Another GTN750 PIREP

[Bennett]

Finally flew N335BB for a few hours yesterday. In my opinion, the GTN750 is everything Garmin said it would be. Highly intuitive, with a shallow menu structure, great bright screen, and really rich in features. Changing frequecies (com, nav) is fast and I believe, leads to greater accuracy because of the large displays.  Programing flight plans is a snap. The touch screen feels just like an iPad. In fact, think of it as a FAA legal panel mounted (smaller) iPad running Foreflight, abeit at an astonding incremental cost As you can see from the before and after photos below, I made a number of other changes, inluding Garmin's remote transponder and audio panel, plus a Garmin 696 mounted in an AirGizmo mounting with XM weather, traffic, and a few other enhancements.  I also added a carbon monoxide panel mounted detector, and a Mid-Continent "Lifesaver" electric AI, with inclinometer to replace the turn coordinator (and with battery back-up). An Icaris SAM GPSS digital to analog converter now interfaces with the KAP150 autopilot. New panels were made up, etc.  Executive Aircraft Maintenance in Scottsdale, Arizona did all the work, and I highly recommend them.

Before someone jumps in to tell me to keep my head out of the cockpit, let me just say I have been flying since 1956,and I have owned a variery of aircraft including simple fixed gear singles, high perfomance singles, tail draggers, an LSA, and now back to Mooneys. I am an old, non-bold pilot. I like these new avionics, but I am not a slave to them. I find they are great tools, but that is all they are; tools. It is fun to learn to use them effectively.  The other day, I pulled out sectional and terminal charts while I was flying, and folding and unfolding them, hand flying, and trying to find the particular waypoint I was looking for, was far more distracting than using the GTN750. I also recommend that if you are thinking of installing one, then get Garmin's  GTN "trainer" simulator.  I spent a lot of time on my computer practicing, and once I used the actual unit, there was no further learning curve - the simulator is that good.

[lahso]

Wow - very nice. The before/after is amazing with the panel and yoke covering changes.

[smitty9006]

That's one smoking, hot Mooney! The exterior, interior and panel are the best I have seen. Nice job Bennett.

[Magnum]

Looks really good, esp. the flush mounting.

[PTK]

Ditto Bennett!  Really nice panel! I like the flush mounted JPI.  Is this from JPI or something rigged by the shop?  How do you use the 430? As #2 totally independent of #1? I guesss you'd have to right because it doesn't talk to the 750 or does it?

Very nice! Congratulations and enjoy!

[Cris]

Bennett That is not just a nice panel, it is an Outstanding panel! & goes to show that you put a great deal of your experience into the layout & design. It looks like a new Mooney jut off the production line.  How long did it take to complete?

[Bennett]

Quote: allsmiles

Ditto Bennett!  Really nice panel! I like the flush mounted JPI.  Is this from JPI or something rigged by the shop?  How do you use the 430? As #2 totally independent of #1? I guesss you'd have to right because it doesn't talk to the 750 or does it?

Very nice! Congratulations and enjoy!

[docket]

I like the 750/650 units and I now have 10 hours behind them having flow the Eagle from Houston to Wilmar and back.  My only thing negative is that I still like entering the frequencies when ATC calls it through the round knobs.  If I didn't have to put the "1" in on the keypad I would like it better but in my opinion the round knobs rule.  Notwithstanding that the 750/650 is a big improvement.  I really like the ability to learn about the airport that I am landing in a common sense way and just by touching the screen I cna find out all the detail about the airspace.

[N33GG]

Beautiful panel!  And flying since '56... OK, you have me beat! 

[DaV8or]

I wish you guys with the 750s would just keep it to yourselves. Seriously, my 430 is super awsome and there is no better box in the world. No need to ever upgrade my stack, so quit your feeble atempts to sway me! 

[docket]

Dave, look away from the light and you will be fine, just don't touch one because Garmin must coat the screen with gottahavit.

[flyboy0681]

I agree with your assessment of the 750. I've been flying with it since May and it gets better with every flight. I have a short list of features that I believe should be included in an update but overall am very happy with it. Garmin did get it right and should be the standard going forward.

I actually found learning the Icarus GPSS to be more difficult because of the single knob.

Good point on the simulator. I have yet to find a single difference between it and the real thing and it has helped my understanding of the unit immensely.

Let me know if you have any questions, I've gotten pretty good at using it.

 

[PTK]

Quote: Bennett

 but if I find some spare pennies, I think I will replace the 430W with a GTN 650.  I am already sold on the touch screen interface, and using the 430W, and the 696 seem like ancient technolgy - too many buttons to press, too many knobs to turn, and none of it particularly intuitive. 

[fantom]

WOW Bennett.....heck of a new J! What year model did it used to be?

Panel, articulating seat, interior, paint...what else? Seems like we now have two wonderful upgraded J's.

Your's and Craig's. Well done!

[PTK]

Put in about ten hours with the 750 thus far. It's downright potent! Everything Garmin said plus a whole lot more! Very intuitive and refreshingly user friendly. With the exception of maybe adding a few more data fields, for us with the remote audio panel and transponder units, I don't see how they can improve on it. Garmin managed to strike the perfect balance in the 750. It is capable and extremely sophisticated. Yet it is not overburdening and so simple to use.

Coming down on an LPV or LNAV/VNAV approach on a glideslope with no ground facility is truly amazing. I will get used to it but right now I'm addicted! I guess this is the future around the corner when VORs and ILSs are taken down. They are very expensive to upkeep and rightly so I don't see the government keeping them around very long.

 

[M252]

In the GTN750 Pilot handbook it says the GTN750 provides Roll-Steering information for King A/P (KAP140 and the like). Hence, I am wondering whether an additional roll-steering converter is really needed in combination with the KAP150?

Has anybody tested the "roll-steering" capabilities of the GTN750 in combination with the KAP150?

[PTK]

In the GTN750 Pilot handbook it says the GTN750 provides Roll-Steering information for King A/P (KAP140 and the like). Hence, I am wondering whether an additional roll-steering converter is really needed in combination with the KAP150?

Has anybody tested the "roll-steering" capabilities of the GTN750 in combination with the KAP150?

The answer is yes. The Garmin field engineer I spoke with a few months ago recommended the GDC31 from DAC International. I have the GTN along with the KFC150 and thoroughly researched this.

[Bennett]

I used the Icarus SAM module between the GTN 750 and the KAP 150 autopilot - works perfectly. Thanks for all the kind words about the panel.  Its been a great (read expensive), satisfying project.  Two weeks ago I replaced the GNS 430W with a GTN 650, and added a GDL-88 ADS-B in/out with TIS-B traffic.  I think I am finally done (until the next wiz-bang box comes out).  I really don't need all this stuff - I just like staying on the leading edge of avionics, especially mapping/database programs.  Many years ago, as an electronics engineer, I was involved with all sorts of tracking and control system design, and this "stuff" is fun for me at this stage of life. 

[M252]

The answer is yes. The Garmin field engineer I spoke with a few months ago recommended the GDC31 from DAC International. I have the GTN along with the KFC150 and thoroughly researched this.

Thank you!  I have just ordered a GTN750 and a GDC31, which will be installed in the next few weeks... Looking forward to the avionics upgrade.

[Oscar Avalle]

Finally flew N335BB for a few hours yesterday. In my opinion, the GTN750 is everything Garmin said it would be. Highly intuitive, with a shallow menu structure, great bright screen, and really rich in features. Changing frequecies (com, nav) is fast and I believe, leads to greater accuracy because of the large displays.  Programing flight plans is a snap. The touch screen feels just like an iPad. In fact, think of it as a FAA legal panel mounted (smaller) iPad running Foreflight, abeit at an astonding incremental cost As you can see from the before and after photos below, I made a number of other changes, inluding Garmin's remote transponder and audio panel, plus a Garmin 696 mounted in an AirGizmo mounting with XM weather, traffic, and a few other enhancements.  I also added a carbon monoxide panel mounted detector, and a Mid-Continent "Lifesaver" electric AI, with inclinometer to replace the turn coordinator (and with battery back-up). An Icaris SAM GPSS digital to analog converter now interfaces with the KAP150 autopilot. New panels were made up, etc.  Executive Aircraft Maintenance in Scottsdale, Arizona did all the work, and I highly recommend them.

Before someone jumps in to tell me to keep my head out of the cockpit, let me just say I have been flying since 1956,and I have owned a variery of aircraft including simple fixed gear singles, high perfomance singles, tail draggers, an LSA, and now back to Mooneys. I am an old, non-bold pilot. I like these new avionics, but I am not a slave to them. I find they are great tools, but that is all they are; tools. It is fun to learn to use them effectively.  The other day, I pulled out sectional and terminal charts while I was flying, and folding and unfolding them, hand flying, and trying to find the particular waypoint I was looking for, was far more distracting than using the GTN750. I also recommend that if you are thinking of installing one, then get Garmin's  GTN "trainer" simulator.  I spent a lot of time on my computer practicing, and once I used the actual unit, there was no further learning curve - the simulator is that good.

Really cool panel. Congratulations!

[M252]

I just completed installation of a GTN750 and a GDC31 in my 252TSE. I really like it and as others said a highly intuitive system...

Question to others w/ a GTN? How long does it take after switching on the unit until you have a GPS position? I usually have to wait a few minutes and that is not always handy if you want to use SafeTaxi charts...

[Marauder]

I just completed installation of a GTN750 and a GDC31 in my 252TSE. I really like it and as others said a highly intuitive system... Question to others w/ a GTN? How long does it take after switching on the unit until you have a GPS position? I usually have to wait a few minutes and that is not always handy if you want to use SafeTaxi charts...

Usually within a minute, two max. Depends a lot on GPS signal acquisition (i.e. full view of the sky). Did you have a GPS before? If so, did they re-use your antennae?

[M252]

No they installed the new antennae that came with the GTN. Next time I fly I will use a timer ...

[Bennett]

Not unexpectedly, I cannot pick up GPS in my hangar, but once she is outside, and from the time I turn

on the avionics master (after starting the engine), I usually have usable signal in one or two minutes, never more than three minutes.

[PTK]

Have never felt the need to time it, but I'd say no more than 20 seconds.