Godfather

Had both of them rebuilt at around 1800 hours. The company was great to work with and they normally send cover plates during the rebuild. Just the units were sent in...nothing from the control box.

Sounds like fun. Let me upload the flight plan for you... land @ KFPR tonight and get a good nights rest depart tomorrow for MYAM staying just north of MYGF airport Enjoy the island but make plans to leave the next day for MYLS and the blue hole. after enjoying the island and driving on the left side of the road you depart for MYEF to find miles of deserted beaches. soak up some rays with some wild pigs walking around return home!

I would think the Baron would up your flying cost two fold but you have to keep the flying partner happy!

So it sounds like an installed EA100 will cost around 4-5 amu depending if the unit is added at the same time or after everything is buttoned up. The ki300 might be a good for you if they can push it out in the next couple of weeks. It could continue driving the AP and be a great backup AI. The online price of the ki is ~5.3 amu...

Don do you have an updated full panel picture you could post. I'd like to know what other backup instruments you have and how you arranged them. I'm starting to think the g500 / ESI 500 might be a good way to go.

Please keep us updated to what you find out. I assume it would be cheaper to install if it was put in with the pfd but it might require a lot of extra work to interface properly. Looks like the price is pushing north of $15k for an Aspen pro with ea100 installed.

Looks great Don. The display on the ESI looks really nice!

35-40 hours for installing the ea100? That sounds a little high...I was probably naively thinking the pfd and ea100 install would take around 40 hrs for both.

Nothing to add except I really don't like the garmin flat rate fix on the gps units. I'd call around to different avionics shops tomorrow and see if they have a reliable quick fix for you.

Since the unit is a backup why not just wire the 650 to it directly? Currently have the 750>HSI and 650>CDI. This means the 650 is just along for the ride most of the time but I was curious why the need for cross feed. I look at a switch as another potential failure point...

The TBM 850/900 and the PC-12...the only two aircraft out there I dream about.

IMO if the majority of your flying is >10k go turbo.

I think you would be happy with either one. I'd suggest getting FIKI on the plane if you are planning on routes taking you close to the Great Lakes during the winter. I'm not sure what year Cirrus added the known icing... The Cirrus / Ovation / etc aircraft depreciate quickly during the first 10 years so you should be able to find deal out there.

For certified aircraft you need to go to an avionics shop. He version shows on the startup screen when you turn on the unit. Garmin recently started to allow experimental aircraft units to do the upgrade on without help from a shop.

The 1981 J would be my first choice depending on engine time. Love the panel on that aircraft. The mx20 is not nearly as useful as another gtn IMO...especially with all the tablets these days.

Hmm...I normally have xm weather and skywatch on which might turn off the terrain to keep the screen clutter down. But I'm sure they do not have a pop up warning screen for terrain.

You have me questioning myself now. From memory the 530/430 combo would pop up a warning on the screen if you were about to collide with a tower even if you are on the nav page. This is not the TAWS-B option that would notify through the audio panel. On the 750/650 you can see towers and terrain on the terrain page but the unit will let you fly directly into a tower on any other page.

So even transponders set on 1200 each have a unique code that is associated with the N number?

I enjoyed the video and thanks for the mount links! Recently purchased my first GoPro and have started looking for different mount options.

Kind of hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like they landed via parachute between the building and power lines. Probably could not have picked a better spot if they tried. I'm glad they are ok!

When the lifesaver was purchased the battery was not added...I think the price difference was around 800-1k when I was looking 10 years ago. Not sure if it can be upgraded but I'd rather spend the money elsewhere... So as I read the links and responses here two Aspen units cannot be used because they have a single point of failure. The Aspen AI cannot be installed as the primary because it needs a vacuum AI or a battery backup electric AI. Can the Mooney legally fly ifr with a non battery electric AI instead of the ki256 ( I know the ap would not work with this setup) or is the certification based on both vac and electric being used at the same time? As I read the FAA letter above the electric AI can replace the vac AI making it primary and therefore the the Aspen could be a backup. Especially since I'm keeping the rest of the six pack so the airspeed and altitude would not be necessary.

Thank you for the link! So trying to understand the first link... Can I call the non battery lifesaver gyro the main AI and consider the Aspen which has a battery backup the secondary?

Currently using a ki256 and a mid continent lifesaver gyro w/o backup battery. No problems whatsoever with the ki but I'm looking to upgrade. I'd really like to pick up the Aspen but what are the rules regarding backup batteries. I have a 28 volt system, two batteries checked carefully every year, and a backup alternator. From a quick glance it appears that even though the Aspen comes with a battery what I have is not enough for the FAA...? Not interested in another backup battery nor keeping the ki going forever...really looking forward to some good deals at s&f and osh this summer.

Just wanted to mention one of my pet peeves on the garmin 750/650 units...no twas warnings. Total BS in this day and age that a $25k stack does not give you any type of warning that can be used to avoid a tower etc.. I'm not talking about a certified unit that tells you what to do just a warning pop up...I'm pretty sure the IFD models have twas.

Great looking panels guys! Really shows how much pride everyone has in his or her aircraft.