King KFD-840 glass panel

[isaacpr7]

Has anyone seen an installation of a KFD-840 on a Mooney? I was looking through a list of STCs and there is one for the M20C. I spoke to King and they informed me that it was obsolete because the company who they partnered with got bought out and the buyer pulled the plug on the production. I was considering buying one for a steal so I can have something better than my steam gauges but was wondering if anyone had experience dealing with something like this.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=VJklVNzLO9GvyAT1x4KgDA&url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DjCllRpY_838&cd=1&ved=0CCYQtwIwAA&usg=AFQjCNGAc-i51MaGNigl6ykHQhkVU7i6LQ&sig2=W13_kwcwfQXhIXoM6zMAWA

[carusoam]

Quick price search $13+k

How good of a price did you see?

Do you get all the STC paperwork that you may need with that?

I would expect to see a BK equivalent of all things G...

Upside of BK is the shared platforms and cross communication.

Downside, they are built by sub contractors...

Best regards,

-a-

[KSMooniac]

I wouldn't put one in if I got it for free... you'll pay a couple thousand in installation costs, and have no future upgrade path or support if something doesn't work.  And nothing that will drop in the hole in your panel, so you'd have to make a new panel to change it.

[isaacpr7]

The one I found was listed for 4k but it was a demo version. I called King and I am waiting to hear back from them to find out if it can be converted to flight mode. Everything required to run the system is embedded in the box, which lead me to believe that the installation should not be that bad. The downside is that the subcontractor was bought out and the project was dropped. I might just continue to feed the piggy bank and try to find an Aspen at a bargain.

[Bill Dunn]

If it is a demo version you won't get any paperwork with it so you won't be able to install it unless it's in an experimental.

[isaacpr7]

Which is why I am waiting to hear back from the manufacturer. A representative there is going to find out if they have the ability to convert it to flight mode.

[rbridges]

I wouldn't put one in if I got it for free... you'll pay a couple thousand in installation costs, and have no future upgrade path or support if something doesn't work.  And nothing that will drop in the hole in your panel, so you'd have to make a new panel to change it.

 

 

I agree with Scott for those very reasons. In a field where you can't do anything yourself to save money, I would hesitate to purchase it.  If anything glitches or can't be worked out, I don't see a cheap way out of it.

[isaacpr7]

Thanks for the advice fellow mooniacs. As usual you guys have made a hard decision easier for me to make

Maybe I should continue to feed the piggy bank to have the S-tec 60-2 autopilot I have sitting in a box installed. That's about a 10k ordeal and I would rather sink that cash into paying off the airplane first. Maybe then I could have it installed, unless a miracle happens and Brittain calls me to let me know I am next in line for their system. Lol!

[isaacpr7]

So I finally got word back from the manufacturere and they confirmed that the demo version is practically junk. In other words, don't be lured to purchase this product. Here is the email response:

 

Thank you for contacting BendixKing by Honeywell!

Hello Isaac,

I have been informed that there isn't anything in place to change the existing Demo software in these units to Production software. I have also been informed that there is not any kind of program in place to exchange the Demo units out for Production units.

Regards,

Gregory Meissner
BendixKing Technical Support
 

[triple8s]

When you get that 60-2 installed you will LOVE it I did anyhow.

[isaacpr7]

I can't wait. I just hate that S-tec is like the apple computers of autopilots. It's going to cost me around 10k to have it installed legally. I am debating if I should wait for 2016s new law on noncertified avionics to pass. If it does, I rather buy a garmin G3X with autopilot for under 8k.