ZuluZulu

If you end up buying new make sure you get a quote from @Jeev - he is likely to have the best possible price. I thought about the 900 but I’m sticking with the 730 for now, probably adding Garmin EIS down the road, but when I added a few probes, his prices were the best I could find by far.

Is Microsoft dead to you for ending Windows 95 support in 2001? That’s pretty much how long ago Garmin announced the GNS series back in Summer 1998. They’ve supported the GNS for 22 years and still support it, in fact, albeit on a limited basis and WAAS upgrades are no longer available. Find another CPU-driven product that’s been supported by the manufacturer for that long — it’s a very short list. How many times have you replaced your personal computer during that time? You absolutely have the right to install or not install whatever you want in your airplane, but 22 years sure sounds like legacy support to me. Guess there’s no pleasing some folks. P.S. You might want to tell Bendix King that they’re supposedly still supporting the KX 165 and KX 155, as they have a website instructing people to buy something else (KX 165A).

Sounds nice, but I hear you. I'm doing it because I bought this plane intending to keep it for the next 20 years. And unlike yours, I didn't inherit a PFD (but mine did have a GTN 750 installed already). If you're at all close to selling, the new panel would probably help move it faster .... but that doesn't do much for you now, I recognize. Still though. The AP flies on rails and I haven't even started flying approaches with it yet.

Join me on the dark side, Skip. I replaced the KAP 150 in my MSE with a GFC 500 and it's fantastic!

Interesting. I notice when the batteries fail but have never experienced "super loud" with any Zulu. In fact the passive noise cancelling is often so good on its own that I sometimes forget to turn on ANR until I'm already in the climb. I wonder why your experience was so different.

Mine: Lightspeed Zulu PFX Passengers: Lightspeed Zulu 3 x3

That giant gap in the radio stack could probably be put to better use. How about a GPS 175? You want a cost-effective map solution, which I get, but what if the iPad dies or overheats? GNX 375 and GPS 175 would give you a lot more capability for not that much more coin.

Project planes are for people who are either A&Ps, have a relationship with a mechanic who will let them work on the plane and give quality supervision and sign-offs (and already have at least a modicum of mechanical aptitude), or have a lot of money to spend. Everyone else, especially buyers on a budget who do not meet one of the three criteria above, should not buy a project plane without large reserves set aside. If you can't set large reserves aside for whatever reason, buy something else, join a flying club, or keep renting. IMO.

Seriously, if the plane's been out of annual for years yet flies every few weeks, you've got to be suspicious of what other regulations the owner believes he can ignore.

If anonymity is what you want, do what jet owners do and use the Bank of Utah's trust department. *not legal advice*

How would YOU like to be landed on your belly at 75 knots on hard asphalt? Didn't think so!

That poor airplane! Once wasn't enough for him?!

Craftsmanship of Hector at Aero Comfort, of course. It's funny, there's easily been more than $75,000 spent on the panel (some by the prior owners) and yet it's the $1000 control wheels I get asked about and complimented the most. And it's not even close.

Trust me, I got quotes for that already! But it doesn't make sense with the G3X Touch coming.

That's why I asked! He's done just about everything one can do to mitigate the missing logs issue. Kudos, Charles!

I appreciate the fightin' spirit! Resurrecting unloved airplanes isn't for everyone but it sounds like you're approaching it with both eyes open. Good luck! Bringing a neglected plane back to life with love always gets a warm ovation around here so make sure you post photos once it's back in the air...

Are you concerned at all about resell value, or is this more of a long-term play?

I do, an iPad mini on the yoke. This is my panel. I had the KAP 150, which complicates flush-mounting dual G5s due to the adapters and metalwork required to make the square holes in the panel work. So I skipped it. I was quoted more than $6000 extra for flush-mounting if memory serves. Pointless since a G3X Touch is in my future.

Real talk: why do you want this plane? If it’s a budget issue, take a good hard look at whether ownership is really for you right now. Planes that don’t fly are trouble. You can easily consume any savings by spending to bring it to a level you could have bought for less in the form of another plane on the market. And then you’ve already spent all your upgrade money just getting the plane sorted, so to add what you wanted to add you’re going to spend even more. It sounds like you already have some giant flashing neon red flags that this could turn out to be the case. Having an A&P partner mitigates this somewhat but still: parts and engine work ain’t free no matter who’s doing it. Personally I would not touch this with a ten foot pole unless I could buy it for a song but YMMV.

I’m reluctant to reply because I frankly do not understand whatever point you’re trying to make here. Do you also believe people shouldn’t digitize their family photo albums? When I was on the market I dealt with two of the most respected, successful brokers in general aviation (Jimmy Garrison and Neal Schwartz). Would it shock you to know they both sent me digital logs? Hell, Neal posts links to his clients’ planes’ logbooks on every BeechTalk listing so you can review them 24/7 without even asking if you want. It is a tool to attract serious buyers by making it easier for them to perform due diligence, share them with trusted advisors, and identify quality candidates worth their time. Why would two premier brokers like Jimmy and Neal who feed their families by selling airplanes go to the trouble if it didn’t work? Anyway I don’t mean to derail the thread. This is a nice looking plane!

Heartbroken to learn I was not a serious buyer when I bought my plane, since I foolishly spent hours reviewing the inferior digital logs. Also there's no inherent value to the logs themselves, it doesn't matter how many copies there are. It only matters whether the original logs come with the sale of the airplane.

This is what I did. I thought the GI-275 was too cluttered and I didn't like the round form factor. I also had more than 100 hours in rental Cherokees behind G5s and liked the instrument. Then again this is a stopgap solution, since I'm planning on upgrading to G3X Touch within the next five years anyway. If it was intended to be a permanent installation I may have given the GI-275 more thought. I have to admit I do wish I had the HSI Map, but that's it.

Previous generation only, though. The 3100 is not certified for any Mooney, and with no current plans to do so.

Yes. 1. Garmin GFC 500 2. End of list

I had an issue for a while where they'd count down to 3 and wake themselves back up, so I got in the habit of shutting them down manually. That's been fixed where they do automatically power down now, but I didn't think it was hurting anything to shut them down myself.