Max Clark

The seller of my plane had it happen to him. So I know of one, and have the dent to prove it.

Not based on CA but am planning on buying the STC for when I’m out that way.

For clarity I understand that the GTX-345R is wired into the GTN 750, so if the 750 goes you lose control of the GTX with it.

Wanting a modern, integrated, avionics suite coupled with limited panel space really drove the decisions. If you want a MFD over the passenger yoke there's only a couple paths you can take. I'm expecting everything to fail at some point, it's just the nature of things. For example: Is the iPad+Sentry AHRS ideal in flight? Absolutely not. Have I navigated with it in VFR conditions to know what it would be like? You betcha. I carry a Sporty's PJ2+ in arms reach for the same reason.

My understanding is if the GMA 35c "fails" it enters a state where the pilot is effectively hard wired to COM 1 (I think this is fairly standard for audio panels). My question is what happens if the GTN 750 fails or is offline? Would COM 1 actually be wired to the second device in the plane with the 750 wired as COM 2 on the audio panel? How does this work with the audio panel integrated with the primary COM/NAV? Thanks!

Yes it was

Warning: Thread Drift As I started typing a response I realized that I've been through a lot of bags (my wife laughs at me). What I've learned is the "perfect" single bag doesn't exist, but there's different perfect bags depending on the mission. Not exactly what you're asking, but here's my evolution of bags and PIREPs below. I started with a version of the ASA AirClassics Flight Bag when I started flight training. I had to carry everything with me (headset, fuel cup, flashlight, sectional, E6B, ruler, pencils, FAR/AIM, etc...) and this bag made the most sense. It was easy to have everything in one place as I moved between home and the field and back. Ergonomically I never loved the bag and always felt like I was having trouble figuring out what to put where. When the bag was sitting in the back seat of the plane it was hard to reach over and find what you were looking for. I remember when Brightline first came out. I was super excited and ended up with something similar to the B4 SWIFT Business Travel Bag configuration. Everything had a specific place, was easy to find (in theory although I always opened the wrong compartment first). The dual padded pocket configuration was great. Headset on one side and kneeboard on the other. Nice pocket in the back for sectionals. And the bag fit great behind the front seat making it easy to keep in reach, but out of the way and reasonably secure at the same time. The negative with this bag is it's size and weight. It's just heavy. After getting my PPL I realized that I didn't actually need to carry that much on me anymore and my kit cut down to headset, sectional, glasses, and kneeboard (with pencils). Fast forward a few years (gap in flying) and when I got back in the seat I was looking for something smaller to carry and that would make sense with an iPad mini as a EFB. This brought me to version 1.0 of the Flight Outfitters Lift 2.0 Flight Bag. Without a doubt this is one of my favorite bags. Manages to carry everything you need at a very small form factor and weight. Small caveat, if you have a portable COM radio you're not getting a water bottle at the same time on the outside, but the center pocket works to store the radio, extra batteries, glasses case, etc... so I would shove everything in there. Seriously, I love this bag and highly recommend if you're looking for a simple kit try to find and buy the old version. I'd also recommend a hard look at Sporty's Flight Gear iPad Bag especially if you're flying with larger headsets (Lightspeed) or using a larger iPad than a mini. Sporty's did a good job with this bag, I just found the Lift to be better for me. Fast forward again and I find myself doing XC to check off the IFR requirements and my kit requirements change. Now I'm also taking more water, snacks, pullover, hat, etc.. as well as a Sentry ADS-B with me. I'm carrying my flight bag plus reusable grocery tote bags to and fro and want to consolidate into a single bag, like the idea of a top loading tote but don't want to give up on organization. I can't even guess how many hours I waste trying to find my unicorn when I finally stumble across my current bag the Tom Bihn Truck. The larger center compartment holds my Bose A30 (in it's case), the Sentry (in it's case), my iPad mini in a MoKo 7-8 Inch Tablet Sleeve Bag that ends up in a yoke ram mount, my portable COM, and a Tom Bihn Clear 3D Organizer Cube with spare battery brick and AA batteries. Side pockets hold glasses in their case, foggles, USB sticks, puke bags, and anything else I need to shove in for the day. And there's small pockets on either side that hold QRef cards or whatever else smallish you need. I love this bag, and it has been perfect for me for the last year while I was doing my IFR. I bought my Ovation this summer and with my IFR and Cirrus days behind me my needs have changed again. Why? Because now I get to keep things in my plane! I'm expecting I'll keep my headset in the plane, spare headsets stay in the hangar, sentry doesn't get removed from the wing, etc... I'm probably going to switch to a different iPad mini sleeve with an external zipper pocket soon. Something that I can also securely keep 2x USB thumb drives in for avionics upgrades and that's all I'll be carrying to and from the field now (although I am eyeballing the Lift 2.0 bag just to always have my headset with me). Hopefully this helps you in some way.

Yep but it’s a question I have to answer I guess I could just play parts roulette instead

I'm looking at changing my nav lights, recog, and strobes to LED while the plane is down for panel work. The question came up of what flash pattern I would want - and I have no idea, I've never thought about this as a choice, just what's already in the plane I was flying. I asked ChatGPT for info, but don't know what to do. What do you prefer? 1. Synchronized Strobes • Pros: • Looks cleaner and more uniform. • Can be less distracting to you as the pilot when looking at the wings. • Often preferred for night flying since it creates a predictable pattern for other pilots. • Cons: • Less attention-grabbing compared to wig-wag or random patterns. Best For: Night flying, where you want a more predictable visual signal for other pilots. 2. Wig-Wag (Alternating Flash) • Pros: • Increases visibility because alternating flashes attract attention. • Particularly useful in congested airspace and during daylight, making your aircraft more noticeable. • Cons: • Slightly more distracting to the pilot, especially if mounted on the wingtips. • Not as sleek or “clean” looking as synchronized strobes. Best For: Daytime flying or flying in high-traffic areas where you want to stand out more. 3. Random Flash Pattern • Pros: • Creates a unique light signature, making your aircraft more distinguishable. • Can enhance visibility and attract attention in both day and night operations. • Cons: • Some find random patterns chaotic or less professional. • May be harder to manage in some installations and could slightly affect the aircraft’s aesthetic appearance. Best For: If you want maximum attention from other aircraft, especially in environments where distinguishing your plane from others quickly is essential. Recommendation: • If your primary concern is visibility during the day, go for wig-wag since alternating flashes are more noticeable. • If you prioritize aesthetics and predictable signals, go for synchronized strobes, particularly if you fly more at night. • Random patterns are great if you’re looking for maximum visibility in both conditions but don’t mind a bit of randomness. Many pilots opt for wig-wag during the day and switch to synchronized strobes at night if their system supports both modes. This gives the best of both worlds.

I just had an hour long conversation with Mark Korin (he owns Alpha Systems AOA). He was incredibly gracious and gave me more time on the phone than I would have imagined. FWIW I'll be buying their kit.

The negative seems to be having to look down to see the AOA. Do you find that to be an issue at all?

How big is the probe on the wing?

I have a mental block on installing a second pitot tube that can't be used as a pitot tube lol. Let me know what you think!

Updates for the thread (and future readers): I'm leaning towards the Guardian Avionics AERO 452-201-011 Remote Mount CO Detector (integrated with the Garmin G3x). Other options are not for certified aircraft, I like not having another thing on the panel, the integration with the Garmin EIS & PFD fits what I was looking for. https://www.guardianavionics.com/aero-452-201-remote-co-detector-tso-certified-aircraft And a Sensorcon AV8 Inspector Pro AV8-CO-03 Carbon Monoxide Monitor for Aviation. Small, portable, and can be clipped onto the seatbelt with a vibrating alert. https://www.sensorcon.com/products/av8-inspector-pro-av8-co-03-carbon-monoxide-monitor-for-aviation?variant=39342772125766 I'm still on the fence on the AOA, but will probably go with the Alpha Systems Eagle Dash mount. Being able to see it while looking outside the plane just makes too much sense.

New avionics work starts in two weeks - I'm thinking about any changes (or additions) I want to do while the plane is at the shop. Two things that have come up: 1. AOA - Garmin has a system that integrates with the G3x. The display looks great right next to the airspeed tape at the top of the screen (so part of the scan), with audio indications as well. Alpha Systems has their Eagle kit that mounts on the dash (so in the sight line). Both of these require a hole in the wing with a probe installed. Garmin's is another Pitot tube (although it can't replace the existing), while Alpha Systems is a maybe smaller installation/protrusion from the wing. If you've used or replaced either of these systems I'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts. Would you do the same thing again, would you do something different, etc... https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/stpages/garminG3X-touch_11-12973.php https://www.alphasystemsaoa.com/store/aoa-kits/eagle-above-dash-hud-kit.html 2. Carbon Monoxide Detector - I haven't heard anyone have anything good to say about the cheapo cards with the indicator dot that are sold. That takes me to an electronic detector (I like my BOSE so headset based isn't in the cards). I've seen basic detectors in a lot of plane, would be cheap and easy to install. The Guardian system feels like it's the most common out there. I've also stumbled across the Aithre (behind the panel with G3x interface) box. Same question as above - any experiences or thoughts would be great to hear. https://www.amazon.com/Aircraft-Monoxide-Detector-FORENSICS-low-level/dp/B076S6KBP2?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A11FTLERBR653E https://www.guardianavionics.com/faa-tso-certified-aircraft-co-detectors https://aithreaviation.com/products/aithre-shield-ex-2-0-analog-output-carbon-monoxide-detector Thanks as always!