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I fly with a Sandel HSI in a Cessna 210. I have no problem reading the display at night or when the panel is not in direct sunlight. It is less easy to read in direct sunlight (especially when compared to a conventional HSI), but it is still readable without straining my eyes. It is almost impossible to read from the co-pilot's side during the day (not in direct sunlight). It is definitely impossible to read from the co-pilot's side when in direct sunlight. The chances that my instrument panel is in direct sunlight are small because the wings block the sun. Things may be different in a low-wing plane. Besides, if the panel is in direct sunlight, I am probably flying VFR and I am looking outside the cockpit and not at the Sandel.
I feel that the benefits of the Sandel (compared to a conventional HSI) far outweigh the disadvantages. I am very happy with it in my spam can. If I was to start building my own plane today (which I will do eventually) I would put in the SFS unit. I think the Sandel is the best you can get for a certified (non-experimental) airplane.
Advantages:
Stormscope display (BFG WX500 only)
Moving map
RMI bearing pointers
Auto-slew of course pointer when flying with a GPS
No vacuum required
Disadvantages:
Light bulb must be changed every 200 hours
Requires an external (remote) compass system
Slightly more diffucult to read in direct sunlight and at an angle
Marc Clemente
Cessna T210 N5490A 100%
LNC4P 0%
I also noticed that the Sandel HSI was not easily visible from angles, such
as from the co-pilot seat. This is why I went with the King HSI.
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