GM "HUD" system
Below is information on a company that was setting up a "GM" HUD system that is used in the Grand Prix/Corvette and he converted it to "KNOTS" from "MPH" and even had a couple other items working such as Oil Pressure. The whole unit would have sat on top of the dash of an airplane and you would look through the glass like a fighter type HUD. I thought it was a good idea and a good starting point until someone could add "Attitude" references to it.
Looks like he closed down the web site.
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JRL developed the Heads Up Display (H.U.D.), named "KNOT-VUE", because it provides a constant display of AIR SPEED. JRL developed the unit using an after market automotive GM Delco display similar to the one installed in the Grand Prix Pontiac. The KNOT-VUE ? H.U.D. does not take the place of any aircraft instruments, but is a complement to those instruments (just as it is in the Pontiac). It is a reference display that provides valuable information about air speed, the most valuable flying parameter.
An article in August 98 issue of KIT PLANES titled "Using statistics to stay safe" is a sobering one. Pilot-Inducted Accidents like stall/spins 23% + bad landings and ground loops 20% + loss of control 13% + low altitude 7% + pilot error 5%=63% of these accidents can be related to air speed or the lack of knowledge thereof. Fatal Accidents like stall spins 31% + loss of control 13% + low alt. Maneuvering=57% can be related to air speed or the lack of knowledge thereof. With a "in your face H.U.D.", like the KNOT-VUE?, keeping your head outside the cockpit while maneuvering, with real time knowledge of air speed, can help avoid accidents.
JRL's KNOT-VUE? H.U.D. has been bench tested against a calibrated Rock Mountain Instrument u/ENCODER. KNOT-VUE has been flight-tested and checked against GPS air speed and has been accurate within + - 1 knot. Repeatability is good. A patent is pending for the pressure sensor board.
JRL's KNOT-VUE ? H.U.D. weighs about 8 oz. complete with a Black Plastic Enclosure, fold-down Refractor Lens and Pressure Transducer Board. The H.U.D. is all solid state electronics requiring 12 volts, 3 amp. circuit. The display projects the images on a flip-up Refractor Lens, which is positioned in the line of sight (vue) of the pilot and in front of the windshield. The image looks like it's floating outside the windshield on the engine cowling (an optical illusion). KnotVue? Heads Up Photos
Our Data Sheets provide some sample options a builder can apply with the KNOT-VUE? on his project. JRL chose the Delco as it's base unit because national Delco repair shops carry spare parts and can repair the displays. JRL has not determined the KNOT-VUE? cost at this writing, but they expect it to be substantially less than competitor products providing less features than JRL's KNOT-VUE? particularly since it is not JRL's bread and butter income. JRL's CEO is using the KNOT-VUE? during flight testing of his KR2 aircraft .