Announcement from MGL Avionics

[rainier]

Hi fellow flyers,
It's time to make an announcement for those not already in the know.

We are about to release the fabulous new Stratomaster Enigma glass cockpit system which is currently being exibited at Oshkosh where it is proving both a show stopper as well as great cause for concern to our international competition. More details on our website on this ground breaking development that has now firmly and without doubt put South Africa in the very top rung in high tech light aircraft glass cockpits.

In addition, due to our ever increasing exports, we have attained real buying power for electronic components and we are going to pass that on to you. In full.
The remarkable and popular Stratomaster Ultra HXL glass cockpit is now availble at an incredible R5600.00 (+probes etc). This price INCLUDES 14% VAT. This is a full R1000 less than our previous price. Despite the Rand going south. Is there a better choice ? We think not...

Cheers

Rainier

[Morph]

Congrats Rainier,

This is indeed good news. I have had a cursory look at the Enigma and it looks awesome. Well done

Proudly South African



BTW you can see all Rainier's products here http://www.mglavionics.co.za/

[Thunderboy]

Sounds good What is the website

[RV4ker (RIP)]

I have flown behind the BW version and it great. This looks excellent.... The maps look like scanned aviation maps and not comp graphics... (Nice if it is)

Any idea on price R.....

[Smiley]

Wow! It looks awesome!

Can you please give me the dimension? LxBxH

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Asked same Question. Was told it same as ultra

Ultra Display unit:
Size: 202x135 mm. Mounting depth 95mm (including connectors and wiring). Panel cutout 196x122 mm.

[The Agent]

Please send me more info and a website very interested.

[rainier]

The dimensions are the same as our Ultra HXL, even the electrical connections fit so it is fully compatible. The size is a result of long tweaking to get just the right combination between what you need and what you got, i.e. try to get the best prossible compromise between typically avialable panel size and screen size.
However, for those flying bigger iron (which are probably not many on this forum), we have started work on a large screen version that is similar to the $50.000 units fitted as option to new Cessnas (i.e. the big Garmin G1000 units). As Enigma has been designed scalable, all the hard work for this has been done already.

Price for Enigma is R12.250 for the panel which includes VAT, active GPS antenna and a full set of digital aviation maps for Southern Africa as published plus a comprehensive waypoint/airfield database. Yes, these are actual scanned aviation maps. Enigma can also do digital vector maps (but I prefer the scanned maps, just so much nicer).
The the price above you would add probes and sensors as required (ours or others). Enigma can also do dual engines (in case somebody with big iron is ready this). And yes, it really does talk to you. The copilot mode in particular that reads our airspeeds on landing is a god-send (at least for me).

The price is less than even the lowest cost, much smaller U.S. made panel that does not even do a tiny fraction of what you get with Enigma. This is not because we do things cheaply. In fact Enigma is so modern, the main processor chip that we use has only been released 6 weeks ago (we were using engineering samples during development). The fine structure, gold plated 6 layer PCB is the highest technology board of it's kind ever produced in South Africa. The reason we are cheaper is because we design cleverly and we don't load the price. Prices are based on what it costs to make. Not on how much we could get.

Some people will buy expensive because they think they will get better. That is not always the case.

Cheers

Rainier

[RV4ker (RIP)]

However, for those flying bigger iron (which are probably not many on this forum), we have started work on a large screen version that is similar to the $50.000 units fitted as option to new Cessnas (i.e. the big Garmin G1000 units). As Enigma has been designed scalable, all the hard work for this has been done already.

Would love to fit one to the Albat. Panel space is not a problem , so may wait for the bigger one. 2x 340hp GSIO 470 engines

As far as CAA and certification it would be a back up system and the steam gauges would still remain as primary. Same way as all IF guys are using analoge DME's rather than GPS

[RudiGreyling]

http://www.mglavionics.co.za/

Ranier,

1) what resulotion and dimension for the Big one in the works?
2) is it possible to get actual screen shots, since you are demoing it at Oshkosh??
3) When and where can we see a demo in Gauteng?

Kind Regards
Rudi

[rainier]

the big one is likely to have a 10.4" screen. We are looking at other sizes as well but that is our favourite currently.
As you may know, color screens have trouble in sunlight so this limits the available supply dramatically. Good screens are few and far inbetween and tend to be pricey and difficult to get. We actualy teemed up with a display manufacturer and we have modified displays for our needs - with great success. Our screens can now operate in worst case conditions with direct sunlight directly onto the display surface (and you can still see everything perfectly). We are looking to do the same with a 10.4" display but it can be a hard task playing with color filters, polarizers, backlights, diffusers and a host of other things.

Aviation Engines has two on the waiting list and I'm sure they will put one on display. Engima has a cute "demo mode" which is currently being used at Oshkosh where it 'flies around" so you can see all the displays in action.

I don't have any actual screen shots, I have not really spent the time yet to take photos.
In any case, Enigma has 9 available screens and you can define each of them in tiny detail yourself. Considering that you have hundreds of data sources and visual representation available and each can be modified to suit your tastes - well, the sky is no longer the limit.

The sample screens on our website are actualy quite crappy (they were done in a hurry). The screens I have installed for Osh are really nice (in fact, while I am typing this, I am looking at one in demo mode next to my PC).

Oh yes, perhaps I should mention that I have a complete, full feature simulator that runs on a PC, just like the real instrument with all the functions. It's part of the software package that comes with Enigma (and will be avialble for free download). It is mainly intended for those that want to try out things (to see what Enigma does) as well as to try out your own screen designes without having to first install them on a real system.

Rainier

[RudiGreyling]

Ranier, thanks,

Let us know when aviation engines get it, or when the download is available for the demo, i want to go have a look.

Thanks
Rudi

[Redeye]

This thing looks perfect for my Self launch glider- Can I down load flights into a PDA from it and how do I go about buying one- I want one

[rainier]

Hi Redeye,
how are you doing ?

Downloading into a PDA ? What for ?
Enigma comes with SD card interface and has a built in flight log that can store, automatically, the details "flight folio style" of your last 1000 flights. It further has a flight data recording mode (i.e. "black box" style recording of all flight, attitude, position and engine data directly onto the SD card). You can also do "breadcrumb" recordings of your flightpath for viewing and superimposing onto maps later on (either with our flight planning software or with others when they adapt our formats). We include flight planning software for free (with all the maps - and you can even use your own maps, even a hand drawn scribble will work in Enigma - you just tell it where the scribble is supposed to be).

For the glider, you will like our total energy compensated VSI (that shows actual lift and sink, not "stick" induced lift and sink) in combination with the moving VSI history graph that shows you very nicely thermal activity encountered during the flightpath of your last 90 seconds.

OK, now for the bad news.
While we are shipping the first batch in about three weeks time, batches 1 and two are sold out and batch 3 is filling up real fast (100 units to a batch). Batch 3 is expected to come off the line in December. We should be in a position to increase production in the new year.
As mentioned on our website, we do have a waiting list unfortunately so if you want one, just drop us an e-mail and we put you on the list. No money is required up front.

Cheers

Rainier

[Redeye]

Thanx Rainer- I didnt know about the card- I like to review my flights afterwards- The Cambrige 302 and PDA in my glider cost about 30k
and your ubit can do a lot more- Please put me on the waiting list I wont one.