Levil Technology's New ADS-B/AHRS

[Mike53]

I'm looking for opinions on Levil's new ADS-B/AHRS .On paper it looks like a great idea but I'm new to all this glass cockpit stuff .Is this a good idea?Are there any drawbacks to be aware of?
For $1200 plus an I-pad it looks pretty good.The less wires I have to deal with the better :oops: http://youtu.be/8I0Imbfx4Nk http://www.aviation.levil.com/iLevil.htm
Thanks for your opinions.
Mike

[EricS]

If it's stable and reliable, it might be a good solution for saving some money and like you said Mike, wiring too. All this assumes you're talking about day VFR flying only. I like the idea of being able to have a nearly blank panel and attach an iPhone/iPad/iPad mini first without committing to $5000 + for a hard mounted-system. Technology is changing so rapidly, and once built, I plan on keeping my aircraft a while. I don't want to feel like I need to update/replace my panel every 6 or 7 years. I can't get a laptop to last more than 4 years! Then again, it is probably better to install everything before the entire plane is finished.

Levil's site says they are coming out with a Plus version that integrates engine monitoring. It's already priced at $1995. Add a new iPad, Wing X subscription, and an engine sensor kit + RDAC...you're then getting close to having the same money invested as a hard-mounted system. Also, I think I would still want a backup ASI and compass, at a minimum. This video shows AvWeb testing the older version that Levil has: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VscxbLCwU3w


I’d be interested to see what others think too!

I couldn't help myself. It's not completely accurate, but was fun to stich all the images together. Panel image using the iPhone and iPad mini with the iLevil driving the AHRS and ADS-B. Reality...maybe one day :lol

[pgerhardt]

I have been experimenting with using some of the new technoligies. Last year when I purchased my already built Waiex s/n 148 I used ForeFlight and an iPod Touch w/ Dual XGPS 150a to navigate, it worked great! Last Christmas my wife bought me an iPad Mini and a few weeks ago I purchased an iLevil AH (with pitot static). As the ForeFlight subscription was running out I signed up for the 30 day free trial of WingX and tested the iLevil AH in the air first w/o pitot static I just put it on the seat and it seemed like it was working well. The ADS-B Rx was updating the wx in the air and the AHRS seemed to be working. The next flight I placed the iLevil AH on the floor, passenger side near centerline and as far back as possible. The AHRS was now not working well and "tumbling" and drifting. At this point I was using two 1" squares of velcro to stick it on the floor. It was vibrating way too much and I could feel it vibrating with my hand, it was really shaking. Next flight I added a 3rd velcro and I cut the pitot static lines and "T'd" in the iLevil AH. The next flight the pitot static input was turned on in WingX and the ASI matched my MGL Flight Instrument to within 1 MPH so that is good. The AHRS was more stable and it did not tumble but still was drifting some and did not match out the window. I reached down and the floor really vibrates there at speed and this is causing a problem still. I was attempting a short X-Country on this flight and the moving map was working fine, also there was a green radar overlay showing and sure enough it was raining a few miles ahead so the ADSB Radar was working nicely. I think that the floor at least in front of the spar vibrates too much for the AHRS. Next I think I will mount it behind the spar on the floor and try it again. The factory has provided great support and answered all my questions. I have also tried the 30 day trial of FlyQ and last weekend they had a special offer of 20$ off so I bought a year of VFR. The FlyQ is very nice in fact I prefer the user interface but it DOES NOT support the pitot static only WingX does this and it is more$ to get the synthetic vision and VFR although I may get it for the pitot static support.

My current instrumentation is only the MGL Flight 2 and E1 EMS. The moving tapes on the iPad are easier for me to read although I guess I have gotten used to reading the Digital LCD numbers on the MGL instruments.

My next step is to construct a mount for the iPod Mini to fit on the dash and find a more stable position.

DC - I did wire in the iLevil to the aircraft power it comes on with the master. The iLevil draws about 50ma except when you first power it on it will try to charge the internal battery (you can use it portable or you can have a backup battery) it may draw 500ma if the internal battery is flat. I have it on a 1amp circuit with one of the MGL instruments.

[pgerhardt]

After more than one year now of flying with the iLevil AW I think it is a good product. I have used the ilvil box mounted under the seat cushion with velcro and it seems fine. Eventually I think a foam pad on the floor under the seat right behind the spar would be better but under the seat cushion you can tighten up the ant connectors or reach the power switch if you need to (only if you lose aircraft pwr to run it on its internal bat) other wise it comes on with the master switch. All the features work well and I really like the ADS-b traffic and the WX Radar features. I have been using FLY Q and have the latest ver. I still want to try the WingX for the ability to read the pitot static ports on the ilevil and may still do so. The FlyQ interface is really nice though.

There is now a new ver of the iLevil that offers dual band ADSb in ( I think they added the 1098mhz band and I forget what else this gives) and they said the gyros are more stable ( I suspect this is a firmware upgrade but not sure)

Just flew to the American Sonex fly in in Ashboro, NC last weekend and it worked perfect.