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Editorial

First Word: 09/07

Normally, about three days into non-stop AirVenture coverage at Oshkosh, I have a world-class case of the thousand-yard stare. If Im lucky, the vague rivulets of spittle in the corners of my mouth don't run onto my shirt. This year, there was more new stuff, more airplanes, more vendors and more self-important media pukes running around with notebooks, cameras and recorders than I can ever remember. As Martha Stewart used to say before she taught the girls in C-block to make festive place settings out of prison shivs, its a good thing.

Paul Bertorelli
Verified

YAWNING OUR WAY THROUGH EFIS

Normally, about three days into non-stop AirVenture coverage at Oshkosh, I have a world-class case of the thousand-yard stare. If Im lucky, the vague rivulets of spittle in the corners of my mouth don’t run onto my shirt. This year, there was

more new stuff, more airplanes, more vendors and more self-important media pukes running around with notebooks, cameras and recorders than I can ever remember. As Martha Stewart used to say before she taught the girls in C-block to make festive place settings out of prison shivs, its a good thing.

Well, maybe its not

all good. I hit the wall between Aspens and Bendix/Kings booth. After looking at both of their new EFIS offerings, I was suddenly seized by the realization that what we have here is a failure of imagination in designing displays. Five years into glass cockpits as standard fare in new airplanes, were still looking at displays that mimic the look of steam gauges. If I never see another electronic AI projected on a blue and brown background, I wont feel deprived. Garmins G1000, Avidynes Entegra and the new stuff from Bendix/King and Aspen (see page 14 of this issue) are solid, competent and well-designed products. And their displays are just boring as hell. I submit that its time to rethink the basic EFIS

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.