BendixKing KI 300 Replaces Legacy Attitude Indicators

BendixKing unveiled its new KI 300 solid-state attitude indicator this week at EAA AirVenture 2015, a micro electromechanical systems-based electronic display that replaces the popular KI 254/255/256, KG 258/259 mechanical gyro-based attitude indicators. The KI 300 with flight director retails for $5,995, nearly one-quarter of the price of a new KI 256 at $19,633.

“We’ve been working on this product for a while,” said Roger Dykmann, v-p of marketing and product management. “The Ki 256 has gotten very expensive and very difficult to produce.” While the KI 256 and its brethren are “engineering marvels,” he said, overhaul prices are quite high ($3,000 to $5,000), and aircraft owners have been asking BendixKing for a suitable replacement.

The KI 300 will be available in a base version as a replacement attitude indicator for $4,995, as a KI 256 or KG 258 replacement for $5,995, and equipped with an optional yaw rate gyro interface for $7,995. Plans call for certification and availability by the end of the year. Certification will be an approved model list STC covering multiple aircraft.

Installation of the KI 300 will be simple, with a pigtail harness that adapts the KI 300 to the existing wiring harness, plus a power and ground connection. Unlike the complex gyro alignment process for the 256/258, which involved a special tilt table, the KI 300 just needs to be connected to a laptop computer for configuration. “It’s a much simplified alignment procedure,” Dykmann said.

Other KI 300 features include an optional mechanical slip indicator; built-in backup battery; provision for attitude comparison when connected to a second AHRS; no need to install a backup attitude indicator and pitch and roll stabilization for weather radar systems. The device is programmable for panel tilt.

AeroVue nears Certification

BendixKing president Justin Ryan announced that the company’s AeroVue integrated flight deck for the King Air 200 and B200 is on track for certification by the end of the year. The company didn’t bring the King Air equipped with AeroVue to AirVenture as it is busy with flight testing. “The system is performing well,” Ryan said. “We’re planning on a pricing announcement by the end of the year.”

BendixKing unveiled the dealer network for AeroVue installations, and it includes eight independent maintenance providers: Capital Aviation, DFW Instruments, Epps Aviation, Fargo Jet Center, Pro Star Aviation, Stevens Aviation (Greenville, Greer, Nashville and Dayton), Western Aircraft and West Coast Aircraft Maintenance.

AeroVue replaces the King Air 200’s original avionics with three 12-inch glass displays. The system includes cursor control devices, dual Waas GPS receivers, dual ADAHRS, ADS-B Out, FMS keyboard with joystick, Sirius XM Weather, electronic checklists, dual audio panels with Bluetooth and interfaces with EGPWS, Tcas and weather radar.