Product test: Avstar Computer

Basically a pre-programmed computer, Avstar features a large, power-saving liquid crystal display (LCD) for easy readability in either cockpit light or bright sunlight. For computer users, the information that Avstar performs virtually all the navigation functions of the E6B-type manual computer, plus other aviation problems unsolvable on conventional computers, speaks for itself.

Avstar’s keyboard is arranged in a logical flight plan sequence (and the computer is allowable in American FAA exams), with colour-coded lines to provide input guidance.

Entries are displayed as they are keyed in and improper entries can be overwritten.

Previously computed answers can be used as inputs to new problems without having to re-enter them.

Navigational mode data can be entered in any sequence, changed without having to start the problem all over again on the keyboard, and stored in a genuine memory. Recall is no problem.

An “Error” warning display challenges improper inputs – and we found during an exhaustive ground and in-flight test of this product that Avstar really talks to the operator.

A patented formula (Huber), which compensates for temperature rise and compressibility, is automatically applied to TAS answers.

Metric conversions are pre-programmed and all basic maths functions are available. Weight and balance computations are worked out arithmetically.

Another telling point in Avstar’s favour, balanced against other types including the Navtronic 170It, Commodore N-60, Heathkit OC-1401 and Texas Instruments Tl-59 (some of which are still unavailable in Australia), is battery life.

Jepp-Sanderson claims that Avstar’s two standard wristwatch batteries provide more than 1000 hours of operation, with an automatic warning display when less than six hours of battery useful life remain.

And there is an automatic power-down feature in Avstar’s circuitry which turns the computer off after five to 15 minutes’ non-use.

AADR received an Avstar which arrived on the first Australian shipment, from Australian stockist Moorabbin Aircraft Spares Pty Ltd, for evaluation and report.

Demand is already brisk, according to Moorabbin Aircraft Spares. This is hardly surprising; without making any rash statements, AADR predicts that the Avstar will find its way into most pilots’ briefcases and flight bags before this year ends.

A true shirt pocket size and as slim as any other computer we have yet sighted, Avstar, we predict, is the spearhead of a plethora of such flight computers and will be a worthy competitor in its price range ($69. 95 recommended price according to the Australian stockist, although we suspect this might be a $US pricing) for many years to come.

This is also by virtue of its ease of operation, accuracy and utter reliability.

We put Avstar through the hoops in all pre-flight and inflight phases and found it talked back with completely acceptable figures and data. The only matter in which there was any dispute was working out whether fuel/gallons were read back in US gallons or Imperial gallonage. We concluded the former was correct.

The keyboard is laid out with extreme simplicity, with a top-to-bottom flow agreeing with the normal sequence for flight planning.

The navigation section of Avstar covers four basic modes; Nav Mode, Altitude/Airspeed Mode, Wind Mode and TimeSpeed-Distance Mode.

Grouped in these master modes are all the formulae for solving TAS, density altitude, Standard temp, G/S and heading, wind direction and speed, wind correction angle, fuel consumption and many other desirables.

Weight and balance, climb and descent rates, conversions to and from metric values, course alterations and other problems were all solved by the test Avstar.

AADR’s evaluation team gave the Avstar a fair chance, changing the Ray-O-Vac AW 84 batteries for a brace of Duracell, as the battery condition indicator looked somewhat weak and data took a little time to appear, and then rather sluggishly.

Our Avstar had arrived with a neat vinyl case from Moorabbin Aircraft Spares; we did not use the protective case during our evaluation but feel it would be indeed an asset to steady the Avstar on one’s knee or clipboard in flight.

A small Vital Actions checklist comes with the case, fitting into a neat pocket, just in case the operator forgets the correct data input sequence at the wrong time.

This is no criticism of the Jepp-Patterson Avstar. Just as we all became used to our Dalton, Kane, Jepp or Whatever circular whizz-wheel, so will we become used to this new age of computers.

Does all this wizardry save time? Most certainly it does.

We did not calculate the time saved in the Flight Planning phase, but it was significant.

In flight, we found (after an hour’s session on the ground working out hypothetical problems) that it took an average of 20 seconds between punching the first Mode button to getting the answer in the window, in bright clear and easy-to-read LCD figures.

For the record, the average time lapse between pressing the Compute button and the factor button and getting the final computed answer was four seconds and 0.5 secs, depending on the problem.

Elapsed time and ETAs can be worked out on the Avstar. We found we could not compute calibrated airspeed (CAS), for heading/TAS, or Course/GS combinations; but then, according to comparative analysis charts, neither can the Navtronic, Commodore, Heathkit or Texas Instruments computers.

Matching up comparative performances in terms of accuracy, with the other types mentioned, brought the Avstar out on top or at level pegging with the best …

In ordinary maths work, the Avstar has all the capability of  a groundborne calculator of similar size, and has, as mentioned, an overwrite capability, a true memory with recall, floating minus and decimal signs, input error correction and other capacities.

True, perhaps Avstar is not the computer for the pofessional in some cockpits or flight decks. But its price and long battery life will make Avstar a sinecure for quick and sustained sales in most pilots’ shops catering for private, commercial, charter and flight school pilots and instructors.

AADR congratulates Moorabbin Aircraft Spares for its foresight in clinching an Australian outlet for this highly desirable device.