helitim

Flight, i would like to resurrect this post and hopefully get some updates since several months have passed on the subject matter. As of tomorrow I will be picking up my newly installed GTN 750 and GTX 345 transponder/ADS-B with WiFi capability along with a panel mounted IPad holder just above the pilots yoke. At present I have the lifetime subscription to FlyQ and really like the setup. This year at OSH I attended two separate Garmn Pilot user forums to try and evaluate the product since my Garmin subscription will offer free data for their Pilot app. Because the screen is very similar to the 750, it makes sense to me to begin utilizing the Pilot app.....I think. Does anyone here offer any good reason based upon your experiences not to go this route? Second question I have is, which device to use? At present I have the iPad Mini 2 w Retina display that fits well in the mount that I carry and use daily. I will purchase a separate device to install and leave in the plane for dedication to flight use only. If I understand correctly, this will negate the need for the internal GPS and cellular connectivity since it will only need the Bluetooth/WiFi information from the 345. That being said, what would be the most economical device to install to have high quality resolution and graphics with a fast refresh rate as well as adequate memory (64GB or larger) to carry the required downloads of chart information? Is there a device that is more advanced than the iPad2 for me to consider installing my existing unit into the panel and upgrade to something else for my everyday use? Thank you, Tim

After O/H'ing my nose gear last year, I had the same problem. Putting the new biscuits in changed the camber of the gear just enough to make it very sensitivity. We followed the SB and checked the angle with a plumb bob after leveling the plane,as described. Ended up having to reshim the gear. Problem solved.

PM sent.

If any Alabama/Georgia pilots are flying private to OSH, I would appreciate a PM from you. Thank you, Tim

I second Piloto's suggestion. I'm almost at the 2000 hour mark now. I may never be a great mechanic because I don't do it everyday but, I can repair and or assist with almost every aspect of my plane now. That's a really good feeling to know you have that ability when needed. And for the CB's in the group, it makes flying ALOT more affordable. My annual this year was $400 because I did almost all of the work. Something to be said for sweat equity. My wife says it's cheaper than a therapist. Tim

Would I purchase a plane with a prop strike history? Yes, if properly repaired. My question to you is, what is the big deal about importing a plane into Canada? Yes, it may be a bit of paperwork but, the pool of potential planes is just a bit bigger down here to the south. If I found a plane I wanted that was in Canada, I would have no problem importing to the US and re-registering, etc.

I'd like to know how you get .041 on an M20J prop, because the .032 took 2 hours to do 6 nuts. Edited Sunday at 03:15 PM by jetdriven Byron, The first time I remounted my prop it took a loooong time as well. Then an IA buddy came by and showed me how to torque the nuts, mark their position with a sharpie, loosen the nut until I could more readily place the wire thru the holes, retitghten to the previous marks which he assured me would be the correct torque then put the twists in the wire as indicated. This cut my last prop install time almost in half. He had no suggestions for having to tighten the bolts a little at a time all the way around the hub over and over and over and over. I would really like to meet some of those engineers and smack the crap out of them sometimes. I used the 0.041 wire also. No fun. Tim

My daughters first flight was at 5 weeks of age. We used a very soft, large towel and gently wrapped over her head to cover the ears then placed the headset over to hold the towel. The combination stabilized the head to minimize movement until she went to sleep which was probably 60 seconds after lift off. A pacifier can be used for climb and descent (if awake). It stimulates the suck reflex which helps equalize the inner ear. Sometimes even when asleep, just placing a pacifier or fingertip in the mouth stimulates this reflex. Sounds like you have a good plan going there. Tim

Nothing like a very long cross country to enjoy and learn from. Completed similar trips a few times in the past and every time was a somewhat "new" adventure. Those are the ones you remember when talking about flying years from now. Tim

One advantage of using Airtex, et al, is the material comes with all the required burn certifications. Not sure how easy that is to get from an auto upholstery shop?

Aspen PFD is a significant difference. Thanks, Tim

Marauder, since you have the 255B, you have Nav also. Do you not use the Nav side as a backup? If not, why not? thank you, Tim

philliplane, The issue you mention with the weak plugs. Is that the reason one should always check the ohm resistance when cleaning and gapping a plug to make sure it stays below 5K? Tim

Proof positive that there are pros and cons to any type of travel. Bet the Mooney wouldn't sleep nearly as comfortably.

The GX60 I have has about 200 hours since new. Another story how that is accurate. Talked w the avionics shop this afternoon and he is suggesting another philosophy on making the decision. He believes the current VOR/ILS navigation systems we currently use are short lived in US airspace subsequently rendering the idea of a secondary glideslope unit less valuable. He believes I would be better served to keep a secondary GPS/Comm (GX 60) unit as backup rather than a KX 170 or 155 Nav/Comm. He suggested if reliability is my concern that I should consider something like a GNC225 as Comm 2 and only have one Nav head or possibly a handheld to the planes antenna as others have stated here. Use the GPS WAAS capability of the 750 and have the KI 206 he is installing as a backup if needed. Having flown some SPIFR in solid IMC, the idea of relying on a handheld is not reassuring sitting here on the couch so I can only wonder how uncomfortable it would feel in the soup. At this point I believe the answer is to go with something like the 225 as well as have an extra antenna cable coiled up under the dash for my handheld if everything else went to black. Still not sure but feeling pretty good about the end product whichever way it goes. Tim

Thank you for the responses. Still not sure what I am going to do but it seems the consensus of opinion is to toss the GX60 and stay with a more reliable Nav/comm of choice. I will call the shop and see if he has a KX155 laying around for trade. Tim

A friend bought a Cessna 152 that had been hangared for several years in Santa Maria, Ca which is several miles inland from the beach but, the prevailing winds blow toward the airport most of the time. He is seeing distinct corrosion issues related to this. Corrosion X has been applied a couple of times already and the problem slowly grows. He is not a happy camper. YMMV.

Finally pulled the trigger on a GTN 750 w Free Flight Ranger ADS-B to be installed in a few weeks. Current panel is an old, yet reliable, KX 170B w glideslope and an old GX 60 GPS/Comm w a CDI. Legal for GPS approach but no WAAS. KT 76A transponder and a newer Garmn 340 audio panel. My original thought was to keep the GX60 in the Comm 2 position and stack the 750 on top. The transponder will be replaced by the Free Flight Ranger transponder. The avionics shop says they can mount an iPad mini holder in the empty space above the co-pilot control that will WiFi from the Free Flight unit offering additional data. Another pilot suggested maybe keeping the KX170 as the backup and selling the GX60 instead because of reliability issues and the fact that no parts or service is available for the GX60. I have a parts unit with a good screen sitting in my hangar for the GX60 and a highly experienced repairman who is willing to service it if I have the available parts and he is still able to work. My question is simply whether to stick with my original plan or switch to the KX 170 as my Comm 2? This would give me dual glideslopes and I also have a second KX170 sitting in a drawer if the primary unit went TU. I'm sure there are more expensive and better options but, this is my dilemma at present. Thank you, Tim

Moved to avionics page

My VLE is also 155. 77 model J

Yes, that looks like it from what I can see. I will PM you.

I need a roll servo for a Century II 1C508-1-523R S/N 6135A. This is for a 1977 M20J Anybody have one? Thank you, Tim

Receiving instruction in one is nowhere near the same as renting.

That is a rather high operating cost for an autogiro. A few instructors around the country "might" rent you their machine if you know them well enough. It's almost impossible to get airframe insurance on them so not likely to rent. I owned one for about two and a half years and had to rebuild it once when I smacked the ground one day. Another 15K in parts and a lot of labor. Fun machines but not practical at all unless you buy one of the very high end factory units. Tim