Cris

Thanks Bob, the info provided is very helpful and reinforces my thought that the GNS480 coupled with my existing GMX 200 would be the best fit at this time. I assume that with the intro of the newest Garmin/King products more units may become available at more reasonable prices. If I need to spend $9500 for the 480 I suspect that I could get the new GTN small screen Garmin at discount for close to the same money. Ideally I'd like to be into this project for half the cost of the new GTN. We'll see.

The KLN 94/GMX200 is a great combination but I will plan to sell this A/C in a few years & no one will want to purchase without WAAS IMHO. Therefore if I invest now I will get the use out of a system that a new purchaser will require or discount appropriately. In addition, the KLN 94 as well as the KX155 will never be worth more than right now so that means now makes the exchange the most cost effective. Of course I really do not need the capabilities but....

Hi-I'm thinking about upgrading my panel which has a KLN 94 & GMX200 by swapping out the KLN 94 for an Garmin GNS 480. I realize that these are no longer produced & that there are newer options but I am trying to keep the cost to a minimum. Does anyone have one of these installed & what is your experience useing it? Thanks

Got one. Thanks!

I'd suggest that you call Midwest Mooney M20 Sales directly to get specific questions answered. In my case I bought the A/C with the earlier 280 HP STC installed. It came with the correct three blade prop, tach, & gov. In upgrading to the 310 HP ie Ovation2-3, I was assured that it would require a differeant prop gov which was installed as I watched. In Bob's case he might have already had the correct gov. but I was not that fortunate. I also needed the tach changed to reflect the change to 2700 rpm. BTW VREF quotes a $20K add for an Ovation with this mod.

If interested you can go to the FAA site http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgSTC.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet & view the 310 HP STC from Midwest Modifications, LLC Flora Ill. as amended 1/28/11. You'll need to search under "STC Holder"

Hi Dico - The Ovation 3 is in part a 310 HP STC licensed from Midwest Mooney M20 sales but installed by the Money factory. It changes the prop governor to allow the engine to turn to 2700 RPM & typically adjusts the fuel settings to represent the IO-550N as opposed to the IO-550G. There is a description/disclaimer of the STC on the Mooney Company site. I just had the 310 HP STC done on my M20S at Midwest Mooney & highly recommend them. There was an earlier version of this STC installed that increased the HP from the Eagle's 244 HP at 2400 rpm to the standard Ovation's 280 HP at 2600 rpm. I had the earlier STC befeore I had it upgraded to the 310 HP @2700 RPM. What you get with the 310 Hp STC is a new prop governor, three bladed prop, tach, fuel system adjustments and the required paperwork & documentation. As a practical matter the T/O performance for my eagle is cut to less than half & the climb rate is dramatically improved. The gross weight is increased by 168 lbs to 3368 same as the Ovation 3. My current usefull load is 1124 lbs. In addition the Eagle was limited to a fuel load of 75 gals. It turns out that the fuel tanks are the same in the Ovation & Eagle but there is a baffle that makes fueling the Eagle difficult due to trapped air. The baffles have now been modified so that I can carry the full fuel load of 106 Gals. if I am so inclined. This A/C is now capable of 200 Kts. but the fuel burn will be 20 GPH leaned & 29 GPH in the initial climb. So for me I wanted better T/O performance similar to the J model I previously owned as well as increasd payload. All pilots want to climb faster, fly farther & carry more. This A/C now does all of that and I still get terrific speeds & economy at 2550 rpm. In fact on a recent flight from Biloxi Ms to Atlantic City NJ @11000 I was getting almost 20 miles per gal. according to the fuel computer. Of course it helped that I had a 30-45 Kt tailwind a good part of the time- LOL. This is an easy decision if you want speed safety & value for now & the future sale. Cris

Hi Carusoam- In doing some research I found that there is a docking station made for the KLN 89/94 from LoneStar Aviation called the Commannder 2000K. I am hopeful that someone on this site might know their KLN 94 well enough that they no longer need it. Where in NJ are you based?

Hi to all- I have posted an intro as a new member on the Modern Forum but thought I would ask here about a docking station for the KLN 94 in my Eagle. I need help & wondered if anyone might have a docking station for sale. If so let me know. Thanks much. Cris

Thanks Dan35 for the explanation & to laytonyl for the confirmation. That helps explain the "How" but at present the switch does not change the Moritz guage to which it is presumably attached. It always reads in the top position (amps) regardless of switch position. There is a separate switch button below the amp/bat guage that gives the voltage of either battery to determine which to use for starting. That does work just fine. I'm hopeful that someone that actually has had an issue with this switch can chime in as to a possible fix. And to Pilot716 the J is a terrific A/C, my last was an 84' & I actually wanted another J due to the 600' T/O distance but ended up with the 310 HP Eagle which is now roughly equivalent for T/O. Thanks for the help! Cris

Hi to all- I recently acquired a 99' Mooney Eagle which is my 7th Mooney over the years. This one has but 350 Hrs TT but needed a bit of sorting out. I bought the plane in Detroit & immediately flew it to Midwest Mooney M20 in Flora Ill. to upgrade the existing 280 HP Stc to the newer 310 HP Screamin' Eagle Stc. From there I flew to Gulfport Ms to pick up my son, the Naval Aviator/Pilot who is no longer flight qualified due to a hearing loss. We did get him a 3rd class FAA medical however & proceeded on to the MAPA flight clinic in Ft Meyers for a father/son w/e before he deploys to Afghanistan. It was a great opportunity to renew our association with fellow Mooney friends while at the same time becoming proficient with our new A/C. Then back to Gulfport for a day with the family & then Gulfport to Atlantic City in 4+ Hrs where I am based. Wow, this is a lot faster & nicer than my last J model which I loved and a lot easier than the airlines which is a very long two-three stop day. The A/C is now at Air-Mods in Robbinsville NJ for fuel tank leak repairs and a couple of minor issues. One issue that I need help with from this group is the picture below of a switch that no one seems to know what it does or how or even if it works. This A/C has Moritz guages & a B&C backup alternator. Their is nothing in the POH, Maintenance Manual or B&C STC that shows this switch or what it does. Dave at Air-Mods believes it might be used for the Moritz Battery guage to show Amps but that does not answer the Battery +/- position. Anyway it does not seem to work so the question is: Do any of you have this in your A/C & how does it work or have any of you knowledge of how to get it fixed? BTW Mat at M20 Sales, Dave, Tom & Lisa at Air Mods all get high marks for their help, professionalism & efforts to keep me on time & on my way. Same goes to the friends & instructors at MAPA. Thanks for listening. Cris