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Aspen Evolution PFD: Consider a MAX Swap

Aging early gen Aspen flight displays can be pricey to fix, and that makes upgrading to the current Evolution MAX version worth it.

Les Abend
Verified

Edited By:

Omar Filipovic

The single-screen Evolution Pro MAX PFD, main image, is backed up by mechanical flight instruments. One major improvement in the MAX is GPS assist, which uses a WAAS navigator input if the system senses a primary data failure.

After accepting that a Piper Arrow made more sense for traveling than our Decathlon, the Arrow I chose had a lot of airline pilot bonuses, which included a Garmin GNS 430W, an S-TEC 50 autopilot with GPSS steering, a JPI engine monitor and the icing on the cake—an Aspen Evolution Pro PFD.

The Aspen display came close to replicating the PFD of the B-777 that I was flying at the time, which increased my comfort level for IMC in a single-engine airplane. The fact that I could fold my arms across my chest or take a sip of coffee while the autopilot precisely changed course to the next waypoint had me giddy. But how would it stand the test of time? Here’s my experience.

Les Abend

Contributor Les Abend is a retired airline captain on the Boeing 777, a contributing editor to sister publication FLYING Magazine with his Jumpseat column and the author of the novel Paper Wings. He also serves as an aviation analyst for CNN.