Universal Avionics recently successfully completed the first flight of its InSight integrated flight deck on the MD Helicopters 902 as the manufacturer aims to bring the avionics suite to market by early next year. The February 17 initial flight, completed at the MD Helicopters facility in Mesa, Ariz., tested multiple phases of flight, including ground-run operations, ramp area hover/maneuvering and airport area operations with speed and altitude buildups. “This is an important step in the development of the new avionics suite for the MD 902,” said Grady Dees, Universal Avionics director of technical sales.
Universal Avionics first announced it was working with MD Helicopters on an integrated flight deck in 2013, and then took the wraps off the InSight suite for the MD 902 a year later. MD Helicopters is both the forward-fit and retrofit OEM launch customer. The avionics will replace aging Bendix/King EFIS 40 cathode-ray-tube displays on the MD 902. Universal Avionics also is working toward certification of the system as a retrofit on the Cessna Citation VII.
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