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:
Small-screen Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) upgrades offer a budget-friendly alternative to full-screen systems, typically costing $10,000-$15,000 and saving on labor by fitting existing instrument cutouts.
These upgrades provide benefits beyond new displays, such as the elimination of heavy vacuum systems, improved panel access, and opportunities to address underlying wiring and system issues.
Key budget EFIS options include Garmin's G5 and GI 275, uAvionix's AV-30-C, and Aspen's E5, each with varying features, IFR capabilities, and interface requirements.
While budget EFIS options reduce cost and installation complexity, comparing them with larger-screen systems is recommended, as the aesthetic and functional advantages of bigger displays might justify the higher expense for some users.
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.
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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.
