540 to 550 Upgrade Path

Thanks for the update.

This could be good! Thanks look forward to next week!

Tomorrow is the last working day of the "week of 23".... just sayin'

Here are the details for the 550 upgrade program which we will be rolling out this week:

For current IFD540 owners
Avidyne’s IFD540-->IFD550 Trade-In Program is a limited-time offer for current IFD540 owners who would like to move up to the IFD550.  Customers can sign up now to trade in your IFD540 + $5,000 and get an IFD550 w/new 2 year warranty (or a full 4 years of warranty with AeroPlan^®). This $5,000 upgrade pricing is only available until the IFD550 is certified. Upon certification of the IFD550, the standard 540-to-550 trade-in price will be starting at $7,000. Pricing does not include shipping or installation fees. Avidyne is accepting full-payment reservations for up to 10 upgrade slots per month on a first-come, first-served basis.

IFD550 Early Purchase
Avidyne’s IFD550 early-purchase program allows aircraft owners who do not currently have an IFD to act now and install an IFD540 today and swap it out for the IFD550 once it is certified—there’s no reason to wait!  Customer pays for IFD540 + $3,500 (50% of retail cost to upgrade to 550) now.  The difference in retail price between the IFD540 and IFD550 is $5,000. With this offer, customers can place an order for the IFD550 now, install a IFD540 today and only pay additional $3,500 (a savings of $1,500) versus waiting until IFD550 is available. Upgrade payment of $3,500 due at the time of initial purchase. With this program, the customer can begin to enjoy the ease of use and fun of flying the IFD540 now, and get the added benefits of the IFD550 once it becomes available.

For more information contact sales at 800-284-3963 or sales(at)avidyne.com

Edited by AviSimpson - 31 May 2016 at 3:02pm

I know this is a foolish question to ask . .  but here goes . . . any rough idea of when the IFD550 will be certified?

Hi guys, A few questions from me: Is there any further wiring to be done to the existing IFD540 tray installation to make the IFD550 work? Will the IFD550 require factory installed hardware modifications after I install it? I assume the upgrade will be like for like... If I have the 16W Comms in my IFD540 then I'll have the same in the 550 right? I'm located in Australia, will you guys consider sending the IFD550 to my avionics shop before I send back my IFD540 to minimise downtime. And do you expect the FAA STC to be completed in weeks, months or years? I'd like to know how long I have to pledge my donation for an upgrade.
Cheers
Andy

Edited by vuk3@me.com - 31 May 2016 at 6:30pm

Aside of being a fancy display, what is the STC going to bring? Like, can it be used as a standby A.I. for a glass panel?

TurboPA30 wrote: Aside of being a fancy display, what is the STC going to bring? Like, can it be used as a standby A.I. for a glass panel?

hamilton wrote: Seeings you have pricing in this thread, would you have any idea on list price for an IFD545?

Edited by LANCE - 31 May 2016 at 7:03pm

AviJake wrote: The upgrade from a 540 to a 550 can be 100% plug and play.   There are asterisks associated with that statement.  For example, did you have heading input to the 540?  If yes, then you will get the TVV part of the 550 to show up. If not, then either you don't get the TVV, or you must add a heading source input to the 540.

So I'm trying to understand this statement.  Currently in my 540 installation, I have no inertial input.  I display track and not heading.  Do I have to add an inertial to upgrade from a 540 -> 550? or will the internal  AHRS in the 550 be sufficient for the SV to work, given that I will not use this as a primary or backup source.  Promise......

I just want to slide the 540 out and slide the 550 to get SV.

Edited by tony - 01 Jun 2016 at 8:13am

What is TVV? 

Edited by AviSimpson - 01 Jun 2016 at 12:14pm

Where and when on the early application form.

I'm a TVV junkie.  I don't care where my aircraft is heading, I only care where it is going.  The TVV shows that.  

Could I ask what's happening to the traded-in IFD540s? Will Avidyne just rebuild them as IFD550s? Or will they be re-sold as "certified refurbished" IFD540s?

Is there any video that shows the TVV in action?

oskrypuch wrote: A FPV (flight path vector) or TVV is an incredibly powerful tool. * Orest

Can you illuminate some of it's uses?

Put the circle on where you want to go, and the plane goes there. You can fill in any number of tasks there, whether level at cruise, or maneuvering.

David I agree with you. What it will be displaying is you pitch angle relative to the horizon in straight and level flight. It will not show your angle-of-attack.

A drawing makes it more obvious.

Edited by oskrypuch - 04 Jun 2016 at 8:23pm

Yes, typo, should be 4*.

Edited by oskrypuch - 04 Jun 2016 at 9:28pm

OK, now I can see that AOA can in fact be calculated from the TVV vs pitch. Thanks for the clear explanation O. I learned something today!     :-)

[/QUOTE] [/QUOTE]

n7ifr wrote: ... Great forum - Thanks Orest.   I always learn new stuff here. Tom Wolf

Edited by oskrypuch - 04 Jun 2016 at 10:53pm

Edited by ddgates - 11 Jun 2016 at 1:11pm