Single Dynon Skyview Backup?

[Gilligans Airport]

Hi, I have a legacy -12 ELSA with one screen, a single 10” Dynon Skyview Touch. Though just day VFR, I’m thinking about redundancy/backup options to increase my comfort level, and wondering what other folks have considered. For instance, whether a second screen would offer much additional value if you’re only running one ADHRS, or whether folks like a pocket EFIS (D3?) for this purpose. G5 seems like it’d probably be costly overkill for VFR only, though it would seem to offer close to total redundancy.

I may just stick with ForeFlight/Sentry and my iPad/phone—but would be grateful for your thoughts.

Apologies if I’m covering old ground, I wasn’t finding anything quite on point when searching.

Thanks

 

[rolivi]

I consider the D3 and any handheld to be equal.

G5, on the other hand, I would consider truely redundant (Minus engine monitoring of course)

 

[Carl Froehlich]

I’m a hard core Dynon SkyView guy, but a G5 at $1600 is the value play. I have one sitting on the table to go into the new dual SkyView HDX RV-10 panel.

Carl

 

[PaulvS]

As backup for day VFR in a RV-12 there is not much redundancy required and really only direction (GPS or compass and a map) and airspeed and altitude (GPS or altimeter) are needed to get back safely on the ground. Foreflight etc and an iPhone or Android will provide altitude and direction and ground speed, so for airspeed you could add an analog airspeed indicator for a few hundred dollars. This is what I did in my RV-6A and there is no need for an attitude indicator as backup.

 

[DHeal]

While you are contemplating your avionics options consider getting proficient in flying your RV-12 in VMC without any flight instrumentation at all. You should be totally comfortable flying your RV-12 on that flight when your panel screen decides to suddenly go blank. Simultaneously pushing buttons "1-2-5" may reboot your Skyview or it may not......

 

[unladenswallow]

Here in the UK, if the primary flight instruments (altimeter, compass/DI and ASI) are on an EFIS then it is mandatory to have backup. If the backup instrument is another EFIS then it must have separate battery backup. My RV12 has an AvMap Ultra EFIS as backup, however this doesn't have internal battery backup, so I had to add a TCW external battery backup, which is way overkill for it. I am told that most of the other options (e.g. Garmin G5 and uAvionix AV30) have internal battery backup but I haven't checked.

Bear in mind that if you lose the EFIS in an RV12, you lose the stall warner and AOA as well as the ASI.

 

[Gilligans Airport]

Thanks guys! I’m still evaluating but really appreciate the responses here. While I feel pretty comfortable flying my RV VFR sans any instruments, and intermittently train for that, I do like the idea (but not the cost) of some redundancy. Currently weighing a second Dynon Skyview vs a G5 vs a (relatively cheap) D3.

Anyone know offhand if the right 40% (or so) of an RV-12 panel could accommodate both a 7” Skyview and a G5?

 

[bruceh]

I added a second Dynon Skyview EFIS screen after my single one had issues displaying anything. You are pretty much AOG when you don't have any engine or flight instruments. If you have the room for a second screen, then go for it. I was able to pick up a used second screen here on VAF for a good price. Added the battery backup and the necessary cabling and have been very happy having a redundant screen. You can easily wire it up to share most of the 37 pin Dsub wires with the primary screen, and then just a power/ground and SV network and an ethernet cable. If you have a wifi dongle, then the secondary screen will also need a dongle. Details on my blog: https://flyingoverthehills.wordpress.com/2020/10/22/dual-screen-panel-upgrade/