Garmin G3X

[SteinAir]

Originally Posted by flickroll

Question for Lucas....

Are there any features the GX Pilot has that the AFS branded TT DF II VSVG does not? My AFS EFIS system is highly integrated with the TT/AFS AP, and wondered what features, if any, the GX Pilot offers over the AFS system. I read the G3X manual and both systems look to be very similar. Once I enter an approach in the G430W and arm the AFS EFIS, I don't need to touch anything other than the throttle and the airplane will fly an ILS or a GPS VNAV approach like it is on rails. Thanks

Kinda sorta but not really - they are the same but different - how's that for an answer!?? The GX pilot like the AF pilot was a collaborative effort between the manfacturer of the A/P and manufacturer of the EFIS. MANY, many hours of actual flight testing went in to the testing/tweaking/flying the A/P in actual RV's and other aircraft at the factory long before it was ever released to the public...(this was the case for both Garmin, AFS and the bygone Chelton). There are differences, but they are related to the extremely good/tight interface to the G3X, just as the AF pilot is geared towards the interface witht he AFS stuff. Could/should you replace one with the other? I'd say no...they will work best with their designated EFIS. As always, the A/P's still of course work independently of the EFIS as well, which is fantastic for IFR redundancy. The straight/generic Digiflight II series will still work well with almost all of the EFISes, you just lose the beneficial "tweaking" that went into the EFIS specific series.

My 2 cents as usual.

Cheers,
Stein

[flickroll]

I guess my question was not clear....

What I meant to ask is this:

Will the GX Pilot AP working with the G3X EFIS provide essentially the same functionality as the AFS Pilot working with the AFS EFIS? In other words, does one system or the other provide a better overall integrated EFIS/AP system, or are they essentially the same? I did not mean to ask can you swap one AP for the other.... Sorry that I was not clear....hope I was this time

[tjett]

Does anyone know if the G3X has a fuel totalizer?

[KPmarc]

Yes, the G3X has a fuel totalizer. Go to Garmin's site and download the installation and pilot's manuals; all the info is in there.

To answer Jim's question about functions, the G3X/GX Pilot and AFS/AF Autopilot have nearly the same features. There are a couple of important caveats here.

1. Garmin allows you to control the autopilot head directly from the EFIS. In theory, you could remote mount the head and not miss a single feature. But you wouldn't do that, because it would be difficult to get to the setup menu, and you'd lose the ability to run the autopilot independently. With the AFS, you engage the autopilot by pushing the EFIS button on the head.

2. The AFS ports slightly different information to the autopilot. Right now, the Garmin only follows GPS-derived signals. It won't track a VOR or fly a coupled ILS approach. As I understand it, the AFS will. Garmin is sure to catch up on this feature, but it isn't there yet.

Otherwise, they'll both do things like follow a heading bug, fly a selected altitude, climb or descend to that selected altitude, follow nav instructions. The Garmin will fly to an altitude by a commanded pitch attitude or vertical speed; I believe the AFS does only vertical speed.

[milestogo]

2. The AFS ports slightly different information to the autopilot. Right now, the Garmin only follows GPS-derived signals. It won't track a VOR or fly a coupled ILS approach. As I understand it, the AFS will. Garmin is sure to catch up on this feature, but it isn't there yet.

Yes, the AFS/Digiflight combination will do this. Dissapointing Garmin doesn't do this (yet?).

[N395V]

When connected to a G430 if the G3X has a curent database and the 430 doesn't and you are following a g430 flight plan what displays on the G3X if the 2 databases disagree on an identifier for a waypoint? Such as the FAA has changed an airport identifier.

[mburch]

Originally Posted by N395V

When connected to a G430 if the G3X has a curent database and the 430 doesn't and you are following a g430 flight plan what displays on the G3X if the 2 databases disagree on an identifier for a waypoint? Such as the FAA has changed an airport identifier.

In cases like this, the G3X will always follow what the 430 is sending... so the position of the airport shown on the G3X MFD will agree with the 430.

I might also mention that the latest G3X software supports the display of complex leg shape data when connected to a WAAS navigator (GNS 430W or 530W). What this means is that you see all the same holding patterns, procedure turns, DME arcs, and so forth on your G3X moving map as you do on your 430W.

mcb

[KirkGrovesRV8]

How much is the G3X and autopilot?

[WhiskeyMike]

Originally Posted by mburch

In cases like this, the G3X will always follow what the 430 is sending... so the position of the airport shown on the G3X MFD will agree with the 430.

I might also mention that the latest G3X software supports the display of complex leg shape data when connected to a WAAS navigator (GNS 430W or 530W). What this means is that you see all the same holding patterns, procedure turns, DME arcs, and so forth on your G3X moving map as you do on your 430W.

mcb

Matt, will I see all the same goodies on just a GDU375 (i.e. without the G3X "full meal deal") and a 430W, with the two units "linked" via serial connection (assuming the latest software/updates for both)? Thanks!

[N395V]

When running a flight plan from a 430W where will the G3X in syn vision mode derive it's terrain and obstacle data from? The 430 or it's own data base.

(Yes I am trying to avoid the price of 2 28 day cycle updates.)