No avionics were included in the project purchase.
As an IFR-rated pilot, I would like N34ER to be IFR-capable. However, I don’t expect to enter IMC until after several hundred hours of flight time to have a comfortable margin of confidence in the platform.
Garmin
The obvious choice. As configured from the Aircraft Spruce website, a reasonable but not fully-featured build costs over $23,000, a price that doesn’t include a navigator.
Their UI is okay, but looks old to me. The unified Garmin solution is attractive, where everything Garmin is designed to work with everything else Garmin. The price is steep, though.
Dynon
The runner up. As configured from the Aircraft Spruce website, a reasonable but not fully-featured build costs over $18,000, a price that doesn’t include a navigator. Better than Garmin, but not by a large margin. I’m not a big fan of the Dynon software interface, but the hardware feels nice. It’s hard for me to come up with a compelling reason to go with Dynon for N34ER.
Avidyne
Their flagship product line is certified IFR navigators. I like their interface. I don’t like their price.
LX Navigation NAVIA
The newcomer. Talking to the guys at Sun ‘n Fun 2024, it seems like a majority of the components cost about $6,000, although there are no solid pricing figures yet. This is the solution I’m most excited about.
It’s a very modular system. There’s a core, air data module, magnetometer, engine data module, several sizes of displays, and a unique grip. One of the more novel features is a voice command system, where a pilot can say phrases like “set transponder to 1234” or “set frequency to 123.45”.
LX Navigation have been making glider avionics for years. NAVIA is their entry into powered aviation.
MGL Avionics
The underdog. Figure on $12,000-14,000 for most of a panel, not including a navigator.
GRT Avionics
Quite a simplistic offering, but the EFIS looks okay. Depending on configuration, an average build price will likely be in the $12,000-$14,000 range. GRT relies on other manufacturers to provide: COM, NAV, transponder, GPS, intercom,
Last EFIS software update was 2022, which implies there isn’t a lot of software development happening. Database updates are free, though. Seattle Avionics geo-referenced charts are $200 per year.