The LX Zeus: A Pilot Report from Roman Mraček

Vsi zeusi skupaj

Editors’ Note: Thanks to Roman Mraček for sharing this report of his experience using the LX Zeus by LX Navigation. Roman was European champion in the Club Class at Ostrow in 2013. If you attend the 2014 Convention in Reno, stop by the LX Navigation booth in the exhibit hall, where these instruments will be on display.

General

I used the new LX Zeus during the European Gliding Competition (EGC) in Ostrow when it was installed in my Standard Cirrus. Once it was installed, I was very pleased, with the impression it created with its airliner type layout and particularly the labeled push buttons that made the system very user friendly for me.

The unit I used was a 5.5 inch model, but I would like other pilots to know that there are also 4.3, 7.0 and 8.0 inch models available.

First impressions are very good and after switching on, the very bright colour display is most striking with its high backlight intensity and its superb contrast.  I never had any troubles with display readability and it is superbly antiglare and it doesn’t matter which colour is your shirt as you will never see your image on the display!

ASG 29

The system is based on a decentralized approach rather than integral one in that the flight recorder (Colibri II) is not an integral part of the system but a plug-in module. The pilot is not aware of this difference during operation as Colibri II plays a slave role and therefore does not need any pilot inputs. Task declaration as well as all possible inputs, for instance logging interval and also flight downloads, are managed by commands executed on the Zeus. I rather like this approach as when it comes to barograph calibration is only the Colibri II that needs to be taken to the calibration organization. My Zeus was also equipped with Flarm option (IGC) version so this gave me a back-up flight recorder as well as a back-up GPS source for the Zeus should the Colibri 2 have failed.

I liked the way that all kinds of data exchange can be achieved by using the USB stick with its integral slot in the Zeus. By contrast Flarm communication is done using a SD card for downloading of Flarm flights and also for Flarm firmware update. Task declaration into Flarm is executed automatically as soon as a new task is selected or created in the Zeus.

System management

The unit is equipped with 8 push buttons, as well as 2 rotary switches which also have a push button function.  All push buttons are labeled and this minimizes the pilot`s task in that he soon learns which button does what and whether it is a short or long press needed to get the right result. The 5 push buttons at the bottom of the unit are input buttons and every button offers two basic functions determined by whether a short or long press is done. The upper 3 buttons are navigation buttons used as mode selectors (TP, APT, TSK), sub page selector and bottom row combination selector. Every press of the APT knob will change the navigation mode. The push button labeled SUBP activated further sub-pages in each mode. There are 3 subpages in each mode and any of them is readily selectable by sequenced pressing of the SUBP button. The second subpage also shows the vertical profile of the flight which shows the pilot whether or not the final glide will clear major obstacles such as mountains. The button marked 1-4 is used for changing the variations offered by the bottom row. The bottom row is 100% under pilot control and this means that the pilot is able to create his own specific nav box configuration shown on the bottom row without real limitation as to the number of nav boxes. Zeus has also an Auto Close function whereby the unit will automatically revert to the main page after user defined timeout of inactivity by is detected. This ensures that if the user gets lost somewhere in the Menu it will only be necessary to wait a few seconds for the system to revert to the main page (TSK, TP or APT).

Two rotary switches are the primary selectors for Zoom and audio volume. Push functions serve as input/enter and escape buttons.

During edit process both rotary switches can be used as up down selectors, Zoom switch operates in one step and volume switch in ten steps.

A feature that really impressed me is the display layout configuration. The pilot can arrange the layout of the graphic page according to his to his personal requirements and without having to use PC tools simply by using push buttons and rotary switches and you can even do this during flight.

The data base

The unit comes preloaded with a world-wide terrain data base. Additionally, it can be also loaded with ICAO maps of several countries; these maps are available as options.  LX Navigation is also able to prepare custom maps to specific customer requests.

Airspace files have to be in .cub format for Zeus. If only .txt files are available (Open Air format) LX Navigation offers a convertor program. It should be noted that the unit can store an almost unlimited number of airspace files. Airport data bases are prepared by LX Navigation in .af format which is acceptable by Zeus.

TP files have to be in cup format.  As for airspace and airport files, for which the Zeus has almost unlimited capacity, there is no practical limit for turn point files. In fact the user can activate up to three turn point files at the same time, in that case a mix of turn points will be offered. Importing of files which include tasks is also possible.

Data transfer of TP, APT and AS files is done by using a USB stick (there is no SD card to get lost!).

Colibri II – Zeus interaction

JWGC13-POLAND zeus 4.3

Colibri II and Zeus together provide an integrated system which does not differ from centralized solutions such as the LX 7007 family. The size of Colibri II is no bigger than a GPS antenna and therefore offers no installation issues. The Colibri II software is adapted such that Colibri II operates as slave when connected to Zeus. Once connection is established all commands related to the flight recorder flow from Zeus and correspond to settings defined in Zeus Flight recorder section. This is in the Setup part of the Zeus system. The next and most important feature is the automatic processing of task declaration which is executed without pilot assistance after every task edit process or a new task input is done. This works only until take off, after takeoff the declaration will remain unchanged (IGC rule), but the task for navigation in Colibri II will change and will offer a back up in case of total power failure and Colibri II will still log. It should also be noted that Colibri II can also offer a backup vario function if all other vario sources are inoperative. Flights are stored in Colibri II, but downloading can be done at any time by using the Zeus USB stick.

LX Zeus – Flarm Interaction

If Flarm is a part of the system Zeus is able to display Flarm objects on its main navigation graphic display and also on the “Flarm radar” page. In fact any type of Flarm can be connected to LX Zeus but LX Red Box is the recommended solution because it has an SD card which facilitates its operation. The SD card, which is a part of LX Zeus front panel, is used for communication with Flarm and that way flights stored in Flarm can be downloaded and also firmware updates of Flarm are done using the card.   Power Flarm can be used as a part of the system..

LX Zeus – Flight Declaration

Flight declaration is similar to the system used for Colibri II in that the declaration is automatically written into Flarm after any change made to the task entered into Zeus.

AHRS Option

LX Zeus can be equipped with an AHRS module as an option. It is fully integral and fitted inside the Zeus housing. All necessary settings are done using the Setup feature of Zeus.  If AHRS is incorporated as an upgrade then it is an external unit connected by CAN bus.

Flying experience

I found the system so easy to use that I am sure it will suit not only competition pilots but by cross country pilots with a low experience level; its operation is intuitive. After power on the usual inputs of; pilot, take off elevation and glider type (if not already stored in memory) are required. QNH altitude can be easily set whilst on the ground but during flight only adjustments to QNH pressure are possible.

Once the unit has been booted on it will switch automatically into TSK mode and the last flown task will be shown as active. There are several ways to prepare a new task; the most common method is to edit an existing task but it is also possible to create a new task using way points (turn points) already in the memory. The Zone function makes it possible to create all known TP zone geometries.  For those pilots who prefer to prepare tasks on their PCs it is easy then to transfer the task to a memory stick and import it to the Zeus as a .cup file.  Whichever way you choose to do it, the operation is fast and trouble free.

The Zeus will automatically start a task as soon as the glider passes the start line after being “armed” for a start. A restart is possible at any time. In most cases finish lines are now cylinders and in this case LX Zeus calculates final glide to the edge of the cylinder and also shows the shortest way to reach the cylinder. In case of an AAT, a Move function can be easily activated after a long press of TSK button. For pilots who like team flying a special function called “Team Code” has been developed, using of this solution the pilots are able to find each other, if visible contact has been lost.

EB 28 in Namibia

A very good feature when flying a task is the option ADD MARKER. The philosophy of a marker is to mark a position, which you want tohave as your backup, for example an outlanding field. Marker can be deleted very quickly by pressing only 2 buttons and will also be deleted if another marker is entered.

For cross country pilots an OLC optimization has been incorporated. In the Statistics page, under OLC, the OLC distance flown and also OLC distance in the case of a return to home are shown.

The Zeus can be operated by a LX Navigation Remote Control and this makes operation easier as the pilot can operate the system from the stick top rather than reach forward to operate the controls on the Zeus itself. The Near function can be used not only for airports and landable turn points but for airspace management whereby sections can be deactivated or activated as might be required.

System extensions

LX Zeus is designed as an extremely flexible system and any configuration can be upgraded extremely simply without any need for extensive computer expertise… The most commonly used extension is the Remote control which is achieved using the LX Navigation leather coated stick which connects to the system bus. Double seater configuration is available as well and connection is by CAN bus. Any second seat option is connectable to the second seat device and this reduces installation works significantly.

Bright palette of displays

DUO DISCUS

The unit can be delivered in four different display sizes and this makes it possible to install LX Zeus into nearly any instrument panel. The display size starts with 2.8 inch and this display size produces an 80 mm unit which can be installed in any existing standard cut out, without panel upgrade. The next display size is 4.3 inch (83×136 mm outline) diagonal. The most popular size at the moment is the 5.5 inch diagonal (106×146 mm outline) which could be fitted into majority of glider panels. The larger 7.0 inch display is capable of being installed in many modern glider panels but in this case all other units should be 57 mm. The biggest size which is available has an 8.0 inch display diagonal and there are only limited panels which will be able to accept that size of the unit.

Installation

I have used Aerospool technicians for the installation works into my Standard Cirrus, but some friends of mine did the installation by themselves. LX Navigation delivers with every unit a suitable template which makes it possible to prepare a new cutout for Zeus simply and easily. There is no panel change necessary in almost every case if the LX Zeus 2.8 variant is selected.

Conclusion

LX Zeus is for sure a new player in the gliding market, but it is important to point out that the producer and developer is not a newcomer, but a company whose roots date from 1975 and during this period LX Navigation has built around 10,000 gliding computers and flight recorders. Now that is some achievement and for sure Zeus will power the company well into the future.

Roman Mraček

  2 comments for “The LX Zeus: A Pilot Report from Roman Mraček

Comments are closed.