Posted for "Alan K. Adamson" <aadamson@highrf.com>:
PRESS RELEASE
July 9, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Marc Ausman
505 715-6172
Vertical Power
Vertical Power to Announce New, Solid-State Intelligent Electrical Control
System
Albuquerque, NM - July 9, 2007 - Vertical Power will announce the VP-200 at
AirVenture 2007. The VP-200 uses microprocessors and solid-state switches to
provide advanced electrical system features, simplified aircraft wiring, and
the ability to eliminate dozens of modules, breakers and switches typically
found in today's aircraft. The VP-200 is for use with experimental and light
sport aircraft. Right-click here to download pictures. To help protect your
privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of this picture from the
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"In the last five years or so there has been a very significant shift in
general aviation aircraft from mechanical systems to all-electronic systems.
Trim, flaps, EFIS, ignitions, and engine monitoring functions have all gone
electronic, yet the electrical system in your aircraft is the same as it was
50 years ago," said Marc Ausman, President of Vertical Power and an RV-7
builder/pilot. "The electrical system is so much more important now and
pilots need more information and more options for electrical control. Moving
to the VP-200 is similar to aircraft navigation using a VOR needle and then
installing a GPS moving map. You can do it the old way, but the new way
gives you much better awareness and a lower workload."
"Now that electronics are such an important part of today's aircraft, I see
intelligent electrical control systems as the next important advancement in
general aviation aircraft," said Gordon Pratt, VP of Business Development,
Cobham Avionics and Surveillance and member of the Vertical Power Board of
Advisors. "This is as significant as the change from round dials to a
synthetic vision system like the Chelton FlightLogic EFIS we pioneered
nearly a decade ago."
During a typical flight the VP-200 has the unique ability to automatically
track various flight stages, each one representing a specific "mode" of
ground or flight operations. For each mode (Pre-Flight, Before Start, Start,
After-Start, Taxi, Run-Up, Takeoff, Cruise, Maneuver, Landing, and
Post-Flight) the pilot can:
*
define which electrical devices (lights, radios, pumps, etc.) are
automatically turned on and off,
*
configure the presentation of the engine instruments to optimize and
de-clutter the display,
*
specify a checklist that appears when switching into a particular
mode.
On the ground, the pilot pre-configures the VP-200 to match the way he flies
and the way he wants the system to operate. For example, the VP-200 can be
configured to turn on the landing lights and boost pump automatically in
Takeoff and Landing modes. The run-up checklist can be set to appear when a
run-up is performed. The pitch trim system can be set to be less sensitive
above a pre-configured air speed.
In addition to the mode-based switching, the pilot has full manual control
over the electrical system and can turn each electrical device on and off
individually, either with "soft keys" on the display or with external
switches. The pilot can also see the real-time status of the electrical
system on a graphic display, similar to what is found on newer business and
commercial jets.
"The VP-200 handles many of the routine tasks that a pilot performs on
every flight so the pilot can spend more time looking outside the cockpit
and focus on flying the airplane," said Kevin DeVries, Vice President of
Engineering at Vertical Power. "The VP-200 is designed to be very fault
tolerant and allows the builder to incorporate numerous backups if desired."
In addition to full electrical device control, a few of the features
include:
*
a wireless key fob that can turn on and off electrical devices,
including the cabin lights and can perform a check of the exterior lights,
*
visual and aural alerts when a circuit fault occurs, including
protection for short circuits, over-current, over-voltage, and under-voltage
conditions,
*
visual and aural alerts when engine parameters exceed limits,
*
automatic pitch trim biasing when flaps are lowered, and variable
speed pitch trim,
*
runaway trim & flap protection with backup controls and audible gear
and flap warnings,
*
configures the trim and flaps after engine start and engine
shutdown,
*
user-configurable flap behavior with adjustable intermediate stops,
*
landing lights can flash/wig-wag,
*
alerts when a landing light burns out,
*
alerts when the mag switch is set incorrectly,
*
timed shut-off of the master switch after engine shutdown.
Vertical Power is also introducing a new and safer way to handle
emergencies. Press the red emergency button on the VP-200 and select from a
list of emergencies shown on the display (alternator failure, electrical
fumes, engine failure, and engine fire). The VP-200 then executes a
pre-configured set of actions. For example, if the primary alternator fails,
with two button presses the system begins load shedding, switches to the
backup alternator and brings up the alternator failure checklist.
Aircraft wiring is also simplified using the VP-200. The builder simply runs
wires from the VP-200 to each electrical device such as a radio,
transponder, landing light, flap motor, or battery contactor. Switches,
circuit breakers, diodes, mechanical relays, complex bus architectures, and
various modules are mostly eliminated. In contrast to a switch and circuit
breaker panel that requires mechanical or electrical modifications to
support changes, the VP-200 can be configured using setup menus. This allows
the system to be configured for the wide range of designs found among
experimental aircraft and allows future changes to be made very easily.
Future software upgrades can be downloaded from the Vertical Power web site
and installed via a USB port.
The VP-200 integrates with most popular engine monitors such as the
Electronics International MVP-50, Grand Rapids Technologies EIS, Advanced
Flight Systems AF-3400/3500EE, and Dynon FlightDEK-D180. Additionally, it
can integrate with most popular GPS and EFIS systems including the Chelton
EFIS & GADAHRS, Garmin G900X, Garmin 430/530/480, and Grand Rapids
Technologies EFIS.
Vertical Power will launch the new VP-200 and VP-200 Duo (supports dual
independent electrical busses) systems at the Experimental Aircraft
Association Airventure 2007 July 23-29 in Oshkosh, WI. The VP-200 retails
for $6,495 and the VP-200 Duo retails for $9,995, and will begin shipping in
August 2007. Vertical Power will be exhibiting at Oshkosh, Hangar B booth
2024. For more information, please visit
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=cv8raccab.0.yufbr6bab.siapq6bab.146&ts=S0261&p=http
%3A%2F%2Fwww.verticalpower.com%2F> www.VerticalPower.com.
About Vertical Power
Vertical power is in the business of designing and producing modern,
intelligent electrical control systems for experimental and light sport
aircraft. The company is applying advanced solid-state electronics to reduce
wiring complexity, simplify wiring installation, reduce pilot workload, and
enhance a pilot's ability to respond to in-flight emergencies.
Vertical Power is the first company to develop intelligent,
microprocessor-based electrical control systems for the non-certified
aircraft market. The company is based in Albuquerque, NM and sells its
products directly to customers and through select dealers. Vertical Power
was co-founded by Marc Ausman, Kevin DeVries, and Jake Dostal in June 2006.
Six patents have been filed covering various aspects of the VP-200 system.