PTK

I see no reason to even consider Aspen. Their offerings are archaic and stale in comparison. I’d look into a GTN750 with a G500 txi configuration that makes sense for your panel. Depending on what you want. Do you gave an autopilot? If not the Dynon Skyview may make a lot more sense if and when they add the Mooney to their AML.

I get it too Dan. But I for one am very dissapointed that there can be no objective approach. This is not about different tastes. It's about comparing and contrasting quantifiable things of the avionics we invest in. There can be no meaningful discussion when personal feelings, prejudices, biases, attacks of differing opinions and subjectivity enter into it. That's the nonsense imo.

Yes they both get the job done. These vids are very revealing of the processing horsepower of each. It's an apples to apples comparison of the runway markings.They illustrate the difference. Notice how jumpy and sluggish the Aspen depiction is compared to the 500. And that’s the original 500 before the major upgrade in 2016. I don’t dislike the Aspen I just think it’s old tech. Is this allowed to enter into the discussion or is it forbidden by the so called first handers? But there’s a bigger issue here and it’s disturbing. Seems to me if we are comparing and contrasting these things talking about everything about them such as costs, intergration, new tech vs older, etc. etc. etc. why is it that we can’t talk openly about pros and cons? Why do some on here consider it a bad thing and a big no no to discuss and express opinions if they are different than theirs? I thought we are adults with the confidence and maturity to be able to have a discussion. God forbid we express our observations and opinions! Not good. Very disappointing and disheartening.

I’m not buying it! Sorry! One is perfectly capable to do their own research and formulate their own opinion. You have seen this I’m sure. Look at the runway depiction on both. One is not better than the other. They both get the job done. But there are significant differences. Why is that so bad to discuss? As an owner with first hand experience what’s your explanaton? What advice do you give? To try and reverse justify a purchase by sugarcoating it is one thing. But not stating the obvious can be considered misleading. Some may even call it doing a disservice. We need to try and suppress our biases and be honest. If I who doesn’t own either can look at this and shake my head you, an owner with your first hand experience, certainly should know. Hopefully Aspen is working on something... hopefully. And “that’s all I got to say about this!”

I’m not a huge fan of the G500 or G for that matter. And I’m not crapping all over Aspen. Just stating the facts. It’s an archaic and tired platform. It desperately needs to be updated.

When was their last major software update and what new features have they added? I like Chris and I don’t want to upset him. He doesn’t like it when someone has a different opinion than he does. I don’t want to rattle his cage too much and get him upset.

Well, as you know in the latter part of 2016 G released a major softwate update for the original G500 platform. Also they just released the brand new txi. Unless I missed it I haven’t seen any Aspen updates.

So opinions are allowed! That’s great, thank you Chris! An observation and for clarification, I reject your notions about some crusade slamming your beloved Aspen and about not being able to have an opinion if you don't own one! That’s kind of ridiculous! Stating a fact i.e. it’s archaic, is not slamming. I have formulated my opinion before investing in it and decided it's not for me. And yes that’s through researching it and speaking with avionics shops. That’s plural... as in several. In your opinion that is second hand and because you may not agree with it you reject it. That’s certainly your prerogative. And yes, my KI256 is more archaic than your Aspen! You don’t see me getting bent out of shape do you?! This is a discussion. I also reject your notion that the op was asking for opinions based on first hand knowledge. That’s not the case. This is a discussion. It’s all good when we all can be adults and discuss!

Chris take a chill pill and call me in the morning! It is a fact that we have more options today than we did a very short time ago. It is a fact that replacing the ADI only and with an electronic AHRS is a huge upgrade and one that does not disturb your scan. It is a fact I did not jump on the rip everything out bandwagon precisely for the reasons I mentioned on this post and another earlier on this thread. It is a fact these are very valid reasons weather you want to hear it or not. It is also a fact that I’m a nice guy! It’s not necessary for someone to own a G500 or Aspen in order to know if it’s the right direction for them! I don’t own an AHRS ADI yet either. Are opinions allowed Chris!?

You raise a very good question. The answer is explore your goals and consider your options. You can replace your vacuum with AHRS without disturbing anything else. That's a worthwhile and true upgrade. And with the arrival of the G5, the KI300, the ESI500 and others we have more options today than even a very short time ago. These options enable you to focus down on your AI and get AHRS without disturbing your scan or having to resort to Aspen which is archaic technology.

Runs in the family! Gotta wonder at what point does the FAA step in...

Of course not! There are some cockpit technologies that are great at increasing SA and reducing pilot workload. But in my mind the terms "increase SA" and "reduced pilot workload" don't apply to all. The things you mentioned are great at enhancing sa and workload reducers. A modern moving map GPS is a great at improving sa by displaying the complete navigation situation. A fuel computer is great at reducing pilot workload by presenting the fuel status and eliminating the need to do calculations. The two combined are great at presenting real time fuel and navigation information. A capable autopilot is above all the best at reducing workload and associated pilot fatigue. However, an absolute value of the airspeed thrown in front of me is just not that important. It does nothing for sa or workload reduction. Our brain is analog. We see the world around us in infinitly continuous streams of shapes and colors. What is more important to me is my continuous connection to the airplane and recognizing exactly what it is doing. This is why I find an analog ASI to be much better. And Chris, I'm very happy for you that "...the numbers have become a precise way of setting the airspeed..." To me it's just not that important...sorry buddy!

I think it’s a lot more than that. Here’s an example: if my pitot tube ices over how will my “steam” ASI behave. How will I know? It will predictably display a constant air speed unless I change altitude. This is very useful information because it’s based on a real physics model. Compare this to a red X on a pfd. There’s no useful information that a red X provides because it’s based on some software triggered response.

...and, according to the NTSB, pilots in so equipped aircraft kill themselves at almost twice the rate than those with “steam”’ gauges. And the irony of it is that more often than not these pilots are more experienced and have higher ratings! Why? I’m all for increased sa and decreased pilot workload but something is drastically wrong. We are headed in the wrong direction.

The pilot is listed as Brent Pressley. I wonder if there’s any relation to Jerry Pressley... https://www.ntsb.gov/about/employment/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20001205X00519&ntsbno=MIA99FA140&akey=1

I wonder if pairing up the KI300/KA310 with a 7” G500txi with AHRS and battery would still enable the removal of all backups. I’d think it does because they both have their own independent battery backups and are STC’d. And this setup can be with or without the GAD43E. With it would provide attitude reference to the autopilot from two independent sources taking redudancy to a higher level. Add a B&C standby alternator on the vacuum pump pad and you have an electric airplane with full redundancy. Also is there a way to bring air data to the G5? Hey Garmin... your G5 needs air data! You sure have enough empty glass area around that small HSI to display it on!

The lynx display is too small to be useful. I prefer the 345R with wx and traffic with targettrend on my GTN750 or a 660.

I don’t have the antenna. So I’d pay 9k.

The 9000+ in this discussion starts at 9000$.

I think lynx can be a good box but I think there are two things L3 needs to do with it: give it a targettrend equivalent capability and lower the price. Otherwise I don’t think it’s competitive. To say it another way, asking me to pay twice as much as the top of the line ADS-B transponder, i.e. GTX345, has to be justified. And active traffic is just not enough justification when ADS-B is here to stay.

Steve, my comment was in response to someone who erroneously believes the Lynx traffic presentation is same as targettrend. Clearly misinformed or just an anti G reaction. I think both! And as far as the Lynx is not up to the level of G targettrend it’s just not. When you compare the way they both present traffic, i.e. an apples to apples comparison, targettrend ismuch superior. It takes it to the next level by giving us a dynamic dimension to traffic. And it categorizes traffic advisories into: actual threats, proximity traffic and other. All dynamically presented.

Mike look at the video I posted.

No one is advocating not looking outside! But we don’t always have a visual on traffic. It is a great enhancement to have a system that presents to us threat traffic advisories along with proximity traffic advisories. Present and future prediction.

And you say that’s “all” it does?! That’s a huge advantage! It’s unprecedented and a colossal safety tool! I’m not saying the Lynx is bad, just different and not at that level yet. Maybe they will offer something similar in the future.

Mike the Lynx traffic presentation is not dynamic. Look at about 2:18 on this video. This is dynamic. Do you see how this removes any guesswork and how it's a huge step forward in presenting traffic? The Lynx cannot do this. Hopefully they will in the future because it's a giant leap forward in safety.