System (ADAHRS), contained in a small three-inch diameter can on the back of the display, reducing weight, and installation time and expense.  Aspen’s latest ADAHRS software is enhanced to support the unique flight dynamics of rotary wing aircraft.  This helicopter version also comes with a vibration-isolating flush mount kit, which, combined with the inherent resilience of electronic gyros, promises years of trouble-free performance in the harsh, high-vibration helicopter operating environment.

Aspen’s high-resolution, ultra-bright, glare-resistant LCD display is clearly visible even in direct sunlight, and this latest version of the EFD1000 supports extended dimming down to extremely low light levels. Aspen is also working on a version of the EFD1000H that will support operations requiring use of night vision goggles (NVGs).  New versions of the Evolution Remote Sensor Module (RSM) offer greater flexibility in mounting locations to simplify helicopter installation.

I have got to have one of these !!!!! (John P and Steve H, do you think they’ll do a deal for three?)