Cruiser

FYI, this is from a beechtalk member.......... My avionics shop, whom I’ve used for over 20 years, great folks, sent me an estimate for a G500 txi install. New panel , move some stuff around , SVT. $36,000No surprise, expensive , but I knew that . Garmin is the surprise. The basic unit does NOT include any engine monitoring capability. You want that? $6500 extra just for the equipment/software to display it ON the 500. No separate monitor...you want a Garmin EIS monitor add another $7000 for the equipment plus labor.

Actually, looking at the features of the 7" tXi it appears to be a clone of the ASPEN PFD. I see a couple of potential problems. The touchscreen and only one dual knob is going to make it very difficult to control in any kind of turbulence. It appears to have the same multi-level menus as the GTN series. NOT good in my opinion. I suspect Garmin already knows this, they offer an optional panel to control the most used functions. The optional GCU 485 adds dedicated knobs for heading, altitude, vertical speed, airspeed, and BARO setting and a couple of others. Other than that, there is nothing really new and the ASPEN boxes still have more flexibility. Garmin must have been feeling the pinch from ASPEN ....... Also the advertised price is in line with the ASPEN PFD, but by the time you get all the optional features it is going to be much, much more money. At this point I don't see anything to get excited about. I'll pass......

http://marketing.aspenavionics.com/acton/fs/blocks/showLandingPage/a/26251/p/p-001e/t/page/fm/0

I would have him do the absolutely minimum work needed to get the plane signed off for annual and flyable. Let the avionics shop deal with the rest.

I would look very carefully at the entire airplane. If it only flew 600 hours in 20 years there are probably many other things that haven't been done either.

I have the 55x installed with the Aspen ACU2 driving it. Has S-Tec released the configuration changes for this combination to the dealers yet?

In dentistry I think it is called "hitting a nerve" In fishing is it called "taking the bait" Yep, I am so glad this message got posted, Peter, I hope you can now realize what you sound like to the rest of us when you go off on your Aspen bashing.

Doesn't it seem as though Garmin has lost it? In their effort to lock out everyone else they have built in problems that appear to only allow Garmin to work reliably with other Garmin units. Buyer beware, considering a new Garmin unit may buy you headaches and a long list of trips to the avionics shop draining your pocketbook. On the bright side alt least you will fly more.......... taking your plane to the shop.

This is a known Garmin issue. Garmin will never own up to the problem. They will just blame it on Foreflight. The bluetooth connection is being dropped by the GTX 345 and then reconnecting. When it drops out you loose the position data for the iPad. The GTX 345 also has a long standing AHRS problem that makes the internal attitude indicator unstable. The horizon is tilted and will not correct. For safety please turn off or do not use the AHRS output from the GTX 345 until these units are verified to be accurate.

You have gone blind and can't pass your physical?

I am looking for used Mortiz gauges

Wow! I just read the overview for the "new" Garmin txi ......... It sounds like they have finally caught up with the Aspen system 1. They are claiming such revolutionary improvements like flexible display configuration - Aspen already has that 2. map underlying the HSI display - Aspen already has that 3. overlay of NEXRAD - Aspen already has that 4. overlay of airport diagrams - Aspen already has that 5. a new thing called reversion mode - Aspen already has that 6. backup GPS - Aspen already has that 7. removal of standby instruments - Aspen already has that 8. wireless transfer of flight plans (ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot only) - Aspen already has that but for more apps 9. Probably a some more I missed. - Aspen already has that Of course Peter will say the Aspen is old and tired, sounds like that is because they already introduced all these things years ahead of Garmin.

The future is going to be very interesting. The next big thing is going to impact installation. Wireless connecting is on its way. NO wires, everything is on a secure private network in the plane. A standard protocol for communication and everything can talk to everything else. Upgrades with be a breeze. In order to keep up with technology there has to be a way to bring the unit price down. Certification costs, low volume etc hinder everyone from staying on top. There is no way this is going to happen. The only way to keep up with technology is using uncertified portable devices with uncertified flight planning apps. Foreflight, FlyQ, WingX, Pilot etc. will be the latest and greatest displayed on a portable device (iPad). Avidyne has proven this witht he IFD100 iPad app. It is the same software used in the IFD540/440 on a huge screen. I was changing COM freq from the tablet on my last flight, before that I had the passenger in the rear seat doing the same from the Bluetooth keyboard. All you will need is the basic certified hardware in the panel to be legal while actually using the apps, too bad they cannot be interfaced for control.

The King KT74 is a good choice and it is "plug and play" compatible for the transponder ONLY. I believe to enable the ADS-B OUT functionality you must install a new tray because the GPS source data is input on a second connector that does not exist on the KT76 tray. Not a BIG deal but definitely not plug and play for ADSB ........

I find several flaws in the premise that "glass" causes accidents. This statement is different that more glass panel airplanes are "involved" in accidents. 1. I can find no basis in fact that glass panels are the cause of accidents because every airplane equipped with glass is required to have traditional "steam" type gauges are backups. 2. Please explain how the "glass" can be blamed if there is "steam" available to be used in the case of glass failure? Wouldn't the root cause of the accident be "pilot failed to use traditional instruments" 3. How can the accident be blamed on the "glass" if the "glass" wasn't working?

NJMac, wow! You have a lot of work to do......... and from a cost standpoint you are partially right. Putting to together and then taking it apart again will cost more. HOWEVER. There are other options. Garmin has the G5, many are putting one or two G5s in the panel and loving them. I don't know, I haven't seen them in a plane. There are more options coming, a lot of work is being done on avionics. If you can wait there will probably be several more choices and the price is bound to come down as the competition increases.

You make an excuse for the Garmin because it is from 2012 but you condemn the Aspen and it is from the same time 2012 ? Both those videos are at least 5 years old. Do you know if either the Aspen or the Garmin look the same today? But more to the point, at that stage of the flight I am looking out the window and not at some video screen no matter who makes it. I don't notice the difference. Show me one post you made that was a positive comment about the Aspen? There is no "pros and cons" with you.

Lets see some pictures of your plane and the panel you have now. How many hours do you have? What kind of flying do you do the most?

The install is easy to do but will take some time. It would be best to do it during an annual. We put it in the right wing. See attached image. Using the inspection plate for the mount, the cable and tubes had to loop further outboard and come back along the internal leading edge of the wing. The module was mounted in the belly under the passenger seat. The indicator is on the glare shield just to the left of center. I can see it while looking out the windshield during approach. I have this unit feeding pitot pressure to my iLevil AW2 ADS-B reciever. It has an app for AHRS display of the standard six pack gauges. Using the pitot tube from the AoA I get the actual altitude, airspeed and vertical speed for the six pack display.

Rant on.....What facts? You never backup any incendiary statement with a source of data or a fact. Maybe you should look up archaic to know what it means before you use it in a sentence. Here are the facts. Since 2008 Aspen has made nineteen (19) software upgrades to the EFD1000/500 versions starting with 1.0 to currently 2.9. Some of the most recent are listed on their website if you care to actually look at the facts. If you don't like Aspens, just say it. I don't really care if you like Garmin, I don't like that you try to justify your misinformed and/or uninformed comments from a position of knowledge that you don't have. Rant off... Both Garmin and Aspen (among others) make great avionics. There are many features that distinctly set them apart and many features that they equally share. Your personal preference will help you decide which are better suited for your specific needs.

Did you learn anything for this discussion.? Some people are satisfied with steam gauges, they work. Planes fly with them all the time. Kinda like trading in your ten year old car for a new one because it gets better gas mileage.

check your weight and balance sheet. Mine says TKS System (no fluid)

RESALE VALUE In not too many years planes with the old steam gauge panels will not be sellable We already see that with GPSs. If a plane doesn't have one it will be bypassed almost 100% of the time now. So, pay me now and get some personal use from it or pay me later to just get a buyer to look at your plane.