Bruce Horn writes:

What underlying OS do the various glass panels (Avidyne, Garmin, etc.)
use?

The MX-20 has some form of WinNT. I asked reps at Oshkosh about
several units a couple years ago. I was told that realize MS
Windows-based systems aren't appropriate for more complex units.
I forget what the tipping point was. (approach certified?)

It might actually make me think twice about buying a particular
system if I knew that (for example) it was Windows underneath.

Yeah, I've still got a big hole in my panel that's waiting for a
good solution.

I would think that the glass panel folks would be using one of the
real-time OS's that are designed for industrial applications, but I
don't know for a fact.

I recall discussion somewhere about how basing such systems on
non-proprietary software might be easier to certify because of
the greater exposure of the underlying system. I certainly like
the sound of that.

--kyler