Dream to fly Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 The plane is airborne and I'm loving it. The panel not so much. The bank account is now with the wife. I am a VFR pilot and I am trying to get my IFR. The problem is my panel is old and it is the shot gun approach. I need new gauges because they are way bad in accuracy and looks. My radios are newer but I have a bad screen on one and I have a receiver issue on the other. I need to upgrade to ADSB and I use foreflight. What would you guys do first and are there reasonable used pieces that can be purchased or traded to get this plane safer to fly. I like the idea of seeing others and weather info. Also how does one get an auto pilot in a plane. I have that wing leveler set up but not impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsengle Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Used 430. Most of what you need. And a stratux with AHARSSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marauder Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Nothing worse than trying to do your IFR rating with marginal radios. I would repair what you have and get the rating with just the VOR/ILS capability. I was in your shoes back in 1992 when I started my instrument rating with iffy radios.Once you fly the plane for a bit, you will figure out if she is a keeper and meets the kind of flying you are doing. If she is not, then you are out nothing than the normal avionics maintenance. Trust me, IFR can be flown with what you have. I started my IFR rating with steam and ADF/VOR/ILS flew until 2012 without anything more. (Yes, I know. Hard to believe seeing what I fly behind now). If you decide to keep the plane for a while after the rating, then you can decide what GPS to put in. By then, maybe some cheaper alternatives will become available. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dream to fly Posted June 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 So if I replace my KLX 135 with another one that has a good screen and install a adsb transponder I should be good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXX Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 You dont need the ADS-B for instrument flight. As Marauder stated above, you can acquire your rating with the radios you have. Get them repaired and get your IFR certification while the plane is in the shop. I would ask the shop if they have any IFR capable gps units that they took in trade, something along the lines of a KLN 89b, KLN 94 or KLN 90b. It would be nice to incorporate RNAV approaches in your training and these units are very afforable as avionics go. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dream to fly Posted June 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 25 minutes ago, Chupacabra said: You dont need the ADS-B for instrument flight. As Marauder stated above, you can acquire your rating with the radios you have. Get them repaired and get your IFR certification while the plane is in the shop. I would ask the shop if they have any IFR capable gps units that they took in trade, something along the lines of a KLN 89b, KLN 94 or KLN 90b. It would be nice to incorporate RNAV approaches in your training and these units are very afforable as avionics go. In ND there are two or three places to get avionics and one of them is the sister company to the repair facility that took me for over 4K with an oil cooler replacement. I'm gonna have to do some searching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marauder Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 In ND there are two or three places to get avionics and one of them is the sister company to the repair facility that took me for over 4K with an oil cooler replacement. I'm gonna have to do some searching. That's what Mooneys are made for -- fly to a shop that will work with you.Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLCarter Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Get a current pitot static ck (if expired), fix/replace the radios and start training. Standard 6 pk panels makes it nice when jumping between different aircraft. I flew 2 different aircraft getting my IR and the only thing that was the same was they were both Cessnas. Hand flying an approach to minimums has a great since of accomplishment, Auto Pilots and GPS's are nice but not required 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Somebody was selling a kln89 around here...? Best rgerads, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob_Belville Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 At the moment, and possibly "forever" full autopilots are expensive. Your PC wing leveler will be a big help flying IFR. If it is not working it should not be expensive to repair. Leaking tubing is the most common problem. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetti Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 (edited) For autopilots waiting till one of the two experimental market ones make it STC for Mooney. Say 1 year. Most people who spend 30K on their panel still use a tablet. A Tablet and a Stratux.com will get you adsb-IN and ADSB weather I am a fan of Samsung Products with droid EFB software. Which is about $200 solution I run a tablet and my phone. Phone for looking up facility information. tablet for cruise and general navigation checks. The table and the phone will both fly approach plates and position you on the airport diagram in an accurate but uncertified way. The Tablet will do it split screen. Edited June 6, 2017 by Yetti 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dream to fly Posted June 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Sweet I have a plan!!!! Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dream to fly Posted June 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Will a KLX135A do what I need? I have one with a damaged screen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marauder Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Will a KLX135A do what I need? I have one with a damaged screen I looked up the KLX-135A. It looks like it is a VFR GPS/Com unit. If that is true, I don't think it can be used even for enroute IFR. May need to consider something else (like carusoam mentioned). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browncbr1 Posted June 7, 2017 Report Share Posted June 7, 2017 You will be get more out of your IR training without an autopilot. A good scan to proficiently hand fly in imc is a life saving skill in my opinion. Learning ground station based nav and approaches rather than just relying on gps to always work seems like better backup plan for when your gps goes tits up or raim outage or whatever. GPS is nice if you need to get into small airports with not great weather. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsxrpilot Posted June 7, 2017 Report Share Posted June 7, 2017 I think you could redo the arrangement on the left panel yourself. Talk to @"Chocks" about a panel and do the install yourself with your A&P to sign it off. You could even cut the panel yourself. If you're an EAA member, download Solidworks, lay it out, take the file to your local machine shop. $300 ought to get it done. Sand, prep, prime, paint, install. It should be easy for anyone with your wrenching skills. Mooney panels aren't structural so easy to do. @"Chocks" makes nice panels if you want it finished, laser engraved, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.