Is a 7" Skyview Big enough?

[lr172]

I am thinking of upgrading my D100/D120 setup. I have been considering the GRT 8.4 HXr or the Skyview 7" (using upgrade promo). I have the standard RV-6 panel and I cannot fit the 10" models without significant panel surgery that I don't want to do at this time.

My plan is to have the PFD, map and Eng pages open most times. I really like the GRT HXr, as it seems to make the best use the real estate. However, a migration to Dynon would be much easier and re-use my A/P servos. The Dynon can only support a 40/20/40 screen configuration. Will this be adequate in the 7" model. Will the PFD in 40% of the screen be adequate for me? Is anyone using one this way? I am fine with my d100 at 7", but it seems the skyview has more detail and can't be sure what to expect.

My cutout for the second screen is way over by the co-pilot and is too far away to be usefull, especially in IFR. I am early in my Instr training and maybe this issue will go away in time.

I suppose that I could turn off the map and use my foreflight. However, part of the reason for the upgrade is to get traffic and weather in my center view.

Thanks for your input.

Larry

[rockwoodrv9]

Larry,
These are the 10" Garmins. I put them next to each other so both would be in front of me. I may regret it having the radio so far over, but it is controllable with the screen. The AP is over there too and that may also be an issue.

I think with the 7" units, they would be closer and you could have your radio and AP or other stuff closer. Even with symmetrical, it is a pretty small cockpit. I am amazed at how good the resolution is on the screens.

Have fun. It's only money!
[IMG][/IMG]

[dynonsupport]

Two comments:

1) We are coming out with the 7" SkyView HDX shortly which has a much higher resolution screen, and supports the engine bar on the bottom.

2) You can fit (3) 10" Screens in an RV-6!:

[terrykohler]

The venerable "six pack" is made up of 3-1/8 inch instruments, each displaying only one or two pieces of flight information. A 7 inch screen takes up the space of 4 of these and presents ALL of the flight information and more. Your scan is reduced, alarms and limits can be set, and you're left with plenty of extra real estate for radios and othe appliances without even having to extend the panel downward - a potential access problem if you're anything more than "medium" sized. I've just installed a 7 inch GRT with a GRT Mini mounted to the left of the main screen. The Mini has a backup battery and will be used as such. Along with a GNS650, I've got three independent location and navigation sources, and the radio stack is an easy reach. Even have a glove/map box on the far right. Finally, if you're concerned about the visibility of the smaller screens, Aspen has TSO'd EFIS systems in thousands of aircraft, running much smaller displays, and size doesn't seem to be an issue.
Terry, CFI
RV9A N323TP

[912ry]

Don't know about the 6, but i have two 10 inch displays in a 7 panel with switches below on a stock panel, no sub panel. I have my radio stack between them. Bigger screens are great!

[Walt]

Originally Posted by 912ry

Don't know about the 6, but i have two 10 inch displays in a 7 panel with switches below on a stock panel, no sub panel. I have my radio stack between them. Bigger screens are great!

I'd really like to see a picture of that as I've been unable to fit 10" screens, radio stack and switches below without extending the panel. The RV7 panel below has about 1.5" extension.

[Raymo]

Here is a -7A with the standard panel and dual SV1000Ts. The screens could have been pushed out to the sides a little more but I wanted to leave room for a backup device like a D2.

[lr172]

Originally Posted by dynonsupport

Two comments:

1) We are coming out with the 7" SkyView HDX shortly which has a much higher resolution screen, and supports the engine bar on the bottom.

2) You can fit (3) 10" Screens in an RV-6!:

I like the HDX better. However, the Dynon path is only affordable in my case with the trade in promo and you have excluded the HDX from your trade in program; Not sure why. However, without the promo, the GRT option becomes less expensive for me.

[lr172]

I realize that I could get a 10" screen in, but not without a complete panel rebuild, which I am not interested in undertaking at this moment; Though I want that option in the future.

Any other thoughts about the usability / readability of SV 7" with PFD / Map / engine on the screen? I am also curious if anyone has any experience with both the Skyview and the GRT HXr. I am wondering if it is worth the extra effort to move in the GRT direction.

Larry

[GalinHdz]

FWIW I don't know how big an RV6 panel is but I fly behind two 7" SkyView displays in my KIS4 airplane. The resolution is much more than adequate and makes possible the use of the 50/50 layout.


Here is what I posted back in March of 2013 on this setup.

Originally Posted by GalinHdz

Here is how I use my dual display Skyview with transponder, EMS, ARINC-429 and ADSB.

1 - Set up the Pilot display with PFD and Map page (50/50)
2 - Set up the Co-Pilot display with PFD and EMS page (50/50)

Before engine start, press the SWAP button so the Pilot display has PFD and EMS pages (50/50) while Co-Pilot display has PFD and MAP (50/50). Now the needed information for engine start, taxi, engine run up and takeoff is displayed in front of the pilot. At this point the Pilot really needs EMS page information and doesn't really need MAP page information.

After takeoff just hit the SWAP button and now it looks like the EMS page was replaced by the MAP page for the Pilot while the MAP page was replaced with the EMS page for the Co-Pilot. Both displays keep the PFD in the same location and it looks like it never moved.

Whenever you want to look at an engine parameter in flight, just hit the SWAP button and the EMS page replaces the MAP page without affecting the PFD page. Hit the SWAP button again and the MAP page replaces the EMS page again without affecting the PFD page.

Before landing, press the SWAP button so the Pilot display has PFD and EMS pages (50/50) while Co-Pilot display has PFD and MAP (50/50). Now the needed information for landing, taxi and engine shut down is displayed in front of the pilot. At this point the Pilot doesn't really need MAP page information anymore and has good shutdown information on the EMS page.





AND it gives you a "pseudo portrait layout" in a side by side format. It works really well for me.

After 3yrs and over 300hrs of flying with this setup it makes a great combination even for actual IMC flying. YMMV