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Avidyne, Aspen Team on Bonanza Retrofit Panel

Evolution PFD and newly certified Avidyne autopilot create impressive panel solution for thousands of existing Beechcraft singles.

Avidyne has earned FAA certification for its DFC90 autopilot in a wide range of Beechcraft Bonanza models. The approval is an STC that applies to most existing Bonanzas, including V35s, F33s, A36s and more. The DFC90 needs to be installed with a compatible display; in this case, it’s the Aspen Evolution primary flight display. Aspen has multiple aircraft (AML) approval for its PFD, including, as luck would have it, a wide range of Beechcraft Bonanza models.

The certification gives owners of the eligible Bonanzas the ability to get a retrofit flat panel avionics system and a sophisticated integrated digital autopilot today at an attractive price point. Avidyne’s Tom Harper said that the DFC90 gives Bonanza owners “access to significant new safety and performance enhancements including Envelope Protection and Straight & Level capability,” capabilities no one else in the retrofit market currently offers.

A typical system is composed of the Aspen Evolution display, which is priced starting at just under $11,000, with the Avidyne DFC90 digital autopilot ($9,995). The system makes use of existing STEC servos from the popular 55X autopilot; other popular STEC autopilots can be replaced by the very capable DFC90 as well. When paired with the Avidyne autopilot, the Aspen display can be used to provide attitude input to the DFC90. It also displays the current autopilot modes and can issue alerts on the PFD, as well as allowing the pilot to select heading, preselect altitude, and input vertical speed to the DFC90 directly from the Evolution Pro PFD, making it in essence a remote head for the autopilot.Owners of Bonanzas already equipped with the Evolution PFD can simply add the DFC90 (with the addition of the Aspen software upgrade package, which is priced at $2,000).

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