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Reader Correspondence: May, 2022

MORE ON SMART GLIDE

I’m a big fan of Garmin avionics and wonder if Garmin’s Smart Glide engine-out utility has access to oil pressure data, which is critical to determining the glide ratio in aircraft with a controllable pitch propeller.

In my Bonanza, glide ratio with a catastrophic engine failure changes from 10:1 to 6.5:1 if oil pressure is lost and the prop cannot be moved into a low drag setting (around 800 FPM versus 1500 FPM descent at best glide). I suspect it’s not a feature, as Smart Glide is listed as an option for GTN Xi-equipped aircraft. But, if an aircraft also has a Garmin EIS engine monitor installed (with oil pressure sensing), display of a range ring appropriate for the lower glide ratio could be triggered.  

Larry Anglisano

Editor in Chief Larry Anglisano has been a staple at Aviation Consumer since 1995. An active land, sea and glider pilot, Larry has over 30 years’ experience as an avionics repairman and flight test pilot. He’s the editorial director overseeing sister publications Aviation Safety magazine, IFR magazine and is a regular contributor to KITPLANES magazine with his Avionics Bootcamp column.