The Australian Army has chosen Sandel Avionics’ four-inch flat-panel primary flight and navigation displays to upgrade its fleet of Bell 206B/OH-58 Kiowa helicopters. Redesign of the legacy OH-58 instrument panel and installation work was accomplished by Sikorsky Helitech in Brisbane, Queensland.

The 4-ATI SA4550 PFD and SN4500 nav display feature a 180-degree viewing angle and high sunlight readability. The self-contained, panel-mounted units can interface with nearly all digital or analog aircraft. For the Australian military application, optional analog and digital Tacan interfaces are included, along with certification to demanding DO160F helicopter gunship vibration standards. Night-vision-imaging system compatibility, another option, is also included on the Australian OH-58s.An Australian Army spokesman said a follow-on order for the Sandel displays is planned later this year. “This selection further confirms the value of our 4-ATI units for military retrofit,” said Jerry Henry, director of sales for Vista, Calif.-based Sandel (Booth No. 3518). “We’re pleased that our commercial off-the-shelf products can provide reliable performance at a reasonable price.”