7" vs 10" EFIS Primary Flight Display

[sglynn]

I'm making the EFIS decision soon. Without discussing which company, please, could I hear your pros and cons of a 7 inch display versus a 10 inch display, particularity for RV-7A?

The 7 inch looks to fit and I think it is large enough to see. But it is hard to imagine. So for those flying, your comments would be appreciated. I think 10 inch will fit. I've tried them at Sun n Fun and will again this July at Oshkosh.

I do fly IFR and maybe that makes a difference for size.

So, 7 inch versus 10 inch EFIS?

thanks

[krw5927]

10 inch display, no question about it. Your eyes, like everyone else's, aren't getting any younger. What looks fine today will be a real squinter in a few (or more, depending on your current age) years.

Now if you're doing side-by-side or over-under 7" displays, and the question becomes 2x7" or 1x10", that's a different debate. But the 1x7" vs 1x10" is easy, so long as you have the panel space to make it work.

[aerhed]

10 for sure. 20 if you got room.

[dlloyd3]

I've got two 7" displays. If I had it to do over, they would be 10". I have been tempted to replace one of the 7's with a 10.

[Raymo]

Two 10s going in mine but the right screen will likely be non-touch (will use the $500 saved for the AP knob panel).

[rvbuilder2002]

I have flown both sizes as single screen, and I have a newly installed AFS 5600 (10 ") screen in my personal RV-6A.

My opinion is that it mainly depends on what you are going to be displaying on the one screen (assuming one since you said a 7" vs 10").

If it would be Skyview with EMS (engine) data, Map, and PFD, a 7 inch is too small. Even split 50/50 for PFD and Map it is marginal.
If you are going to have a map displayed somewhere else, then a 7" would probably be fine.

[sglynn]

Thanks for the quick replies. I'm convinced. Eyes are an issue. I'm headed home from work to update my panel layout to include the 10 inch. Yes, planning on only one EFIS screen, because I'll also have a Garmin GPS for IFR reasons.

thanks much

[868RM]

The 10 inch screens when removed, give one a lot more access to things behind the panel. Two screens, one for each arm.

[RV7Guy]

On my new 7, I was trying to decide to go bigger or not. I had a chance to fly behind smaller screens and got to fly off much of the 40 on my neighbors 7 with one 10" screen and a 696 on the right side.

After evaluating, I chose the 8" size AFS. My reasoning was pretty simple. I liked the symmetry it provided on my molded panel. Keep in mind you are only about 17" from the screen in front of you. While flying my neighbors 7 with 10" screen I almost felt like was sitting in the 5th row of the theater. The smaller screens were plenty big enough to provide all the information I need.

This decision was further reinforced when we got a new helicopter at work and it has the Garmin 500H system. They are more of vertical lay out screen but are about 7." They are plenty big enough for our day/night flights. I wouldn't want bigger.

My suggestion is that you try to get the opportunity to fly behind both sizes before making a decision. I know of one person that is disappointed at putting in the larger screens. He describes them as "overload," and too close!! Another friend said, "just cause they make bigger screens, doesn't automatically mean you have to use bigger screens."

Just my thoughts, worth exactly what you paid for it

[N402RH]

Originally Posted by sglynn

I'm making the EFIS decision soon. Without discussing which company, please, could I hear your pros and cons of a 7 inch display versus a 10 inch display, particularity for RV-7A?

The 7 inch looks to fit and I think it is large enough to see. But it is hard to imagine. So for those flying, your comments would be appreciated. I think 10 inch will fit. I've tried them at Sun n Fun and will again this July at Oshkosh.

I do fly IFR and maybe that makes a difference for size.

So, 7 inch versus 10 inch EFIS?

thanks

Bigger is always better, personally I would get a 12" EFIS. We get a number of calls from people that bought a 6.5" or 8" small screen EFIS and then complain that they cant read the small text. It is a lot easier to just install a big screen that is easily readable to begin with.



Rob Hickman
N402RH RV-10