BendixKing KSN 770

[tomn]

I am looking at doing some avionics work and have looked at the new KSN 770. Anyone have any information on this other than what is on their web site? Tom

[Marauder]

Tom - is it even shipping yet? I think the concept was presented in 2007 and had been vaporware until this year. What I do like is that it is an open hierarchy. Aspen has been working with them closely and it would mean a true Connected Pilot capability that is not currently available on the Garmin GTN series. If it is real, I would be game when it comes to update my second radio.

[PTK]

This is Bendix King vaporware that was aimed at the Garmin 530. It never got anywhere.

In the meantime Garmin rolled out the GTN! This killed any remnants of hope BK had for the KSN. Then it was decided to join with Aspen to try to convert it to touch screen and go after the GTN! Of course Aspen has no experience in this arena nor the wherewithal! They have vaporware of their own.

It's a classic case of playing catch up.

 

But no, it's not available. Right up there with Avidyne!

[Marauder]

This is Bendix King vaporware that was aimed at the Garmin 530. It never got anywhere. In the meantime Garmin rolled out the GTN! This killed any remnants of hope BK had for the KSN. Then it was decided to join with Aspen to try to convert it to touch screen and go after the GTN! Of course Aspen has no experience in this arena nor the wherewithal! They have vaporware of their own. It's a classic case of playing catch up.

And until they get caught up, we get the privilege of over paying to play... A lot of whether BK will be able to catchup is whether their mothership (Honeywell) will fund their division to make it happen.

[PTK]

Frankly, Chris, it's an embarrassment for Honeywell.  A power house like BK Honeywell should be able to do this with their eyes closed! In theory. But they don't care for GA.

 

Even if it became available tomorrow would anyone in GA really trust them? Honeywell is not for GA like BK used to be and they don't care about the GA market. Keyword there are "used to be."

 

They had no clear intentions to bring it to market so they went in half-ass and this is the result!

 

In the meantime Garmin is plowing through them taking no prisoners.

[Marauder]

Exactly Peter. BK was the gorilla in the market for years until they got knock off of their perch. The very same perch Garmin now occupies. I want competition in the market place. I don't want to go to the same altar praying to the same avionics god...

[KSMooniac]

I heard some time ago that BK/Honeywell turned the 770 over to their new partner Aspen for a redesign.  I believe earlier this year Aspen completed their work and sent it back to BK for certification so hopefully ( a ) it is a usable design and ( b ) finally gets to the market before it is obsolete.  We certainly need the competition!  One thing that is presumably nice is that it should pair very nicely with an Aspen PFD and their Connected Panel idea.  

 

Imagine the GA avionics market with three viable manufacturers of WAAS GPS boxes, PFDs, MFDs, etc.  

[M016576]

I like the idea of it, and all the Honeywell boxes I've used for work are good to go. People seem to be pleased with their Aspens. The only unknowns are A) will it be available anytime soon and will it be reliable. I think the user interface will be at the very least "good enough" and the capability to shoot a WAAS approach will have to be there. The one thing I know about avionics is that even if the user interface completely sucks, we as pilots, can be trained to use it effectively. Look at that clunky 430/530 interface... Turning knobs? Really? It's terrible, even for when it was developed (which wasn't too long ago)... Regardless, we all learned how to use it well.... Sometimes I feel like an old railroad morse code operator, though, clicking in my waypoints.... Great to see more competition, but I hope it causes price competition... All the competition for iPad apps just resulted in about a $100 / year floor... And the GDL/ADSB/GPS containers that go along with them all ended up at about $800 bucks. I wonder what their profit margins are on these things.....

[flyboy0681]

Aviation Consumer had an in-depth test flight with it in this months issue. Writer Larry Anglisano was actually quite impressed by it. The article said that Honeywell was expecting notice of certification as it went to press.

[carqwik]

Honeywell sent me an email earlier this week offering a trade-up program for new avionics...basically they'll give you a rebate on older King avionics when you upgrade to their new stuff...including the new 770.  It is of interest only because some of the stuff, like the new xpdr, fits in the same tray as my -76.  Given that they're offering the -770, it seems to me that this is going to be a real unit very soon...and has some FMS features of their APEX system.

[Cruiser]

Interesting that they are calling it an MFD not a GPS....... no info on certification 

 

KSN 770

 

An affordable, WAAS-Enabled, Integrated MFD with a flexible hybrid user interface

[flight2000]

See this thread on the certification question.

 

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/10392-ksn-770-certified-yet/#entry121509

 

And yes, it appears to be out on the street now, but I'm not in the market for one so won't call from Germany to find out...

 

http://sarasotaavionics.com/avionics/ksn770-01

 

Brian