Recreational Flying EFB

[Admin]

The Recreational Flying EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) is on its way!!!

 

Recreational Flying 10.2 inch, Android 2.2 (Froyo), GPS, HDMI, EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) Tablet PC

 

Core

 

Android 2.2 (Froyo) Operating System

 

Google Market Applications

 

CE, FCC, ROHS

 

512MB/16GB/7000mAh/GPS/HDMI

 

10.2 inch

 

It is basically the best tablet PC on the Market, it has a powerful and comprehensive latest operating system from Android (Google). This tablet pc is extremely powerful reacting to your input very quickly and smoothly. The EFB features a TF card slot supporting up to 32GB of extra external storage (total of 48gig storage), an RJ45 port that is ideal for connecting to a network for internet surfing, WiFi for use in hot spots or a WiFi network, external GPS antenna, 2 x standard USB 2.0 ports, HDMI plug for high definition video output, high resolution screen, high quality stereo speakers and more.

 

One of the best features of this fantastic EFB is the GPS with an external antenna, it makes it so much easier to place it anywhere in the cockpit to access the GPS applications or even in the car to use the Google Map feature together with the GPS.

 

Many Android market applications are preinstalled and you can download thousands of other apps that you find useful for free!

 

Specifications

 

CPU: Infortm X220 1GHz ARM11

 

Standard Memory: 512MB DDRII

 

Hard disk: 16GB

 

TF card slot: Up to another 32GB

 

Operating System: Google Andriod 2.2, with support for flashplayer 10.1

 

Camera: 1.3M mega pixel

 

Input Method: Android keyboard & Google Pinyin input method or connect to an external keyboard/mouse

 

G-sensor: Yes

 

Touch Effect: HIGH sensitive touch screen operation

 

Display screen: 10.2" 1024*600 WVGA Touch PANEL, High brightness

 

Net connect: RJ45 ENTER NET:10/100M

 

External: 3G (WCDMA/TDSCDMA/EVDO)

 

WiFi: IEEE 802.11b/g

 

Battery Capacity: A whopping 7000mAh

 

Power Adapter: 9V/2A

 

I/O Ports:

 

• 1 x TF SOCKET SUPPORT (up to 32GB)
   
   
  
• 2 x PCS USB-Host connect items like 3G modem, keyboard, mouse, external hard drive etc
   
   
  
• 1 x AUDIO JACK, HANDSET JACK
   
   
  
• 1 x HDMI SOCKET
   
   
  
• 1 x RJ45
   
   
  
• 1 x DC-in jack
   
   
  

 

 

Audio: MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+ etc.

 

Video: MKV(h.264hp), AVI, RM/RMVB, FLV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 Support to 1080p

 

Photo: JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, TIFF

 

Speaker: 2 x Built-in Speaker 8Ω/1W

 

GPS: GPS RF XN203

 

Color: Black

 

Run time: More than 6 hours in actual operation, much longer in standby

 

Pre-installed: Many different pilot tools, aviation apps, calculators, games, Google Chrome web browser and many more

 

Accessories: Stylus, GPS, User manual, Charger, earphone, High quality anti-glare and anti-reflective Screen Protector, Document Case

 

Like our 5 inch and 7 inch GPS units you will be able to purchase the unit as it comes for you to install what apps you already use or with your choice of Aviation Packs as options. For example Oziexplorer, WAC/VNC etc charts, ERSA and any other application from aviation software vendors that would like to have their product included as an option to be pre-installed on the Recreational Flying EFB.

 

Rough price at this stage is hopefully going to be around the $399 for the base unit then perhaps an Aviation pack of Oziexplorer and 3 WAC charts etc for possibly $100 so a full Aviation EFB ready to go with GPS (with external antenna), WAC Charts, Pilots Apps, Calculators, Document Case, Anti Glare Screen Protector and more for only $499...and remember, purchases go towards helping to keep this site alive and growing

 

Here are some pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fly_tornado]

9volt? Can't you source a 12volt one?

 

 

[Admin]

9v is universal same as ipads etc but the 240v and cig lighter adaptors will cover it as well as the USB adaptor

 

 

[Admin]

Fly_Tornado...I will pose the question of 12v with the manufacturers as it would make it easier if anyone wanted to hard wire (power) them into the aircraft although I don't think many, if any, would as the beauty of these is that they can be used not for just flying but say also at home surfing the web in the lounge room...plus a keyboard and mouse into it and you have a light laptop etc

 

 

[fly_tornado]

Its not much good if your battery dies on you. I think if CASA ever legalizes EFBs it will require the unit to operate under an external powersupply

 

 

[Admin]

They do mate...you just plug it into a cig lighter plug in your aircraft if you have one and many people are installing these as a power outlet...my car has a box plugged into the cig lighter that has 2 lighter plugs and 2 usb plugs

 

 

[ave8rr]

They do mate...you just plug it into a cig lighter plug in your aircraft if you have one and many people are installing these as a power outlet...my car has a box plugged into the cig lighter that has 2 lighter plugs and 2 usb plugs

G'day Ian, I see the unit supports 3g what about the Nextg (Telstra) system as this by far has the best coverage across Aus?

 

Cheers

 

 

[Admin]

It should as you would use a Telstra dongle modem plugged into one of the USB ports when you need access to "live" data (providing there are no issues with Android and I will include that in my tests to find out)

 

Also forgot to mention that the case of the units also have a keyboard in them which you can take out when flying or put in for home or on the go making it a EFB come lite Laptop:

 

 

 

[ave8rr]

It should as you would use a Telstra dongle modem plugged into one of the USB ports when you need access to "live" data (providing there are no issues with Android and I will include that in my tests to find out)Also forgot to mention that the case of the units also have a keyboard in them which you can take out when flying or put in for home or on the go making it a EFB come lite Laptop:

 

[ATTACH]13883[/ATTACH]

Sorry Ian, When I read External: 3G (WCDMA/TDSCDMA/EVDO)

 

in the specs above I assumed it (unit) took a Sim card and that it supported some of the phone frequencies.

 

I was probably ahead of the brain!

 

Cheers

 

 

[djpacro]

I think if CASA ever legalizes EFBs it will require ....

EFBs are indeed legal - refer this CASA bulletin http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/airworth/awb/00/017.pdf

Pretty much do whatever the American FAA requires to get an EFB approved in the USA - some-one needs to apply to CASA showing that their EFB meets those requirements and take responsibility etc. I have seen an approved EFB using a small commercial device done recently by one of the local airlines but I'm unable to comment beyond that - perhaps others here can advise on the effort required.

 

 

[Guest Jake.f]

I think they might have 'borrowed' some of the design from the iPad

 

Sounds like a reasonably priced deal though.

 

 

[Admin]

EFBs are indeed legal - refer this CASA bulletin http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/airworth/awb/00/017.pdfPretty much do whatever the American FAA requires to get an EFB approved in the USA - some-one needs to apply to CASA showing that their EFB meets those requirements and take responsibility etc. I have seen an approved EFB using a small commercial device done recently by one of the local airlines but I'm unable to comment beyond that - perhaps others here can advise on the effort required.

Thanks DJ, will look into that...it will be great to get it approved and work towards having it replace the ERSA and WACs etc

I have an IPAD myself but want to get away from Apple so this is an exciting project...for me anyway

 

 

[fly_tornado]

The other accessories you need to look @ sourcing is a mounting system, glare shield and screen protectors.

 

 

[djpacro]

Thanks DJ, will look into that...it will be great to get it approved ....

With an airline it is easy to provide redundancy plus have an additional spare ready to go. Just like the requirement to carry a second pair of specs I'd guess that we'd need to carry a back-up EFB as well. (In 45 years of flying, mostly aerobatics, I've never had a need to use my spare pair of specs.) I think you'll find that dealing with the engineers in airworthiness is a lot easier and more open to rational argument than ..........

[Admin]

The other accessories you need to look @ sourcing is a mounting system, glare shield and screen protectors.

Thanks FT...yes already looking at various mounts and whilst the units come from the factory with a screen protector, I have sourced even better ones specifically to attack any glare and reflection...for my ipad i got a standard screen protector but they all allow some glare so I tracked one down that specifically addressed glare and reflection, removed the standard screen protector from the ipad and applied this special one and it is fantastic...I have sourced the factory of them and sample cuts are currently on their way for testing on the gps and EFB units. It is easy to get something together and push out to customers but I am trying to provide something that is well thought out and tested...for example the GPS unit is currently sitting on my kids black trampoline in full sunlight which gets hot, 240v powered which makes it hotter and running an 8hr demo flight plan, and although it isn't summer you can see by this I am putting the customers first in testing as our units will have the Recreational Flying name on them.

 

With an airline it is easy to provide redundancy plus have an additional spare ready to go. Just like the requirement to carry a second pair of specs I'd guess that we'd need to carry a back-up EFB as well. (In 45 years of flying, mostly aerobatics, I've never had a need to use my spare pair of specs.) I think you'll find that dealing with the engineers in airworthiness is a lot easier and more open to rational argument than ..........

I like that idea...everyone buy 2 units :big_grin:...seriously though I can see what you are saying and it may be fruitless but still I will try and get them approved to have an electronic ERSA and Charts if by some luck it works out, great, but if not then it was worth a try...thanks

 

 

[winsor68]

Thanks DJ, will look into that...it will be great to get it approved and work towards having it replace the ERSA and WACs etcI have an IPAD myself but want to get away from Apple so this is an exciting project...for me anyway

This looks good Ian... and I fully agree with the "get away from Apple" sentiments...

 

 

[Admin]

Spoke to the manufacturer today and yes they can put a 3g internal card in the unit but the price jumps up $100...I use to have a Telstra NextG Orange USB modem that I just plugged into the side of my laptop and it had a phone sim card in it...I could always then use the sim card in my phone when not flying or in my laptop modem for data...however you can always use Bluetooth between the unit and your phone which is called Tethering...there are many options and it comes down to Price - Market - Convenience, in my personal opinion like who wants to pay for two Telstra accounts?

 

 

[Admin]

Bad news and good news.

 

I have changed the specs of the Recreational Flying EFB to be a far better unit then anything else on the market and will give at least 5 years of happy use however because they are unique to Recreational Flying and no model out there that comes close to it they are having to be built for us.

 

Here is my email to the factory:

 

Hi Sara

 

Thanks for the call and as discussed here are the new specs for the type of units that we are after. Please consult with the factory engineers to ascertain if they can be met as these units have to meet a specific need of our customers and any generic unit will not suit.

 

7 inch MID Tablet PC

 

These units that we need will simply be the smaller versions of the 10 inch units as described below.

 

10 inch MID Tablet PC

 

The units we need to obtain are to be marketed as a cheaper alternative to an Apple Ipad using the latest Android operating system so the specifications off these units need to be able to compete against the Ipad but at a much lower price.

 

The following specifications, I hope, can be achieved and I trust yours and your factory engineer's guidance in what is practical, correct, best or what is not or doesn’t work together properly.

 

Screen size: 10 inch (10.2 inch even better)

 

Screen type: Capacitive Multi-touch (very important - NOT Resistive - yes I know more expensive but a must have)

 

Processor: dual core fast??? (the new Cortex A9 Dual Core processors have great performance specs)

 

Memory: 512meg DDR2 or DDR3 (prefer DDR3 but price?)

 

Hard Disk: 16gig (in built flash)

 

Memory card: up to 32gig

 

Operating System: Latest Android with Flash Support (latest stable is v2.3)

 

Camera: 2 megapixel

 

G-Sensor: Yes

 

WiFi: Wireless: IEEE 802.11b/g

 

GPS: Yes internal with external antenna

 

Bluetooth: Yes

 

Network: RJ45 ENTER NET:10/100M

 

Battery: 7000mAh

 

I/O Ports:

 

1 x TF SOCKET SUPPORT BEST TO 32GB

 

2 x PCS USB-Host SUPPORT 3G,KEY BOARD,MOUSE ,USB FLASH DISK

 

1 x AUDIO JACK, HANDSET JACK

 

1 x HDMI SOCKET

 

1 x RJ45

 

1 x DC-in jack

 

Audio: MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+ etc.

 

Video: MKV(h.264hp), AVI, RM/RMVB, FLV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 Support to 1080p

 

Photo: JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, TIFF

 

Speaker: 2 x Built-in Speaker 8Ω/1W

 

Colour: Black

 

Software: Pre-installed free range of Android apps

 

Accessories: External GPS Antenna, User manual, Charger, Earphone, Screen Protector (to stop any reflection or glare which is experienced by pilots flying an aircraft in the sun - may omit from order when sample arrives), Leather Case with Keyboard, 32gig Memory card, USB Cable, Cig Lighter Power Adaptor

 

Branding: Recreational Flying

 

Sara's reply:

 

Hi Ian,

 

Thanks for your email and have a nice day !

 

Firstly, I need to advise you that I didn't send the sample product because you said you wanted to change the specifications, so I didn't send.

 

Secondly, I went into the factory and chatted with our engineers. I have some good news, we can build a capacitive screen gps tablet pc to your unique specifications, but the bad news is that we need to wait until the 25th of this month, at the end of this month latest, to get you the sample for your testing. There are currently no gps+capacitive screen tablet pc in the market right now, so I'm afraid you will need to wait for about one week for the engineers to properly design and build a test unit to your own specifications.

 

Thank you and looking forward to a continued, happy and long business relationship between both of our companies.

 

Sara

 

So that is the latest...they will be delayed by a week or so, be slightly more expensive but a far superior unit then anything else on the market...I will start working on the software next week

 

 

[fly_tornado]

I think a 10" tablet will be too much of a handful in most cockpits. the advantage of a 7" is it can be held in one hand

 

 

[.Evan.]

As a current owner of a smart-phone with a resistive touch screen (a bit frustrating), I'm glad you are pushing for a capacitive one Ian. Good choice!

 

 

[Admin]

I think a 10" tablet will be too much of a handful in most cockpits. the advantage of a 7" is it can be held in one hand

That is why I have dropped the 7" portable GPS unit and going for a 7" tablet PC as a GPS unit as well...the 5" GPS is a portable GPS unit that we all know and use but these units will have extras like photos, music, doc reader etc, the 7" GPS/EFB is also portable but can be used for far more scenarios not just for flying but surfing the net (with usb data dongle), reading on the train, etc, and the 10" EFB/GPS is an Ipad type of device but with Android and even an external keyboard to work like a laptop when not flying but small enough to use when flying for all your needs...that is how I feel the units will best suit everyone's needs...could be wrong but you all will tell me the pros and cons when they are soon released but at least you will have a range of options to choose from...I will also set up a forum here for users to support each other in what apps to use for what, the different scenarios that you find better etc...you can't get better interactive support then that I think...User to User

 

As a current owner of a smart-phone with a resistive touch screen (a bit frustrating), I'm glad you are pushing for a capacitive one Ian. Good choice!

Yes Evan, the resistive screens are much cheaper but as you say are very frustrating to use at times, especially getting use to the differences between the two types of screens and you don't want to get frustrated when flying using the EFB...this is why I have upspec'd the 7" and 10" units to this type of screen...but as I said, more expensive but i will see how much I can obsorb in the price increase if the tests work out as I expect them to with units spec'd like this...I only want the best as our name will be on them

Thanks for your input guys, it is really helping a lot

 

 

[.Evan.]

...as you say are very frustrating to use at times, especially getting use to the differences between the two types of screens and you don't want to get frustrated when flying using the EFB...

It's quite funny for me watching my wife (a thoroughly entrenched iPhone fangirl) trying to use my Samsung with resistive. She doesn't quite understand that you just can't pinch to zoom - even though I remind her - it doesn't stop her trying over and over again while getting very frustrated!

 

 

[Admin]

Here is a picture of the new Recreational Flying EFB 7" with the ability to also use as a mobile phone with its builtin camera, microphone and speaker or you can use a bluetooth device or a earpiece/mic:

 

 

It has taken a bit of time to get the specs just right so now that a sample has been built to those specs the test model should be sent to us next week some time...I just waiting on their test figures on operating temps to make sure they are ok given we have spec's them up quite a bit to make sure they are the best around...these 7' EFB are going to blow your mind with what they can do and be something really special, price is still aimed at $399

 

The 10" versions will follow once the unit tests ok

 

 

[winsor68]

Ian... when you say the ability to be used as a Mobile Phone... Does that mean if I put my Telstra Sim card out of my Desire in... it will work as a phone?

 

 

[Admin]

Ian... when you say the ability to be used as a Mobile Phone... Does that mean if I put my Telstra Sim card out of my Desire in... it will work as a phone?

Correct...that is the aim