Initial Pilot Report!
OK, after taking a nap (duty-day requirement), I did go out to install the latest software, and my first impression is very positive! I had a brief talk with Todd, and he said that this version is really pretty simple, from a software change point of view - mostly just the new engine displays. There aren't hardly any "serious" changes (as in AHRS, NAV processing, etc...)
The first thing that I noticed was that I actually USED the analog engine dials! the old display just never attracted my eye, and I alwasy adjusted power with the digitals. But something about a white pointer on a black dial really makes them easy to use. Coupled with colored limit arcs and multiple bugs that you can set, it is really easy to set power.
Instead of the old single systems display, there are now something like six variations, each of which can be customized. In addtion, they have worked up some new computed parameters, such as Miles per Gallon, Specific Fuel Consumption, Average GS, Average TAS....a long list of things that I have often sat there trying to compute in my head.
There are now several ways to dsiplay CHT and EGT - bar graphs and plots for both, and leaning modes that show variations from peak. you can also let it pick the hot EGT or hot CHT for you and put them in different parts of the various displays.
I have never thought much of the split screen modes that have been previosuly available, but the new split screen of moving map and systems really got my attention. There are now some really useful performance parameters that can be displayed along with the slightly compressed moving(which loses little in the Arc mode) - all the kind of things like mpg, range, etc that you want when evaluating a flight situation.
GRT is very serious about software reliability, and they do not recomend flying IFR with new releases - they prefer that people get some shelf-life on them first. I generally carry the latest and previous versions on a thumb drive in the airplane, in case I needed to revert for some reason. I can tell you though, that I would be very sorry to have to lose the new features that I have seen today.
Of course nothing is perfect - they changed the flight timer so that it starts with airspeed, rather than timing from engine start to engine stop (which is what I generally find more useful) - but a quick talk with Todd and he says that he'll make sure it is selectable in the next version. And, of course, there is no good documentaiton out for the new version yet (that I could find)....but hey, take a few hours, and it is all pretty self-evident!
A definite step forward. I now have a whole new "panel layout" for the system's functions in the Valkyrie....total upgrade time - about five minutes. Cost? Nothin'! Now that is hard to beat...
Paul
