We are pleased to announce new G3X Touch software v3.50 and legacy G3X software v10.00. As usual, the software can be downloaded for free from our website here. The updated software and installation manual is posted on our website. The pilot guide updates should be available for download later today or early tomorrow.
A complete list of changes will be included on our website and at the bottom of this posting.
Garmin ESP-X (Electronic Stability Protection)
We are very excited to announce this advanced new feature is now available on all G3X and G3X Touch systems using the Garmin GSA 28 'smart' autopilot servos. And, as usual, it's all part of a free software update! This technology is the first of its kind in the experimental market. You can find the press release here.
With installation of the G3X autopilot servos, you’ll obtain Garmin Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP-X) to provide assistance in maintaining the aircraft in stable flight. When you exceed user-selected pitch, roll or airspeed limitations while hand-flying the aircraft, ESP-X provides gentle nudges on the flight controls to lessen the aircraft’s pitch attitude or bank angle—and that correcting force grows stronger as those exceedances increase. In addition, you’ll see visual cues on the displays of G3X and G3X Touch indicating that ESP-X is engaged: Yellow chevrons provide visual pitch guidance, and configurable roll-limit indicators indicate where ESP-X engages to provide bank guidance.
As you take corrective action, ESP-X fades, and it turns off when you return to a normal flight envelope. Conversely, if the system activates for more than fifteen seconds—for example, if you become incapacitated—the autopilot engages with the flight director in Level Mode, bringing the aircraft to level flight until you command otherwise. While ESP-X will not recover an aircraft in all in-flight situations, the system does provide an extra safeguard.
But ESP-X goes beyond providing pitch and bank envelope protection to also offer high- and low-airspeed protection. In a high-airspeed situation, ESP-X engages the G3X autopilot servos to increase your pitch attitude, while built-in parameters further prevent the aircraft from exceeding G-limit load factors. In low airspeed situations, ESP-X engages to provide a gentle pitch-down force to reduce the likelihood of a stall—and ESP-X automatically disables when the aircraft is operating within 200 feet of the ground. In addition, pitch, roll and airspeed envelope protection parameters are all customizable, and for flight training or aerobatics, you can easily inhibit Garmin ESP-X within the automatic flight control system menu of G3X and G3X Touch, or with an optional switch in the panel.
Glide Range Ring
The G3X Touch Glide Range Ring is displayed as a cyan ring around the estimated area that can be reached by the aircraft in the best glide range configuration. The Glide Range Ring fades into view on the map as the aircraft climbs through 500 feet AGL. The range is based on the Best Glide Speed (VG) and Sink Rate (at VG) entered by the pilot. Best Glide and Sink Rate are combined with the aircraft's height (AGL), wind, and bank angle to determine the distance the aircraft can travel.
Best Airport Bearing Pointer
The G3X Touch Best Airport Bearing Pointer feature is tied to the Glide Range Ring function. The Best Airport Bearing Pointer points to the airport within the Glide Range Ring that is considered the best option for a landing based on the following criteria:
In the example shown below, although Hayden Farm (00KS) and Gardner (K34) are closer to the current aircraft position, the algorithm is smart enough to know that New Century (KIXD) is within the aircraft glide range and is a better choice because it has a hard surface runway over 7000' long and it is oriented into the wind.
This same algorithm is used to provide a Best Glide Airport option on the Direct To Nearest Airports page shown below. This allows you to quickly and easily press the dedicated Direct To button on the display bezel, and navigate to the Best Airport. Or you can simply touch the waypoint on the moving map, hit the dedicated Direct To button and navigate. If you use NAV autopilot coupling with this Direct To navigation and set the autopilot to fly the best glide speed using IAS mode, you are now freed up to troubleshoot an emergency while the aircraft proceeds direct to the Best Airport while maintaining best glide speed.
The Glide Range Ring and Best Airport Bearing Pointer feature are being looked at for addition to the legacy G3X system as part of a future update.
G3X Touch v3.00 to v3.50 Change List:
Legacy G3X v9.20 to v10.00 Change List:
Changes in both G3X Touch v3.50 and G3X v10.00:
Thanks,
Brian
A complete list of changes will be included on our website and at the bottom of this posting.
Garmin ESP-X (Electronic Stability Protection)
We are very excited to announce this advanced new feature is now available on all G3X and G3X Touch systems using the Garmin GSA 28 'smart' autopilot servos. And, as usual, it's all part of a free software update! This technology is the first of its kind in the experimental market. You can find the press release here.
With installation of the G3X autopilot servos, you’ll obtain Garmin Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP-X) to provide assistance in maintaining the aircraft in stable flight. When you exceed user-selected pitch, roll or airspeed limitations while hand-flying the aircraft, ESP-X provides gentle nudges on the flight controls to lessen the aircraft’s pitch attitude or bank angle—and that correcting force grows stronger as those exceedances increase. In addition, you’ll see visual cues on the displays of G3X and G3X Touch indicating that ESP-X is engaged: Yellow chevrons provide visual pitch guidance, and configurable roll-limit indicators indicate where ESP-X engages to provide bank guidance.
As you take corrective action, ESP-X fades, and it turns off when you return to a normal flight envelope. Conversely, if the system activates for more than fifteen seconds—for example, if you become incapacitated—the autopilot engages with the flight director in Level Mode, bringing the aircraft to level flight until you command otherwise. While ESP-X will not recover an aircraft in all in-flight situations, the system does provide an extra safeguard.
But ESP-X goes beyond providing pitch and bank envelope protection to also offer high- and low-airspeed protection. In a high-airspeed situation, ESP-X engages the G3X autopilot servos to increase your pitch attitude, while built-in parameters further prevent the aircraft from exceeding G-limit load factors. In low airspeed situations, ESP-X engages to provide a gentle pitch-down force to reduce the likelihood of a stall—and ESP-X automatically disables when the aircraft is operating within 200 feet of the ground. In addition, pitch, roll and airspeed envelope protection parameters are all customizable, and for flight training or aerobatics, you can easily inhibit Garmin ESP-X within the automatic flight control system menu of G3X and G3X Touch, or with an optional switch in the panel.
Glide Range Ring
The G3X Touch Glide Range Ring is displayed as a cyan ring around the estimated area that can be reached by the aircraft in the best glide range configuration. The Glide Range Ring fades into view on the map as the aircraft climbs through 500 feet AGL. The range is based on the Best Glide Speed (VG) and Sink Rate (at VG) entered by the pilot. Best Glide and Sink Rate are combined with the aircraft's height (AGL), wind, and bank angle to determine the distance the aircraft can travel.
Best Airport Bearing Pointer
The G3X Touch Best Airport Bearing Pointer feature is tied to the Glide Range Ring function. The Best Airport Bearing Pointer points to the airport within the Glide Range Ring that is considered the best option for a landing based on the following criteria:
- User entered glide performance (Sink Rate and Best Glide Speed).
- Aircraft altitude and direction of flight.
- Airport elevation.
- Wind velocity.
- The expected flyover altitude (i.e., airports with 1000' or greater margin take precedence).
- Hard surface runways (i.e., paved runways take precedence over grass runways).
- Runway lengths.
- Runway alignment with the wind (if known).
In the example shown below, although Hayden Farm (00KS) and Gardner (K34) are closer to the current aircraft position, the algorithm is smart enough to know that New Century (KIXD) is within the aircraft glide range and is a better choice because it has a hard surface runway over 7000' long and it is oriented into the wind.
This same algorithm is used to provide a Best Glide Airport option on the Direct To Nearest Airports page shown below. This allows you to quickly and easily press the dedicated Direct To button on the display bezel, and navigate to the Best Airport. Or you can simply touch the waypoint on the moving map, hit the dedicated Direct To button and navigate. If you use NAV autopilot coupling with this Direct To navigation and set the autopilot to fly the best glide speed using IAS mode, you are now freed up to troubleshoot an emergency while the aircraft proceeds direct to the Best Airport while maintaining best glide speed.
The Glide Range Ring and Best Airport Bearing Pointer feature are being looked at for addition to the legacy G3X system as part of a future update.
G3X Touch v3.00 to v3.50 Change List:
- Add estimated glide range ring to map
- Add "Best Airport" bearing pointer option
- Add ability to invert video input image
- Add config mode status indication when using dedicated AHRS RS-232 port
- Improve SiriusXM METAR processing
- Improve storage of fuel calculator values when display is quickly powered on and off
- Improve PFD turn rate display
- Improve map display when using OBS mode with external GPS navigation source
- Change knob label text to clarify normal or reverse map zoom behavior
- General improvements to system operation
- Includes GTR20/200 software version 2.60
Legacy G3X v9.20 to v10.00 Change List:
- Added support for oil pressure, fuel pressure, manifold pressure, fuel flow, and RPM user-defined sensors.
- Added support for miscellaneous temperature, pressure, and analog voltage measurement user-customized gauges.
- Added forward and return flow display when calibrating differential fuel flow.
- Improved fuel flow display with noisy signals.
- Changed flight director GS and GP modes to allow capture from both above and below.
- General improvements to system operation.
- Includes update to audio database version 2.20.
Changes in both G3X Touch v3.50 and G3X v10.00:
- Added support for Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP).
- Added support for GTX 23/33/330 software version 8.00.
- Includes update to GSA 28 software version 2.90.
- Includes update to GDL 39 software version 4.40.
- Includes GEA24 software version 2.60.
- Includes GAD29 software version 2.20.
- Includes GI260 software version 2.50.
- Includes GSU25 software version 3.10.
- Includes GSU73 software version 3.40.
Thanks,
Brian
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