Myrtle is getting an upgraded panel

[hubcap]

We formalized the new panel equipment for Myrtle and got it on order this week. I know not everyone here is a fan of Team Garmin but seriously they are only 15 minutes from my home airport and my avionics guy was an engineer for them for over 10 years, so they are really a no-brainer for me on a complete panel upgrade. Myrtle is my forever plane (M20K) and this should be everything I will ever need.

So this is what I have decided on -

GMA 345 Audio Panel

GTN 650 - which I already have

GNC 355 GPS/Com

GTX 345 Transponder

G3X Touch 10.6" Landscape PFD/MFD display

G3x Touch 7" Portrait PFD/MFD

GFC 500 Autopilot

I chose to keep my JPI 900 rather than go with the Garmin EIS solution for engine monitoring. I already have a G5 on the panel, and that will stay. There are a few other items for ADSB and SXM Weather, a couple of new LEMO jacks and a couple of USB charging ports, etc etc

Thoughts?

Edited April 22, 2022 by hubcap

[carusoam]

+1 for forever-planes and their upgrade path!

-a-

[carusoam]

17 minutes ago, JohnZ said:

I think 2 G3X displays is unnecessary. There is already so much information available without the second display you will be having redundant information up all over the place. Good choices. Enjoy 

Nothing says Forever-plane like TWO giant color screens…. 

When even one color screen really isn’t necessary… except for that WAAS navigator… they are all color screens…

Best regards,

-a-

[hubcap]

40 minutes ago, JohnZ said:

I think 2 G3X displays is unnecessary. There is already so much information available without the second display you will be having redundant information up all over the place. Good choices. Enjoy 

I actually agree with you, but I have a Garmin 696 on the co-pilot side, which really just takes up space without being very useful. I figured I would just put the 7” G3X in its spot. At least it would be potentially useful in the event of a primary failure in IMC.

[carusoam]

Some people still use a TC as their back-up instrument… a terrible idea… (TCs wear and don’t show their wear, until in the bumps…)

A second G3 would make a much better back-up instrument than an old TC….  
 

Make sure you get a second AHARS sensor to go with the second G3… in case the one attitude sensor is the single failure point for both displays…

 

PP thoughts only… we have seen this type of failure around here, with a pair of GI275s… lucky outcome since it occurred in IMC…

Best regards,

-a-

[rbp]

10 hours ago, hubcap said:

I actually agree with you, but I have a Garmin 696 on the co-pilot side, which really just takes up space without being very useful. I figured I would just put the 7” G3X in its spot. At least it would be potentially useful in the event of a primary failure in IMC.

If it’s in the right side they won’t configure it for revision 

[rbp]

Having just gone through this, I would recommend the GTN750XI instead of the 7” G3x and the GNC355. Similar size screen to the 7”, and integrates with the 650 (which the 355 does not). Then add a G5 for redundancy. 

[rbp]

Oh and add the 345R remote transponder and the remote GMA audio panel. They are v easily controlled from the 750

[Ragsf15e]

I think it will be awesome! A lot of people swap one thing though… pma450b instead of the gma345.  You get a whole lot of really good audio panel options with the 450b and compatibility isn’t comprised.

[carusoam]

Nice pirep for the PSEngineering’s PMA450B Rags!

Thanks for sharing it…

Best regards,

-a-

[Mscheuer]

If you make it to Oshkosh, you can get a first hand experience regarding the GMA345 and the PMA450B. We call it “Take The Big Brand Challenge” and point out the importance differences. We are not bad mouthing our competition, GARMIN has done many great things, like AutoLand, but simply point out the important points pilots would be interested in knowing before making this important decision.

[rbp]

On 4/23/2022 at 8:08 AM, Ragsf15e said:

I think it will be awesome! A lot of people swap one thing though… pma450b instead of the gma345.  You get a whole lot of really good audio panel options with the 450b and compatibility isn’t comprised.

I picked the remote 345 because it doesn’t take any panel space. No regrets 

 

[PT20J]

The PMA 450B has 4 nice features compared to the 345

1. Better user interface

2. IntelliAudio spatially separates two simultaneous comms making it easier to monitor two frequencies simultaneously 

4. Copilot as passenger intercom mode allows copilot to be on the intercom but NOT hear the radio chatter. My wife LOVES this. 

5. Flightmate allows you to connect to G3X EIS discrete outputs to give voice annunciations for caution and warning alarms.

Now, if Mark @Mscheuer would just add the RS-232 interface to the G3X so that the G3X would display the active frequency in green…

Skip

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, PT20J said:

 

2. IntelliAudio spatially separates two simultaneous comms making it easier to monitor two frequencies simultaneously 

 

I set this to one of the minimum settings when I first configured mine, and even at the "barely separated" setting I've noticed that it makes a big difference.    I have my #2 comm on 121.5 a lot of the time when cruising and once you get used to it you know which radio a transmission is coming from without even thinking about it due to the spatial separation from the PMA450B.   

It also makes connecting to my phone trivial, which I primarily use for in-flight music, and shows my phone battery status and displays the calling phone number when it rings during a flight.

There's a ton of weird little things like that that the PMA450B does that are actually very useful.   It's taken me quite a while to figure out some of the stuff it does that you don't really notice too much but that are really nice.

[rbp]

16 hours ago, PT20J said:

The PMA 450B has 4 nice features compared to the 345

1. Better user interface

2. IntelliAudio spatially separates two simultaneous comms making it easier to monitor two frequencies simultaneously 

4. Copilot as passenger intercom mode allows copilot to be on the intercom but NOT hear the radio chatter. My wife LOVES this. 

5. Flightmate allows you to connect to G3X EIS discrete outputs to give voice annunciations for caution and warning alarms.

Now, if Mark @Mscheuer would just add the RS-232 interface to the G3X so that the G3X would display the active frequency in green…

Skip

I have spacial  separation in the 345, and I can isolate comma to just the pilot and still be able to communicate with the passengers. 
 

The user interface on the GTN 750 for the remote 345 is excellent

number 3 missing 

 

[hubcap]

On 4/23/2022 at 4:38 AM, rbp said:

Having just gone through this, I would recommend the GTN750XI instead of the 7” G3x and the GNC355. Similar size screen to the 7”, and integrates with the 650 (which the 355 does not). Then add a G5 for redundancy. 

I considered the GTN750XI, but I don’t have enough real estate vertically.
 

Presently my stack as - 

GMA 345 Audio panel

GTN650

GNC 355 GPS/com

GTX 345 Transponder

GFC 500 Autopilot

there is no room for the GTN750

[carusoam]

4 hours ago, hubcap said:

I considered the GTN750XI, but I don’t have enough real estate vertically.
 

Presently my stack as - 

GMA 345 Audio panel

GTN650

GNC 355 GPS/com

GTX 345 Transponder

GFC 500 Autopilot

there is no room for the GTN750

 Is why so many people have used the remote units…

They get controlled by the the GTN in the panel…

Audio panel and transponder take up a fair amount of space…

Won’t matter if they fail in the tail, or in the panel… there isn’t much to do with a failed unit while flying….

PP thoughts only, not an avionics guru…

Best regards,

-a-

[rbp]

13 hours ago, carusoam said:

 Is why so many people have used the remote units…

They get controlled by the the GTN in the panel…

Audio panel and transponder take up a fair amount of space…

Won’t matter if they fail in the tail, or in the panel… there isn’t much to do with a failed unit while flying….

PP thoughts only, not an avionics guru…

Best regards,

-a-

The remote audio goes behind the screen and above the electronics of the 750  the remote txp goes in the tail

 

of you can’t fit the 750, def get 2 x 650 instead of 650/355. The integration is that much better 

[Fly Boomer]

11 hours ago, rbp said:

The remote txp and audio go behind the screen and above the electronics of the 750

I think the GTX-345r goes in the avionics bay behind the baggage compartment.

[rbp]

55 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

I think the GTX-345r goes in the avionics bay behind the baggage compartment.

Yes sorry. I’ll fix 

[PT20J]

On 4/25/2022 at 7:32 AM, rbp said:

I have spacial  separation in the 345, and I can isolate comma to just the pilot and still be able to communicate with the passengers. 

Yep, I rechecked the Pilot's Guide and somehow I missed that the first time. Thanks for the correction.