Best Glass Panel Ever? My In Depth Review of Dynon SkyView HDX for Certified

[Flying_Monkey]

5 months ago I flew from California to Florida to replace all my steam gauges in my Piper Cherokee 6 with the Dynon Skyview HDX for Certified system. Do I miss them? Here is my full in depth review of the Dynon HDX. Hopefully you will get a good taste of what it is like to fly with it! When I was researching the various glass panel options, it was hard to get a sense of what it would really be like to actually fly with each model. I hope this helps someone with that so feel free to share it.

The video description on Youtube has clickable table of contents style links for specific features for future reference.

 

[DBRV10]

D10A will be replaced some time....I have no idea when. Great video.

And integrated AP is awesome.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

D10A will be replaced some time....I have no idea when. Great video.

And integrated AP is awesome.

Thanks for the feedback. I hope there is a sensible upgrade path for recent D10A owners.

 

[fwlarsen]

5 months ago I flew from California to Florida to replace all my steam gauges in my Piper Cherokee 6 with the Dynon Skyview HDX for Certified system. Do I miss them? Here is my full in depth review of the Dynon HDX. Hopefully you will get a good taste of what it is like to fly with it! When I was researching the various glass panel options, it was hard to get a sense of what it would really be like to actually fly with each model. I hope this helps someone with that so feel free to share it.

The video description on Youtube has clickable table of contents style links for specific features for future reference.

Loved the video. Thanks for putting that together. Looks amazing...

I did just want to clarify something. You used a TruTrak autopilot. From what I can find in the Dynon website and looking around on the internet the Skyview does not support other autopilots. I take that to meant that the Skyview cannot control your autopilot. It seems that the autopilot commands the plane and it is shown on the Skyview

My questions are (and sorry to be so literal here)
- You can (/cannot) use other autopilots with Skyview?
- Any autopilots not work with Skyview? ---- this is more for the Dynon guys
- If/Since you can, are there any downsides to it not being a dynon AP?
- Do you plan on switching your autopilot to the Dynon once the STC for your plane comes through?

Thanks!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Loved the video. Thanks for putting that together. Looks amazing...

I did just want to clarify something. You used a TruTrak autopilot. From what I can find in the Dynon website and looking around on the internet the Skyview does not support other autopilots. I take that to meant that the Skyview cannot control your autopilot. It seems that the autopilot commands the plane and it is shown on the Skyview

My questions are (and sorry to be so literal here)
- You can (/cannot) use other autopilots with Skyview?
- Any autopilots not work with Skyview? ---- this is more for the Dynon guys
- If/Since you can, are there any downsides to it not being a dynon AP?
- Do you plan on switching your autopilot to the Dynon once the STC for your plane comes through?

Thanks!

The answer is yes you can and no you can't....

The TT integrates a little with the Skyview. But nowhere near as good as what the Dynon autopilot would do. (The Dynon AP has a full flight director mode and loads of other features...audible alerts, etc etc.) The pilot guide and Dynon training videos can illuminate these advantages for you.

This is gonna get technical- bear with me....As far as the Trutrak, mine is connected to both Skyview and Avidyne IFD540 GPS. There is a toggle switch. When set to Avidyne, the TT can itself be in a couple different modes and this is controlled on the TT head unit. Track mode lets you dial in the GPS track, Altitude and Vertical Speed on the head unit using the buttons there. You can switch it to GPSS mode and it will follow the flight plan from the IFD540 (or any approved GPS) and you manually set the Altitude and Vertical speed on the TT head unit. In this mode, I have to bug an altitude on SkyView, and also select the altitude on the TT (same for track and heading and VS).

If I switch the AP source selector switch to the Dynon instead of the IFD the TT will (after pressing MODE) display the words SKYVIEW on it. It will then follow the flight plan that the Dynon displays but not using GPSS so it doesn't anticipate turns (I have barely tested this mode). If you clear the Skyview HSI to display no course guidance (or I think just a VOR source) then the autopilot will follow all the bugs that you set on the SkyView. It essentially becomes the controller for the TT. So you can bug a Heading (and yes a HEADING rather than TRACK like described previously), bug an altitude and a VS and the autopilot will fly these values. This mode is handy if you are getting vectored all over the place and really want to fly heading and not track although there is tons of debate over if it really matters. It is a switch flip, HSI touch, and one or 2 button presses to go back to the IFD and GPSS mode so I don't tend to use this mode in higher workload situations. But you're not bugging things and also setting the same values on the TT.

In both switch modes the Baro DOES NOT sync between the HDX and TT so you must sync the TT with the current altitude before takeoff and at each BARO change if you value accurate altitudes. (haha) And in BOTH modes the Control Wheel Steering functions as it should if you hold down the Disco button and make a turn, climb,descent etc.

I made a video awhile back showing the TT integration...well just the heading mode so I could probably do a longer video. I think this will be a good combo HDX plus TT for a lot of folks until (if) the Dynon AP is certified for everyone's particular model. I know I didn't want to wait the months, years?, if ever? for the PA32 cert. Maybe its just right around the corner.. At that time, maybe I'll swap my TT for the Dynon AP. But for now I am enjoying long cross countries with my family with the TT!

Here is the TT/HDX integration video I made that demonstrates how the Skyview integrates with the TT.

(I managed to find this TT Skyview supplement in the Experimental section of the TT site. Very handy as the TT itself does support the Skyview)
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2...SkyView-Supplement_14.pdf?4475887108065629184

 

[fwlarsen]

The answer is yes you can and no you can't....

The TT integrates a little with the Skyview. But nowhere near as good as what the Dynon autopilot would do. (The Dynon AP has a full flight director mode and loads of other features...audible alerts, etc etc.) The pilot guide and Dynon training videos can illuminate these advantages for you.

This is gonna get technical- bear with me....As far as the Trutrak, mine is connected to both Skyview and Avidyne IFD540 GPS. There is a toggle switch. When set to Avidyne, the TT can itself be in a couple different modes and this is controlled on the TT head unit. Track mode lets you dial in the GPS track, Altitude and Vertical Speed on the head unit using the buttons there. You can switch it to GPSS mode and it will follow the flight plan from the IFD540 (or any approved GPS) and you manually set the Altitude and Vertical speed on the TT head unit. In this mode, I have to bug an altitude on SkyView, and also select the altitude on the TT (same for track and heading and VS).

If I switch the AP source selector switch to the Dynon instead of the IFD the TT will (after pressing MODE) display the words SKYVIEW on it. It will then follow the flight plan that the Dynon displays but not using GPSS so it doesn't anticipate turns (I have barely tested this mode). If you clear the Skyview HSI to display no course guidance (or I think just a VOR source) then the autopilot will follow all the bugs that you set on the SkyView. It essentially becomes the controller for the TT. So you can bug a Heading (and yes a HEADING rather than TRACK like described previously), bug an altitude and a VS and the autopilot will fly these values. This mode is handy if you are getting vectored all over the place and really want to fly heading and not track although there is tons of debate over if it really matters. It is a switch flip, HSI touch, and one or 2 button presses to go back to the IFD and GPSS mode so I don't tend to use this mode in higher workload situations. But you're not bugging things and also setting the same values on the TT.

In both switch modes the Baro DOES NOT sync between the HDX and TT so you must sync the TT with the current altitude before takeoff and at each BARO change if you value accurate altitudes. (haha) And in BOTH modes the Control Wheel Steering functions as it should if you hold down the Disco button and make a turn, climb,descent etc.

I made a video awhile back showing the TT integration...well just the heading mode so I could probably do a longer video. I think this will be a good combo HDX plus TT for a lot of folks until (if) the Dynon AP is certified for everyone's particular model. I know I didn't want to wait the months, years?, if ever? for the PA32 cert. Maybe its just right around the corner.. At that time, maybe I'll swap my TT for the Dynon AP. But for now I am enjoying long cross countries with my family with the TT!

Here is the TT/HDX integration video I made that demonstrates how the Skyview integrates with the TT.

(I managed to find this TT Skyview supplement in the Experimental section of the TT site. Very handy as the TT itself does support the Skyview)
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2...SkyView-Supplement_14.pdf?4475887108065629184

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. It absolutely helped a lot. Thanks for taking the time. Haven't had time to watch the video but I will!

It was kinda what I figured... Using a third party autopilot would work in a lot of ways but not fully and will have work arounds but won't be as smooth.

Here's to hoping that they get the STC's for the autopilot for all these other planes out there done quickly...

 

[Corefile]

@Flying_Monkey great video! Question - there is a quick section you are talking about the AOA (angle of attack) on the Dynon screen. Is that the Dynon AOA/Pitot? I don’t see it listed on the certified pricing spreadsheet - or is that someone else’s AOA that is able to show on the HDX

 

[Flying_Monkey]

@Flying_Monkey great video! Question - there is a quick section you are talking about the AOA (angle of attack) on the Dynon screen. Is that the Dynon AOA/Pitot? I don’t see it listed on the certified pricing spreadsheet - or is that someone else’s AOA that is able to show on the HDX

It is the Dynon AOA. We installed the Dynon hardware (AOA Pitot) but only the AOA is derived from it- the Piper pitot/static mast still does everything else. I do not believe the Dynon AOA pitot is heated on my installation...

 

[Corefile]

It is the Dynon AOA. We installed the Dynon hardware (AOA Pitot) but only the AOA is derived from it- the Piper pitot/static mast still does everything else. I do not believe the Dynon AOA pitot is heated on my installation...

Thanks - one other question - I really like how your USB ports were installed for the Dynon on the panel vs. the big plastic chrome plate that Dynon provides (they look really tacky IMHO). Do you know the details of how they installed yours - are they some other USB port?

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Thanks - one other question - I really like how your USB ports were installed for the Dynon on the panel vs. the big plastic chrome plate that Dynon provides (they look really tacky IMHO). Do you know the details of how they installed yours - are they some other USB port?

I don't know but will try to find out. I also like how that turned out and that little tiny USB drive is so small and actually very inexpensive. I bought 2 and keep one at home updating and the other in the plane. I just swap them on the day of the database changeover...