The Dynon radio is shipping.
(For real this time!)
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The new SV-COM-C25 is everything we promised it to be - a revolutionary user interface combined with an excellent transceiver - just slower out the gate than we had hoped. This is the background story.
Two years ago we released the DX15, a hand-held radio that we designed but was manufactured in China. The radio was fine, but we weren't satisfied with the production. So for the SkyView panel radio we decided to manufacture it in-house, here at our headquarters near Seattle.
(See the note below.)
The results were superior, but in trying to produce and ship the first units we found our yield was low. We just couldn't produce them fast enough with perfect quality. Customers might not have noticed since we were being picky about some technical specifications, but we insisted on getting it right. It took us three months, and we refined the production process so that the results are now consistent and highest quality. In fact, the technical specifications are excellent for our new radio. We ran the same tests on five other radios on the market, and found the SV-COM-C25 is at or near the top in almost every category.
You will like the results. Once you experience the automatic frequency selection you will understand what we mean by "revolutionary."
The mission, and promise, at Dynon has been to offer a complete, higher quality panel at affordable prices. With the new SkyView radio the reality of that promise is here. If you are at the AOPA Summit, stop by our booth, experience SkyView, and then go compare it against the $50,000 certified avionics in other booths. You will be glad that you are flying an experimental or LSA aircraft.
-Robert
President, Dynon Avionics
Dynon Hiring
I mentioned above "manufactured in-house." All of our experimental and LSA avionics are manufactured here in our Woodinville, Washington facilities. However we (and other electronic manufacturers) cannot label our products "Made in America" as long as any components, no matter how small or few, come from elsewhere. And more important than where a product is made is the quality control over the process. We are actually expanding our production facilities to add capacity and bring even more components and quality control in-house.
This means we are hiring to support our expansion. New openings include Manufacturing Engineer and Sustaining Engineer. Check the help wanted section on our website for details.
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SkyView Version 7.0 Released - Charts, Airport Diagrams and Enhanced Moving Map Features
We are excited to release our latest addition to SkyView's Navigation tool box: Geo-Referenced Approach/Departure Charts and Airport Diagrams. Dynon continuously improves SkyView, and especially its mapping capabilities. We take customer feedback very seriously to make SkyView the BEST glass cockpit system, often incorporating specific suggestions by individual customers. Now we are able to offer experimental and LSA pilots a "paperless" cockpit!
These charts allow pilots to quickly find and display the procedures they need during flight, all while showing the aircraft's position and track on the chart itself. With the touch of a button, SkyView automatically loads the airport diagram while on the ground. Through a unique Dynon-subsidized program with Seattle Avionics, Dynon is able to offer these at an unprecedented price of $99 per year for the US. There are no hidden costs and no separate VFR and IFR packages.
In the U.S., this release includes procedure charts: IFR departures, arrivals, approaches, Hot Spots, Land and Hold Short Operations, and supplemental text. Airport diagrams include both the official FAA diagrams as well as Flight Guide's set of nearly 5,000 extremely detailed airport diagrams for virtually every public-use airport in the US. They include locations and names for FBOs, fuel stations, and more, as well as runways and taxiways. Most charts and diagrams are geo-referenced, which allows SkyView to display the aircraft's location superimposed on each chart. Detailed coverage information is available from Seattle Avionics - our data partner for this feature.
Coverage outside of the U.S. will not be initially available. However, Dynon continues to work on sourcing an affordable and comprehensive charting data solution for its international customers.
SkyView's Moving Map also receives major enhancements in version 7.0. In addition to its current ability to pan the map for situational awareness, SkyView now provides instant information about airports, obstacles, navaids, waypoints, and airspaces, simply by pointing at them. When selected, items are highlighted on-screen and are accompanied by a useful data block that shows relevant information about the feature - all without any additional button pushing. This is particularly useful to highlight individual airspace segments in busy parts of the country that have multiple airspaces overlaid on top of each other.
Other features included in this release are built in count-up / count-down timers, as well as a fuel tank switch reminder that can be configured to alert on either elapsed time or fuel consumption. Air Route Traffic Control Center and Flight Service Station frequencies are now available from within SkyView (US FAA data only).
For a full list of all the additions please see the SkyView User Manual available here.
SkyView 7.0 is a FREE upgrade for all existing SkyView customers and can be downloaded from the Dynon Website here.
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New SkyView Hands-On Training Classes
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We at Dynon recognize that transition training is important before piloting a new airplane, or airplane type. Our SkyView training classes are an ongoing series of hands-on 3.5 hour courses, instructed by Kirk Kleinholz, CFII and Sales Manager for Dynon Avionics. For more information about classes see the Transition Training page on our website.
Factory Transition Training Classes
The classes are free, but class size is restricted to the first 15 people who sign up on the Dynon website. Pilots will be guided through navigation exercises using the integrated VFR GPS moving map and flight planner. They will also configure as well as operate the autopilot for both VFR and IFR missions and locate and interpret the various types of data presented on the SkyView (winds aloft, TAS, density altitude, fuel computer, etc.).
For those pilots planning to switch from analog to digital/electronic instrumentation there will be opportunities to explore the benefits and compromises of glass panel systems, cockpit resource management and procedures for safe transition.
Location:
- Dynon Headquarters in Woodinville, Washington.
Dates/Times:
- Friday, 25 October 2013
- morning class 8:30a-12:00p, focus on VFR procedures (REGISTER HERE) *
- afternoon class 1:00p-4:30p, focus on VFR procedures (REGISTER HERE) *
- Friday, 15 November 2013
- morning class 8:30a-12:00p, focus on VFR procedures (REGISTER HERE)
- afternoon class 1:00p-4:30p, focus on VFR procedures (REGISTER HERE)
* Special Note:
Both morning and afternoon sessions of our class on 25 October will be video-recorded and both sessions will focus on VFR procedures. Our intent is to record the class and make the video available for all customers to access from our website.
All those lucky individuals attending the October classes will be asked to sign away their rights to make money on publication of the video. In recognition of your sacrifice, however, all attendees will receive free lunch and a complimentary Dynon hat!
To sweeten the pot, we'll also be offering a door prize to one of the attendees of the October 25th classes -- both morning and afternoon classes combined. We're not saying what it is, but be assured it will be a desirable Dynon product!
As a reminder, seating is limited to 15 people for each class, and you must reserve your spot in advance through the link on this page.
Think of this as your opportunity to participate in what may become THE live concert DVD of the year.
Cost/Space Available:
- attendance is free for all attendees, and advanced reservations are required.
- class size is limited to 15 students, assuring hands-on practice for all, with no more than 2 students sharing each SkyView display.
- Non-pilot partners are welcome to attend, although if the class is full they may need to sit in the back.
Transportation to Factory:
Attendees are responsible for their own transportation to/from the factory. However, for anyone wishing to fly via GA to one of the area airports, upon request special arrangements may be made to assist with ground transportation.
SkyView training class at Oshkosh 2012
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Tech Support Tips -
Battery Test Changes
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Why does my SkyView say "Battery Test Needed?"
After the release of v6.0, Dynon Tech Support started getting a lot of calls asking about the new Battery test status. I'd like to shed some light on this important new safety feature.
Dynon feels that the backup battery is key part of your SkyView system. However, the backup battery was often not used (tested), until pilots really depend on it working when you REALLY need it. Therefore, SkyView should have an automated test for the backup battery, and some indication on screen when there was a problem.
So, in v6.0, we added an indicator at the top of the screen, we added warning messages, and an automated battery test capability. To make sure that every battery flying was a good battery, we defaulted everyone's SkyView system at v6.0 to "BATTERY TEST NEEDED".
To be clear, the indicator appears when there's a problem with the battery - a Yellow icon for a Caution (such as battery test needed), and a Red icon for a Warning (such as a dead battery).
To perform the battery test:
- The battery must be charged.
- Simply turn off Avionics / Master power
- Note that there is a new button legend above Button 8 - TEST BAT.
- Push that button, and the system will instruct you onscreen.
After the battery test is completed, your backup battery is mostly depleted, and needs several hours of flight to fully recharge, but that's just another good excuse to Go Fly! After a year, the BATTERY TEST NEEDED message will appear again to remind you to repeat the battery test.
SkyView also self-monitors the health of the battery, in between annual full battery tests. SkyView continues to especially monitor whether it is able to power the display for a full 30 seconds after turning off Avionics / Master power. If the backup battery can't do this 3 times in a row, a caution message appears.
Finally, SkyView batteries are warrantied for 3 years. If your battery is fully charged, and fails the battery test, and it's within the warranty period, Dynon will be happy to replace it.
Happy Flying,
Steve and Mike
Dynon Tech Support
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Founded in 2000 and located near Seattle, USA, Dynon Avionics is the leading manufacturer of avionics for Experimental and Light Sport Aircraft. Dynon is committed to developing innovative and high-quality avionics, using the newest technology, at affordable prices for all pilots.
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Dynon
Newsletter
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September 2013
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