Register
Avionics Instruments

AeroVonics Gyros: Capable, Inexpensive

The AV-20 fits into a standard 2.25-inch clock hole. This instrument is available in two versions, the AV-20 at $499 and the AV-20-S at $895. The difference? The AV-20-S has pitot/static input so it can display real airspeed, not GPS-derived groundspeed and it also functions as a capable attitude gyro. The entry-level AV-20 lacks the plumbing input and has no gyro, but it has multilevel clock and timer functions. Both are approved for installation under the FAA's NORSEE rule-non-required safety enhancing equipment. Technically, that means it can't replace a panel clock if the airplane requires one, nor can it provide a legal attitude source backup if one of those is needed.

Paul Bertorelli
Verified

Against an onslaught of inexpensive if not cheap electronic displays, how much longer can conventional iron gyros persist? The latest nail in the coffin comes from a startup called AeroVonics, which unveiled a pair of new instruments at AirVenture last year aimed center-lane at legacy panels.

The company has two models: The diminutive AV-20 that’s best thought of as a clock with high-level features and the more sophisticated and flexible AV-30 that mimics the look of a traditional spinning gyro, but overlays a ton of additional flight data. Both are priced as bargain entries.

Paul Bertorelli

Paul Bertorelli is Aviation Consumer’s Editor at Large. In addition to his valued contributions to Aviation Consumer, his in-depth video productions on sister publication AVweb cover a wide variety of topics that greatly contribute to safety, operation and aircraft ownership. When Paul isn’t writing or filming, he’s out flying his J3 Cub.