IFD440 Announced Today

The IFD440 Touchscreen FMS-GPS-Nav-Com was announced today at M-10 in Duluth.  It is a smaller version of the IFD540 and is designed to be plug and play for any existing GNS-430 or 430W.

It uses the same hybrid touch design as the IFD540 in that, with very few exceptions, everything that can be done on the touchscreen can also be done using physical bezel controls (knobs/buttons) and vice versa.  It also employs multi-touch technology allowing for functions like "pinch-zoom" familar on many mobile devices and tablets.

The list price of the unit is $14,995 and it will be available after the delivery of the IFD540.  There is a very attractive deposit program in place now for early adopters who want to take advantage of the opportunity.

An updated set of FAQs will be posted later this morning with more information on the unit.

Hi Victor,

The list price for the IFD440 is $14,995.  The initial offering price is $8,500 regardless if you have a GNS430/430W already in place.  By making that initial deposit of $8,500 now, there will be no further cost for the unit.

If you do have a 430 or 430W, you get to keep that system and do whatever you'd like to with it.

If you have a 430W then even the antennas can remain intact and untouched.

If you have a 430 and want to take advantage of the GPS WAAS capability of the IFD440, then you would need to upgrade to a compatible antenna either now, or at the time of installation.  The FAQs on AvidyneLive list a bunch of compatible antennas. 

If you do not currently have a 430 or 430W installed, then there is also a modest cost for in installation kit that comprises of a tray, among other things.

All of that should be spelled out in the deposit agreement that the Avidyne Sales folks can send your way.

The current offer of $8,500 expires on 20 July 2012.  We have had a slightly different, but overall very similar program in place for the IFD540 and we have had 4 price increases since its initial offering.

Any of the Avidyne Sales folks can send the actual form and walk you through the details of the deposit.  It is also 100% refundable and they can walk you through those details too.

As I said, any of the Avidyne Sales folks can help but the principal person working directly with anyone interested is Jonathan Pelletier and he can be reached at: 

jpelletier@avidyne.com
781 402 7520

Hi Roger,

Both units are good but we believe the IFD440 is better, much better.   Some reasons mean more to some people than others - it does depend somewhat on what is important to each person.

Installation Costs - If installation costs matter to you, then the IFD440 is clearly superior to the GTN650, especially if you already have a GNS-430 or GNS-430W installed.   The IFD440 can use the existing installed 430/430W tray and all wiring and antennas.   There is literally zero rework required - it's approximately a 30 second job to unscrew the existing 430/430W, slide it out, slide in the new IFD440 and tighten down the cam nut.  At that point, the physical installation is complete.  Period.    In contrast, the GTN650 requires a new tray and is meaningfully deeper than the 430 was.   The shops we've talked to describe that the details of that installation in terms of several to many hours, often measured in AMU units.  Post-installation onfiguration and checkout of both units is probably a wash.  So, just the installation alone can be several thousand dollars different between the two units - the exact difference is better defined by qualified avionics shops.

Ease of Use - If ease of use is important to you, then we strongly believe the IFD440 is superior to the GTN650.  Of course, "ease of use" is almost always a very subjective topic however, the IFD440 is effectively, a smaller R9 unit and R9 has repeatedly won award afer award for its ease of use which stems in part from features like GeoFill, FMS Vectors, procedure preview, nearby frequencies list, hold entry on any waypoint, to name a few.

Unit Cost - If purchase cost is important to you, then there is clearly no comparison right now.   The list prices are on par with each other but the IFD440 has an early deposit program available now that takes the price down by as much as $6,500.  And, it's 100% refundable if you change your mind or your aircraft situation changes before you take delivery of the IFD440.

Better Features - This one is a little trickier.  Aside from those features that have been announced and are availble for evaluation at trade shows (e.g. multi-touch, Avidyne digital databus, hybrid touch, Avidyne FMS), there are a number of very significant features that are included in the unit that we have NOT announced yet.   These will get announced as the product gets closer to the certification and shipping milestones.  I know this sounds a little like selling futures but as a person directly involved with the development, I know they will be very well received.


Some people note that schedule estimates for delivery have not been a strong suite of Avidyne in the past and that is a fair criticism.   However, this product line is so important to Avidyne corporate goals, that you can be 100% sure that getting to the certification and shipping dates remains top priority.

We clearly understand you have a choice and we believe with every fiber that your choice should be Avidyne.  We very much appreciate and thank everyone who makes that choice.

Steve,