KFC 150 AI/FD. KI-256

[mcpilot]

I was flying this evening and the air driven horizon/FD (KI-256) for my A/P system tumbled. Does anyone have any experience with having one of these rebuilt?

[PAMooney]

Yeap, went to mid-continent. Not cheap: 4 AMU's.

[Cruiser]

Yes, put the cost of the overhaul toward the purchase of an Aspen PFD !!

[AndyFromCB]

Autopilots central, $2500, flat fee, great warranty. I used mine at 11months, no questions asked, fixed almost overnight.

[M016576]

Second autopilots central- sent them my A/P computer when it was haywire- they fixed it for $300 bucks. My century 41 has been perfectly stable now for 3 years. Awesome work, good price.

Had my century attitude gyro overhauled / repaired after it tumbled due to a vacuum pump failure ~$500 bucks by Howard Aviation at Brackett field in La Verne, CA. Not sure what shop they sent it out to- I don't have the logs in front of me. Shouldn't be much more than that to fix... Or you can find a "new used" one for $1300 bucks on eBay with a yellow tag... Or you can exchange yours for a factory refurbished one for $2100... Or you can buy a brand new one for ~$4000.... Or you can buy a new aspen pro for $12000.00 installed and sell your HSI to make up some of the cost.... Or you could go super large and buy a G500 for 20,000 installed!!.... All depends on A) funds available and how much you love flying / your plane! I find that option A tends to rule my decisions more than option B....

[carqwik]

Bob Bramble, Aerolab Aviation, did mine for $2,500 or so a few years ago....  Took about a week or so...no problems since...

[PTK]

Another vote of confidence for Bob Bramble and Aerolab. I sent in my HSI to him a few months ago because the GS flag was sticking. He checked it over and completely serviced the unit above and beyond the GS. Very reasonable cost and turn around. It was under 400$.

 

When I got it back and went to reconnect it head first and upside down under the panel, I somehow inadvertently put a little extra pressure on the front and cracked the glass! I called Bob and he said just send it back to me and I'll replace it for you. He put a new glass in it at NC. He didn't have to do that. It shows the kind of person he is.

[mike_elliott]

If you are looking at your net worth vs. cash outlay, you might be better served with the aspen. Helping a friend purchase a plane, just this week his lender valued the aspen at 7K.

You can get them installed if you shop around for 10K, sell your used unit and DG while they still have value. Just a thought...

[mcpilot]

The Aspen is wonderful except I would still need a backup electric AI... Those go for north of $3K so I am better off OH the KI 256 I already own.  That makes it a wash...

[Marauder]

The Aspen is wonderful except I would still need a backup electric AI... Those go for north of $3K so I am better off OH the KI 256 I already own. That makes it a wash...

Negative, you can keep/use a vacuum AI. Where did you read/hear you needed an electric one?

[Marauder]

[mcpilot]

Sorry, I shouldn't have specified electric.. I would still need a backup horizon ~$800 for vacuum driven.  I got a quote of $2250 to overhaul the KI256 so difference is $1450.

 

The Aspen is $9400 plus $3200 for EA100 adapter to drive my Autopilot... KFC150 

 

Someone may say that it adds so much of a dollar value to the plane , but in the real world you never get the dollars out of avionics that it cost to put them in when you actually sell.

[mcpilot]

BTW.. It would be a 0 degree panel tilt right?

[flyboy0681]

Bob Bramble, Aerolab Aviation, did mine for $2,500 or so a few years ago....  Took about a week or so...no problems since...

 

Bob did ours too for the same price. Still going...

[PTK]

The Aspen is $9400 plus $3200 for EA100 adapter to drive my Autopilot... KFC150 

 

Someone may say that it adds so much of a dollar value to the plane , but in the real world you never get the dollars out of avionics that it cost to put them in when you actually sell.

 

 

And that's if it works.

 

A friend at my home airport has an Aspen in his Bonanza. He is on his third unit in under four years!

 

Yes, it's not a typo. Third unit!  And paid a hefty penny for a rebuilt one a month or so ago.

[mcpilot]

Just got off of the phone with Bob Bramble... He will OH my unit for $1950 and Line it up for another $400...  

 

 I am leaning in this direction...

[Marauder]

Sorry, I shouldn't have specified electric.. I would still need a backup horizon ~$800 for vacuum driven. I got a quote of $2250 to overhaul the KI256 so difference is $1450. The Aspen is $9400 plus $3200 for EA100 adapter to drive my Autopilot... KFC150 Someone may say that it adds so much of a dollar value to the plane , but in the real world you never get the dollars out of avionics that it cost to put them in when you actually sell.

In reality, you rarely, if ever, get a resale value of anything you install in a plane. If planes were stocks, I would have sold my portfolio a while ago...

[Marauder]

The Aspen is $9400 plus $3200 for EA100 adapter to drive my Autopilot... KFC150 Someone may say that it adds so much of a dollar value to the plane , but in the real world you never get the dollars out of avionics that it cost to put them in when you actually sell. And that's if it works. A friend at my home airport has an Aspen in his Bonanza. He is on his third unit in under four years! Yes, it's not a typo. Third unit! And paid a hefty penny for a rebuilt one a month or so ago.

Drinking the Garmin Kool-Aid again are we Pete?

[mcpilot]

In reality, you rarely, if ever, get a resale value of anything you install in a plane. If planes were stocks, I would have sold my portfolio a while ago...

Agreed, so not such a good idea to double down with money for resale value... However, a great reason to spend money is that you use the plane and enjoy it, and that upgrades make the plane even more enjoyable.

[PTK]

Chris, that wasn't my post you quoted!

But no kool-aid here! Just stating the unfortunate facts for this poor and unsuspecting Bonanza fellow. He apparently od'd on Aspen booze extract and got the proverbial shaft!

[mike_elliott]

Chris, that wasn't my post you quoted!

But no kool-aid here! Just stating the unfortunate facts for this poor and unsuspecting Bonanza fellow. He apparently od'd on Aspen booze extract and got the proverbial shaft!

 

This is certainly not typical of an Aspen or Mr. Market would have run them out of town, instead of embracing them as one of the fastest (if not the only) growing  and one of the most innovative company in the aviation industry. I would be very very suspect of the install if I were your Bonanza buddy. If I am not mistaken, I was about #2 mooney installation of an Aspen (founder Pete Lyons 231 somehow slipped ahead of mine) with not a single issue since install. I did send it back to the factory for a hardware upgrade (free) once after they came out with V2, and have had software upgrades done (free) a few times. It has been rock solid, and every one that I know of that has one has been rock solid. I am sure there are/were some bad units, but Aspen's fantastic customer support I am also sure replaced them post haste and for free.

Try that free word with Garmin the next time you want a software update. It didn't work when I used the F word with them for my 430W, and fear for my life if it needs to go to them for service as they will hose the data stream and make it proprietary after robbing me of about a grand to possibly fix something as simple as a stuck button. But this thread isn't about the guy with the Bo or my great experience, its about a decision to repair or replace a King product that is aging in both useful left life and technology. Bob Bramble has one of the best reputations in the industry and if Mcpilot goes that way, I am sure it will be a good decision just as I am sure an Aspen is a good choice for him at a higher up front cost.

 

YMMV, but the only people I have ever heard dis the aspen has never owned one.

[Marauder]

Chris, that wasn't my post you quoted! But no kool-aid here! Just stating the unfortunate facts for this poor and unsuspecting Bonanza fellow. He apparently od'd on Aspen booze extract and got the proverbial shaft!

Sure looked like you posted it Pete! What I do know about Aspens come from my personal ownership of a 2000 series and my research of them. When they first launched in the 2008 time frame, they did have quality issues. Displays were burning out and units dying. Early adopters experienced this as well as great customer service to correct the issues. From 2011 on, all of the major product quality issues have been addressed. What remains, is what someone else pointed out, bad installations. Unfortunately, bad installations often can't be separated from product quality, hence people drawing a conclusion about the product. For anyone who does not own an HSI and is looking to upgrade an older panel, the functionality, retrofit capability and cost can't be beat. This coming from a guy that once squeezed a penny so hard that you couldn't tell the difference from a train running over it. I'm please with the purchase.

[mooney2201]

best way to go is ebay

[mcpilot]

Ebay? Really? I might try that, but a Nigerian prince just emailed me and has one for $250. It has a 10 year warranty...

[mcpilot]

Ebay? Really? I might try that, but a Nigerian prince just emailed me and has one for $250. It has a 10 year warranty...

Btwmooney2201. Just poking fun. Your suggestion is well taken