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Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 10:48:15 -0500
From: Brent Regan <Brent@regandesigns.com>
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To: Lancair List <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: RE: Blue Mountain Avionics -- the engineers reply
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          <<  Lancair Builders' Mail List  >>
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Ouch!

At the risk of starting another playground range war I would like to clarify
some of my reasoning and correct some items regarding Blue Mountain Avionics
(BMA).

Regan Designs (www.regandesigns.com) is a design and consulting firm. Sierra
Flight Systems LLC (SFS) is a client of Regan Designs Inc. Some of our other
clients include Rockwell Collins, Northstar Technologies, Jeppesen,
Qualtair, Honeywell,  and Boeing. Since '94 we have designed over a dozen
computer and display systems for use in private, commercial and military
aircraft. Five of these designs are available as products.  All were tested
under DO160D. Three are either FAA certified or have passed the hardware
testing required for certification.

For Sierra Flight Systems we designed the overall hardware architecture and
designed the hardware, electronics and low level software for the IDU (the
processor, display and IO). Sierra Flight Systems integrates the IDUs with
the AHRS, GPS and application software. Regan Designs does not sell the SFS
hardware. Regan Designs does not receive a commission on SFS sales.

<We are currently pursuing type certification for it, so it can't be
complete junk>

The "pursuit" of certification says nothing about the quality of the
hardware and software. IMHO, based on my experiences with the certification
process and the (limited) representations available at the Blue Mountain web
site, the Blue Mountain system is uncertifiable in it's present incarnation
and will require significant modification before the FAA will ever give it
the nod. I can say this because we have been there and done that.

<To Brent's dislike of my system all I can offer is to take a look at it
first, and consider the source.  He is selling a similar product for 5x
what we are, but the systems are different.>

I do not sell SFS hardware. I do not "dislike" you or your system. I do try
to be objective. The 5X figure is an exaggeration. In order to even start
comparing the BMA system to the SFS EFIS 2000 you have to configure them
similarly. For that you need TWO complete BMA systems less vacuum gyros
($1,200 each) and add a solid state AHRS. You have now spent about $25,000
(more than half the cost of an EFIS 2000) and you still don't have 3D
navigation (the real reason you want a glass system in the first place) or
Wx interface, or TCAD interface, or UPS interface or autopilot interface or
one of the dozen additional interfaces the EFIS already has. You are also
missing several potentially life saving features like terrain avoidance,
dynamic dead stick landing range (corrected for wind, turns and terrain),
G-meter and "highway in the sky" enroute and approach navigation among
others.

You will also have to find room on the panel for two 10.4 inch displays
(good luck) and give up night flying because the displays won't dim down far
enough. Those two 1500 nit (a nit is a candela per square meter and is a
measure of light intensity) displays turn into spot lights after sunset. For
displays that large you need to dim them to less than 0.5 nit to preserve
night vision (Boeing specification). We designed a proprietary backlight
system for SFS to accomplish this.

<As to why he is attacking it so vehemently without seeing it, please see
above.>

I haven't seen it because there are only three flying and the website is a
little short on specifications. I would not characterize my critical
observations as an attack but I can understand how you may feel that way. As
to "vehement" those that know me will tell you that this isn't even close to
vehement.

Again, IMHO the majority of vendors out there offering glass have missed the
mark. Most glass simply displays analog gauges in a digital format. Big
deal. You gain nothing. SFS was the first to step back from the problem and
ask "What information does the pilot need to know to fly the airplane and
live to tell about it?" and then implement a system that displays that
information in a clear and intuitive manner. Others are starting to copy the
SFS paradigm, notable among them is BFG.

Like "The Matrix", you cannot be told what the SFS EFIS 2000 is. You have to
see it for yourself to fully understand and appreciate it.

If you are considering glass for your airplane it is IMPERATIVE that you fly
before you buy. The marketplace is full of newcomers AND the technology is
changing rapidly. Under no circumstances should you make a major avionics
purchase based on web sites, marketing BS and arm waving (especially from an
vehemently attacking, hateful BS artist like myself ;) See it, play with it
and fly it or live to regret your decision.

I regret if Greg finds my comments personally offensive. That was not my
intent. Be assured, and other members of the list can testify, that I do not
discriminate......most find me offensive at times ;) If, however, you make a
claim that you have a product that is competitive on function and
reliability at a minor fraction the price then you had better be prepared
with some well founded answers to serious questions.

Regards
Brent Regan





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