Aspen Avionics has revealed an unusual approach to angle-of-attack (AOA) indication for light airplanes that uses a simple software update to the company's Evolution flight displays without requiring any extra hardware, sensors or external aircraft modifications.
Instead, the patent-pending technology calculates AOA from flight envelope data received through the Evolution display's integrated air-data computer and attitude heading reference system to compute margin above the stall in flaps up and down configurations.
Aspen says its novel Evolution AOA indicator calculates angle of attack from AHRS data integrated in the Evolution 1000 primary flight display or Evolution 1000 multifunction display and a certified GPS, and presents it on the screen showing margin above the stall.
Adding AOA indications to an Aspen display requires only a software upgrade and a short calibration flight.
Aspen anticipates the Evolution AOA upgrade will be available in July. Pricing information has not been announced.
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