Design, Development, and Flight Test of a Demonstration Advanced Avionics System

Book excerpt: Ames Research Center initiated a program in 1975 to provide the critical information required for the design of integrated avionics suitable for general aviation. The program has emphasized the use of data busing, distributed microprocessors, shared electronic displays and data entry devices, and improved functional capability. Design considerations have included cost, reliability, maintainability, and modularity. As a final step, a demonstration advanced avionics system (DAAS) was designed, built, and flight tested in a Cessna 402, twin-engine, general-aviation aircraft. This paper provides a functional description of the DAAS, including a description of the system architecture, and briefly reviews the program and flight-test results.