While I start building, I'd like to start looking forward towards Avionics.   I have a new in the box MGL Lite discovery (the small one).   And I also have purchased an engine from Joe Huff with a stand alone fuel control, so I won't be using the Fadecs system from Rotorway.   

I'm interested in a basic panel, a single VHF radio with flip flop frequency controls from the cyclic, ADSB since I'm near controlled airspace.  Will be a glass panel of some variety, but I'm not committed to this MGL.

I'm interested in hearing what you may have, or have experience with and pros and cons of such

Thanks and Thanks for participating.

Sam

Hey Sam, glad to have you here and I hope you document your build process on here! I don't have first-hand experience installing any of these packages in a rotorway but I have flown with an MGL a few times (many times Garmin). The MGL seems to be the most affordable glass avionics package for our ships and have been proven to mesh well for an easy install totaling roughly $8-12k depending on options. If I had a huge budget for an avionics package capable of flying instrument procedures (~$30-40k) I'd go with the Garmin G3X experimental paired with a GTN650.. But that's almost the price of a used Rotorway. I just wouldn't trust MGL for anything serious as they seem to be a little delayed compared to Garmin but I could be very wrong, I never flew any kind of instrument procedure with an MGL yet, maybe others can chime in on that one. But for general VFR flying, at the price, you can't go wrong with an MGL.

I did replace my rotor/tach sensor with the MGL Blaze and it's nice but the refresh rate/response seems a little bit slower than what you get with analog.

I think both screens are customizable but the MGL seems to have more options there with a steeper learning curve. The GTN 650/750 pair or G3X are very nice, they don't really need to be customized much!
https://www.mglavionics.co.za/iefisresources.html

(12-21-2025, 06:40 PM)Jared Hartzell Wrote: Hey Sam, glad to have you here and I hope you document your build process on here! I don't have first-hand experience installing any of these packages in a rotorway but I have flown with an MGL a few times (many times Garmin). The MGL seems to be the most affordable glass avionics package for our ships and have been proven to mesh well for an easy install totaling roughly $8-12k depending on options. If I had a huge budget for an avionics package capable of flying instrument procedures (~$30-40k) I'd go with the Garmin G3X experimental paired with a GTN650.. But that's almost the price of a used Rotorway. I just wouldn't trust MGL for anything serious as they seem to be a little delayed compared to Garmin but I could be very wrong, I never flew any kind of instrument procedure with an MGL yet, maybe others can chime in on that one. But for general VFR flying, at the price, you can't go wrong with an MGL.

I did replace my rotor/tach sensor with the MGL Blaze and it's nice but the refresh rate/response seems a little bit slower than what you get with analog.

I think both screens are customizable but the MGL seems to have more options there with a steeper learning curve. The GTN 650/750 pair or G3X are very nice, they don't really need to be customized much!
https://www.mglavionics.co.za/iefisresources.html

Thanks for the link Jared.  I've not been able to find that level of information on the MGL previously.   That will give me a lot to digest.  I think all I got from the person i bought the partial talon kit from was the single MGL display head.  none of the interfaces or information.   And the link on the single paper pamphlet that came in the box was to a vendor who no longer sells MGL products. 

I'm not interested in this project on anything other than basic VFR panel.   One thing I'll never be doing anymore at this state of my flying life is being up in anything other than CAVU weather with limp windsocks. I'm just looking for a central point to glance at to see a ADSB over basic gps map, Basic Infor for attitude and airspeed, and critical engine/rotor parameters.   I'm a fan of Garmin only if somebody else is paying.

@Sam Oliver then yep, the MGL will be your best bet. I believe Legit Avionics is the new retailer for MGL products, they should be able to help you piece together everything you need!

As far as a comm radio is concerned, I would highly recommend one that has a GPS input and a database.  I have a Garmin 225.  To find a frequency I push the FUNC button which brings up a menu.  I use the knob to select nearest airports.  It lists the closest one first.  I then use the knob to select the airport I want and press ENT.  I then use the knob to select ATIS, GND, TWR, or what I want and press either ENT which puts that freq in STBY, or press the arrow key which puts the freq in the active window.  This way I don't have to actually look up frequencies which is a big help for a helicopter.  It also has the ability to swap STBY and active freq using a button on the stick.

The 225 has been replaced by the 205 which has the same funcitonality.  You might be able to find a used 225 if you are interested in that.

Youy also mentioned that you need ADS-B.  I would recommend getting one that has Wi-Fi out so you can get ADS-B in on a tablet.  The only tablet I have found that is truely sunlight readable is the one sold by iFly (you don't need to use their software).  I run the FltPlan app on it.  It is free and has free sectional updates as well as many other features.

I recommend/have the 10.4" Challenger lite.
I had the 8.5" Explorer, but you can display so much more data on a 10.4" with larger fonts.
Also it has gps built into it.
As we get older, we need the larger fonts. 

Wow @Geno Mancini the 10.4" looks great in there! Nice spot for the VSI also, I struggle to see mine since it's under the FADEC display in the middle console... Have to lean over to the right.

Thanks Noel and Geno for the advice and recommendations of things I might not have considered.

I'm wrestling with my personal goals, which is a CAVU purely recreational helicopter to cruise the local country side in my waning active aviation lifestyle.   Where I just need something to glance at for Critical information (engine/rotor performance), airspeed, and radio.   I am however quite spoiled with glass cockpit technology and I despise kneeboards or extra stuff hanging on my body or the cockpit unless absolutely necessary or critical.   So a Moving map display with other traffic (ADSB driven) that I can glance at once in awhile is something I'll definitely want.  Having a unit that can receive ADSB IN traffic for display although not a "must", is very high on the "want" list.   AS always.  Budget, weight, space is the driving factor.   I flew for years with an ipad strapped to my leg with map and adsb from a portable receiver but not interested in doing that with this venture.

I'd be interested in seeing what some of the other screens you have Geno on your upgraded MGL.   The idea of just a larger display to that is easier to read, as in,  no additional information than the basic, but in large format is a definite pro for me of a larger display.

I'm at the beginning of my build but planning and gathering for the avionics part now.    I'll have to add a thread maybe for just MGL configuring as it may benefit me to start out with the small iEFIS light that was included with a partial kit I purchased, and have plans to upgrade to a much larger screen and hopefully not have to do much but cut a bigger mounting hole and other hopefully minor things.

Sam

(12-29-2025, 04:22 PM)Sam Oliver Wrote:  

Hi Sam, welcome!

What kind of MGL head you have? The head is the most expensive piece, so i'd suggest you work with it. Do you have a MEFIcan device included with your kit? In that case i've written a small doc that might be useful: http://tinyurl.com/A600Avionics

This is my MGL setup MGL Discovery Lite EFIS, MGL Vega RPM backup instrument, MGL SP-6 compass, SP-7 ADHRS, SP-9 Advanced ADHRS, SP-12 GPS source.




I also have MGL v16 radio with a Blaze radio head (not pictured, lmk if you'd like a photo).
v16 integrates with the head and the Blaze. The blaze has an ability to cycle through a bung of pre-programmed frequencies from a toggle switch on the cyclic.

I used MGL Trig transponder interface with Trig T21 transponder (and MGL SP-12 GPS source) for ADSB out (i live in KSFO mode c veil area, so have to have it) and it integrates in my Discovery Lite interface, but in retrospect, i'd rather have a separate Trig transponder head.

Best of times with your build!
-Slavik