Like Marc, I also have a G5 installed as a standby attitude indicator to back up my dual ADAHRS two screen SkyView system. The G5 was chosen for several reasons:
- Totally different software ecosystem. A bug in one system cannot pollute the other.
- 4 hour back up battery
- Complete standard pitot static information
- Small form factor. All other mfg. competitive products would not easily fit in panel space available.
- Astonishingly inexpensive for what it can do
- Has the ability (via RS232 connection with an IFD 540 / 440 GPS navigator) to *simultaneously* provide the same GPS course information that the IFD is sending to SkyView via the SV-ARINC-429 module.
- If you are feeding a Garmin (or Garmin emulated) VHF nav radio signal to your SkyView system via one of its serial ports, a DPDT switch can be installed in that RS232 line to instead redirect the VHF nav signal to the G5, allowing it to display VOR / ILS course information. To be clear, you can send the VOR information to SkyView OR the G5, but not both at the same time.
Re the last two items: I've set up my system with the correct switches to have both abilities and they both do work well. Note also that it is an either-or choice. To change the G5's ability to display one or the other requires going into its setup menu and choosing either 'MAPMX' (for the GPS signal) or 'Garmin nav radio' as the type of nav input signal the G5 should expect to see. It takes all of 90 seconds to make the change once you are familiar with the process, but it does require rebooting the G5. If I was in actual IFR w/ two dark SkyView screens that's not something I'd be willing to do. My default choice is MAPMX.
Ken
