Ragsf15e

Or just stay real current with partial panel ops because you’re still required to have those instruments.

I have a King HSI. Flux dome as you described is in the tail, maybe 2’ aft of my battery. Right next to my AP pitch servo. Perfect location. Roll servo is in my left wing. I hear right wing is a good place for one if your strobes are well grounded.

Nice. Now if we could just count on all the FSDOs being reasonable, that would be great!

Panel looks great, and probably very reliable, but maybe not meeting the letter of the law for a backup AI? The G5 STC says it cannot be a required backup... not saying I agree, but...

Well that takes away the major benefit of the E5 over the 2xG5s... no upgrading the E5 in the future unless you reinstall an appropriate backup AI or make it a dual Aspen setup ($$). IE, can’t install the E5 now and upgrade it to the HSI and ADSB in/out when the $$ is available without other significant changes. Dang, guess I’m back to the 2xG5s.

How’s this... I put in the aspen E5, remove vacuum and AI. Then i replace turn coordinator with G5. All legal so far since Aspen E5 doesn’t require backup and the G5 can replace AI or TC... Then I “upgrade” the aspen to a “Pro Max” via software to “make it better” and the entire panel is illegal! The Aspen “Pro” now requires a backup AI, and the G5 isn’t allowed to be a backup AI, only primary or a TC. That’s so ridiculous that it might actually be true!

I believe you, although I think it would be pretty silly to install an E5, remove your AI and vacuum system, decide to upgrade the E5 (software), then be required to reinstall your AI?! That would be awesome. Our FAA at work?

I think I like the Aspen slightly more than the dual G5s due to their upgrade capability, however one thing bothers me a little, and it probably shouldn’t. I don’t want another “wart” on the top of my airplane. The aspen rsu goes on the outside because it provides more than a compass heading sensor. It also has a temperature probe and gps antenna. It’s required and is similar to putting another gps antenna on top the airplane. G5s mount their sensor inside the fuselage since it’s just a compass heading sensor. The G5 redundancy is nice, but I plan to put in an AV20s if I do the aspen.

I’ve been reading a lot about these things recently because I’m also trying to decide between G5s and E5. E5 is definitely ifr. Is it an HSi? Well, find me a definition of an HSI... it has a compass heading card with a course needle overlayed which seems to be the important part. The course needle doesn’t have a CDI, the CDI is at the bottom of the screen. Doesn’t seem like a big deal... and yes, I’ve got a few thousand hours of military flying with an HSI, but this doesn’t bother me... maybe it should? Both glide slope and lateral deviation are shown, so no other OBS/CDI instrument is required. I have an STEC 30, and I’m pretty sure no ea100 or acu is required to use that with the E5. That part I’m still working out. It will integrate with my 430W, my STEC30, and (with upgrade) my GTX345. I do like the G5s redundancy, but no adsb and many less add on features than the aspen. still a tough decision... https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Aspens-E5-Low-Cost-EFIS-Now-STC-Certified-231978-1.html

None of the new Aspen “max” lineup requires keeping the old AI. They changed the way they account for pitot/static failure (icing) by using the gps GS input to aid the ahrs. And they used the new FAA STC process like Garmin with the G5. No more old AI required now.

Has anyone seen an rsm mounted in the approved “alternate” location just behind the top of the windscreen? I have an unused and expendable gps antenna there and I’d like to switch it out with rsm if I go E5 vs 2xG5s.

Gotta admit, % power on the jpi is nice and pretty useful for patterns and approaches and getting a good idea for red box/fin.

Yep, I have a JPI 930 and 430w as well. Wouldn’t want the torpedo to be the only light on my 6 pack. I have led ring lights in the 6 pack though and they are awesome. Make sure the jpi and 430 dim down appropriately. May have to work on that with settings. I have found their auto dimmer lacking.

I did. It’s very thin glass and breaks easily. Don’t cut yourself! It’s “glued” on with something soft like silicone. Not sure what the longevity will be without the glass.

Don’t spend good $$ chasing 40’s technology - especially if you actually use the AI for IFR flying. Do yourself a favor and put in a G5 even if you have to keep the vac for the dg (for now).

930 going strong 5+ years ~500 hours. Knock on wood. would be nice to be able to do software updates without sending it to California. Otherwise good. Also I had good customer service when I had a minor issue with my remote display.

Got out to the airport to take pictures of the LED torpedo lights in the dark today... just my luck, the one sunny day in Spokane all winter and there’s a sunbeam through a gap in the door right into the cockpit. Like a laser beam of light. Anyway, they seem bright enough, about what the original lights put out. Definitely not hot. Still tough to tell. And remember, mine are assembled just like the original design, but with the bulb cover removed to fit in the torpedo. in the picture, they are aimed in the center of the panel.

Thanks!

You guys that have dual G5s, and gad29b connected to legacy autopilot and G430w... did you still have to use both 430w ARINC ports? I have a gtx 345 that uses one and I’d like to keep it there, but definitely want to go with dual g5s. (Stec 30A, GPSS, G430W, Gtx345, and King Hsi currently)

There is a 14 volt version on the pilotlights.net website. However, I couldn’t get them to seat all the way into my torpedo lights, so modified them as I described above... ie, they didn’t just work as an easy replacement.

Which bulb did you use? The one I posted above was slightly too big to get the torpedo fully back together.

Well yeah. I need to pull the G5 trigger and ditch the vac, but otherwise, I was just wondering how other F models ended up with ~50lbs more UL? Maybe my electric gear vs J bar is a couple lbs?

You guys making me jealous, my 68F useful load is “only” 1017lbs. 3 blade prop adds a little but otherwise fairly stock. Wonder how you get more UL?

Does the cowl open any easier than the stock ones for preflight inspection? I’m guessing ram air is lost?

I don’t have a dimmer on my torpedo lights, only on my panel lighting. Can’t tell as far as brightness yet as I tested it on the ramp in daylight. I’ll try to post a pirep when I use it at night. Honestly, I’m not 100% sold on it as I had to remove the bulb inclosure to get it to fit. The link works for me, picture below. That’s the LED I used (minus the glass bulb).