A new generation of inexpensive portable ADS-B/EFIS devices has emerged, leveraging tablets to display attitude, heading, GPS data, and limited weather and traffic information for experimental aircraft.
Despite their impressive functionality, these tablet-based systems are explicitly cautioned against being used as primary or reliable backup instruments due to inherent instability of apps/tablets, unreliable physical mounting, and limitations in data accuracy.
The article recommends these devices only for general reference or as a "backup to the backup," highlighting dedicated, self-contained EFIS units like the Dynon D1 as a more stable alternative for attitude reference if reliability is paramount.
Last spring, Garmin made a declaration of sorts. It introduced an aggressive new line of inexpensive avionics for experimental aircraft. This said, in effect, even 800-pound gorillas have to compete in a new market where avionics prices are dropping, due in part, to pressure from tablet computers and ever-more-capable apps.
Within two weeks of Garmin’s anno
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