That’s a couple of Garmin GI 275 electronic flight instruments retrofitted in a vintage Bonanza. To save the budget, they’re designed for incremental upgrades because they fit in existing three-and-one-quarter-inch instrument cutouts. [Courtesy: Garmin]
Key Takeaways:
Budget-friendly Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) upgrades utilize smaller screens that fit existing instrument cutouts, significantly reducing installation labor and costs compared to larger, more complex retrofits.
A realistic budget for these upgrades is typically $10,000 to $15,000, though additional system improvements (like new navigators, wiring cleanup, or vacuum system removal) can increase the overall expense.
Key small-screen EFIS options include Garmin's G5 and GI 275, uAvionix's AV-30-C (with recent IFR and autopilot interface enhancements), and Aspen Avionics' E5, each offering varying features, prices, and installation requirements.
These upgrades offer a practical trade-off, providing modern avionics functionality and safety enhancements with simpler installation and lower costs, despite sacrificing some screen real estate.
After cutting a new instrument panel and all the other labor-intensive work that tags along with the retrofit, flagship big-screen Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) upgrades come with eye-watering invoices and lots of downtime.
While these big projects could make sense for some, we suspect the majority of buyers look for ways to keep the budget and complexity in check.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Larry Anglisano is the former Editor in Chief of sister publication Aviation Consumer magazine. He's an active land, sea and glider pilot, and has over 30 years experience as an avionics tech.
