Based in La Rochelle, France, Elixir Aircraft is a fourth-generation Part 23 aircraft manufacturer.

The Elixir is a low-wing, T-tail design. The cockpit for the two-place trainer consists of dual Garmin G3X touchscreens, a GTN750xi, and Garmin GNC355a comms and nav backup unit.

According to the company, the Garmin avionics suite is “built to withstand the rigors for flight training” in addition to offering an aircraft that is more environmentally friendly than its predecessors in the training market as it reduces “carbon emissions by nearly 70 percent compared to other old generation aircraft.”

The company is pursuing FAA Part 23 certification.

The Elixir comes equipped with a ballistic parachute, AoA indicator, double-slotted electric flaps, an explosion resistance fuel tank, and reinforced oleo-pneumatic landing gear and combined nose wheel, which offers a wide track and low center of gravity to minimize bounced landings associated with loss of control accidents and runway excursions.

The cockpit is designed to appeal to the global training market, said Mike Tonkin, worldwide head of sales for Elixir Aircraft. Tonkin noted that the average age of the single-engine piston training fleet is 48 years old.

• READ MORE: Elixir Trainers Land at Airbus Academy Europe

“As we know the aging single-engine piston fleet needs replacing globally,” Tonkin said. “At Elixir Aircraft we feel we have the perfect EASA CS Part 23-certified aircraft to meet the current market requirements. The Elixir is modern, safe, versatile, and extremely cost-effective with an average hourly operating cost of around 50 euros per hour [$53.97] for any ATO/FTO flying around 500 hours per year per aircraft.” 

About the Company

Elixir Aircraft was established in 2015 with a goal to create safer, more economical, and versatile aircraft for the global training market. According to the company, the aircraft are designed to be resistant to technical failures and learner friendly. To that end, Elixir Aircraft uses the Carbon Oneshot, a technology utilized in competitive sailing, to simplify the structures.

According to Elixir, “more simplicity means less failure, therefore more safety, but also less maintenance and less costs.” The company estimates the hourly operations cost for its aircraft to be approximately $60, factoring in fuel and maintenance.

In June, Elixir announced an expansion of its headquarters in La Rochelle to 150,000 square feet. The company plans to produce more than 300 aircraft a year and employ more than 1,000 people by 2033.

The post Elixir Aircraft Glass Cockpit EASA Certified appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to Garmin, the GI 275 is a direct replacement for a variety of legacy primary flight instruments in the cockpit, including the primary attitude indicator, course deviation indicator (CDI), horizontal situation indicator (HSI), or the multi-function display (MFD).

The GI 275 is designed to fit the popular 3.125-inch flight instrument size, which will reduce installation time while simultaneously preserving panel real estate.

The GI 275 features a bright, high-resolution touchscreen display and wide viewing angle. A dual concentric knob allows pilots to access a variety of key functions including primary attitude indicator, Course Deviation Indicator and multifunction display.

The GI 275 secured one of FLYING’s Editors Choice Awards for 2022.

GI 275 as AI

When installed as a primary attitude indicator, the GI 275 offers improved reliability over vacuum-driven instruments along with potential weight saving and reduced maintenance.

Garmin notes “Optional Helicopter Synthetic Vision Technology (HSVT) overlays a rich, 3D topographic view of terrain, traffic, obstacles, power lines, airport signposts and more, all within the GI 275 attitude display.”

• READ MORE: FAA OKs Electronic Flight Instrument for Two Robinsons

The attitude indicator also displays outside air temperature, groundspeed, as well as true airspeed and wind information, and wireless functionality like sharing of GPS position and backup attitude information to the Garmin Pilot mobile application.

GI 275 as CDI/HSI

When installed as a Course Deviation Indicator or Horizontal Situation Indicator (CDI or HSI), the GI 275 is designed to accept a variety of GPS and navigation inputs that allows up to two GPS sources and two VHF navigation sources.

The GI 275 features an Omni Bearing Resolver that allows the flight instrument to interface to a variety of legacy navigators on the market to avoid the need for an expensive adapter. The GI 275 has an optional magnetometer, which enables it to provide magnetic-based HSI guidance. The HSI can also provide enhanced features such as map inset and traffic, terrain or weather overlay.

Selecting the source is accomplished through the touchscreen interface, while course and heading selection is completed using either the touchscreen or dual concentric knob.

Multi-function display (MFD)

The GI 275 adds MFD-like capabilities. Aircraft owners can take advantage of a moving map, weather, traffic, WireAware for powerline avoidance, SafeTaxi airport diagrams and five-color terrain shading. A built-in VFR GPS provides convenient direct-to navigational guidance on a moving map.

• READ MORE: Garmin Adds Functionality to GI 275, Additional STCs for GFC 600

In addition, Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTWAS) is available on the GI 2753 and offers forward-looking terrain and obstacle avoidance (FLTA) capability, giving the pilot information in advance to avoid potential hazards.

Garmin notes the GI 275 can also be paired with Garmin’s GRA 55 or GRA 5500 radar altimeters, or other select third-party products, to display altitude above ground level while also providing visual and aural annunciations to the pilot.

The Details

The GI 275 comes with a two-year warranty and is available as a retrofit for the AS350 BA, B2, B3 and B3E variants.

The post Garmin Receives GI 275 STC for Airbus Helicopters appeared first on FLYING Magazine.