Zulee

Just curious, is altitude preselect coming from your KFC150 or do you have the Aspen solution?

Based on a new MFD purchase price plus the install I agree, this was a great deal but another $5500 on my already $20k bill. But I do like the idea of prewiring so the future install is as close to a "drop in" as possible.

We have discussed removing the second VOR head. Because I’ve never flown behind glass before I wasn’t sure how busy the display will become. But everything is on the table at the moment so I still have time and why I’ve turned to this group for input.

They offered a refurbished unit from Aspen installed for $5500 with a 1 year warranty. And I totally understand all the reasons to do it while the panel is apart but I had to put the brakes on at some point. Your panel turned out great, by the way.

Your question is legitimate whether you have a dog in he fight or not and while I would be shocked that any avionics shop would lead someone down that road if otherwise. But I have sent a text to the Aspen rep and the avionics shop to clarify. I will post their responses. Thanks Don

According to the Avionics shop, yes

Thanks for the feedback and it seems like timing is the name of the game...who has what at the moment your plane is in the shop. Fortunately Aspen has the EA100 solution for my KFC200 AP so I was able to check that box. I could spend 30 minutes on vacuum pumps and my woes over the years. Not to mention, I have had my KI256 out of the plane 3 times, but I will admit since the last service it has performed flawlessly...but nevertheless, my confidence level is gone. Thanks again for your feedback Rick

According to the avionics shop, yes

I have fretted over updating my panel for years and now that it is sitting in the avionics shop I am being hit with a lot of valid and challenging self-induced questions. So I decided I would turn to my Mooney family for some opinions, pros and cons around what I am about to share. Besides, I am sure all of you are sitting around today wishing you had not had that second plate of food or sneaking back into the kitchen after your nap. But the real reason I decided to post is due to so many pictures of Aspen installs in Mooney's but no one removed any of their round gauges...hence, the questions as to whether I am making the right decision. Before I taxied up to the Avionics shop: My 1981 J model had the "out of the factory" round gauges with the only upgrades being; GNS530W, panel mounted 696 (AirGizmo) and EDM700 Original plan before taxiing up to the Avionics shop: Install GTX345, GMA345 and a DAC GDL31 GPSS...and I was also pondering installing the stratus USB charging ports As time progressed and Aspen came out with their reduced price to include synthetic vision, EA100 blah blah blah...the questions and options began to fly: So I decided to add another zero or two to my panel project and the Aspen is now on its way as well as the post purchase remorse. Well since the panel is torn out, why not include a Flight Stream 210...what the heck, let's do that too. What are your plans for backup AI, I honestly had not given that much thought because silly me, I "assumed" the Aspen would shed the need but WRONG, only with the MAX upgrade. Ugh!! What about installing an Aspen MFD, nope my budget is shot! What about relocating the KI256? I realize that is a possibility but I really wanted to shed my vacuum system (I expect a lot of "opinions" from you guys on this topic) What about installing a G5 as your AI backup? Hmmm, I really like that idea So if you're installing the Aspen PFD with a Garmin G5 you know you can eliminate all the round gauges. YIKES !!!!! Did you just say remove all the round gauges???? We would suggest installing the Aspen, G5, retaining your #2 VOR, EDM and install a new pilot side panel...no plugs no holes, fresh, clean and only $1k more. And we will back mount everything. Just for the record, my overall plan is to build for future panel expansion and including the MFD in about two years. Summary and my ask for you guys: At the time of this post I have decided to follow the shops suggestions of installing the Aspen, G5, relocating my EDM, VOR #2, reposition my AP annunciator panel and basically reducing my instruments to about 50% of the panel with the other half clean. And so I can say I said it, I completely get the transition training involved with moving away from round gauges so let's allow that to be a given for the moment. Now it's your turn to fire away and I would like to say " thank you", in advance Rick PS, the attached panel was just me inserting equipment to get a picture of the final product before the idea of removing all round gauges entered the equation.

I had my tanks resealed and within a couple weeks I experienced the same thing...smell of fuel but once airborne the smell would dissipate as you've described. As others have shared, you can look around your main gear well for signs of fuel but even if you do I would check the fuel tube that runs from the tank inside the cabin. If you look where our bench seat meets the floor on each side...you can pull the floor carpet back from the side, or you may have to pull the side panel off to get a good look.

You may want to try the coaware code again, I just tried it and the discount applied.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback. Again, not being an earbud guy...the long stem and manipulation to connect to the tube just seemed incorrect.

The yellow earbuds contained in the halo package has a stem that was a bit of a challenge to attach...keeping in mind, I am not an earbud guy so my experience is limited. But does this look right to you?

I guess I wasn't paying "attention" to my post as well...it's too early in the morning

I guess I wasn't paying intention when you said you installed the flightstream with your upgrades. I decided not to install with my upgrade but maybe I need to stroll over to your hangar and let you demo it for me...maybe I will see what I'm missing and reconsider.

They are hard to find used so I finally gave up and purchased a new one...works like a charm. However I did have a problem initially, the angle of the arm would not allow connecting to the nose wheel without hitting the spinner, actually it would not connect and clear the spinner at all. When I called Redline I was told the arm is adjustable, "just loosen the clamp and slide it up or down", he said. I am not an engineer by any stretch of the imagination but when I compared my unit to my hangar neighbor (also a Mooney driver), it appeared the connecting bracket was installed backwards. I called Redline back a second time and provided pictures of the two sidewinders side by side and pointed out what appeared to be the issue. He told me I had a newer model and they had changed the design, hence the difference between the two. I tried to explain my version had a bushing under the bracket and if I adjusted more than 1/2" either way, the bracket would not tighten...the gap was too large. (the bushing itself is bonded and not adjustable) My sidewinder is on the left, note the bushing under the bracket compared to my friends on the right with no bushing and note the brackets are installed opposite of each other. I disassemble the sidewinder, flipped the bracket around and it fit and functioned perfectly.

Thanks for the guidance, I just spoke to Phil and he said because of all you aggravating consumers...he will make me a yellow pair for the wifey. Score!!!!

exactly!!

I will try calling and see if the wife won't fly will get me a sympathy pair. ha! Thanks

Thanks for the PIREP, greatly appreciated and not unlike other responses I've received. It is just really weird when someone has such a sought after product and buyers, but no product...not a good business model. Oh well, I guess I tell her to deal with the light speeds until Oshkosh 2019...don't seem to have any other alternatives. Thanks again, Rick

Hank, you made me laugh with your "acutely painful in 20 minutes" comment. I am just like you when it comes to putting something in my ear, it drives me nuts and makes my ear itch. But the wifey uses earbuds all the time, including when she sleeps at night...so the Halo or Clarity is right up her alley.

I had no idea they sold them at Oshkosh but I wasn't looking for them either...live and learn. Thanks for the heads up!!

The wife is telling me to go Clarity aloft and while this may sound a bit pompous...this is not about saving money, its about "when momma's happy". So while I know you guys are happy with your Halo's, are you saying it is superior to Clarity Aloft or are you saying, for the money it's just as good?

I’ve gone to the halo website daily for two weeks and out of stock is the message. What’s the trick to ordering a set of halo’s?

Was this a new paint scheme and if so, did they design? How many colors were you allowed for the price?