Grob has picked Honeywell's Apex integrated cockpit for its G160 Ranger single-turboprop business aircraft. The German manufacturer is the first announced customer for Apex, but Honeywell says the system has been picked for two other aircraft programmes yet to be revealed. First flight of the carbonfibre-composite seven-seater is imminent.
The standard Apex system in the G160 features three 265mm (10.4in)-diagonal liquid-crystal displays, engine indicating and crew alerting system, communication/navigation radios, digital autopilot and enhanced ground-proximity warning system. Options include weather radar, traffic collision avoidance system, radio altimeter and Honeywell's flight information system datalink.
Initial deliveries of the G160, beginning in 2005, will be with Honeywell's EFS-40 electronic flight-instrument system, with Apex being installed as standard from 2006. The pressurised G160 is powered by an 850shp (635kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A, giving a 270kt (500km/h) cruise speed.
Source: Flight International
