Avionics update G500TXi/GTNXi/GFC500

[Marc_B]

Work done:

• G500 legacy to TXi upgrade
• GTN 750/650 Xi upgrade; existing FS510 connection
• GFC500 with YD + G5 / removal of ESI500 & KFC150/S-TEC YD
• IAI annunciator 2 row to 1 row annunciator
• GDL 69A SXM + antenna install
• Complete panel cut, powder coat and etching
• Garmin Aera 760 upgrade with bare wire
• Whelen 9080525D LED Beacon install

Started having a few kinks with my KFC150 so decided to upgrade to GFC500.  Figured that if I was going to upgrade this, then I might as well upgrade some of the other equipment while the price and availability of equipment contributed to an easy pathway for upgrade with trade in of legacy equipment.

Worked with AATG up in Greeley.  Fortunately they're on my home field, and Steve & George have been a great help in the past.  Took a little longer than expected, but on budget and they did an awesome job! Gray panel color was a little darker than I expected but actually makes the placards easier to see and turned out even better than previous I think.  All work was done in house with AATG including panel.  A couple wrinkles lead to project going over estimated time, but I think we came up with good solutions.  Mooney Encores don't have standard rudder trim that "plays nice" with the GFC500, so the S-tec had to either replace the Garmin YD or be removed; we removed in order to take advantage of fully integrated YD.  The upper avionics panel in the Encore has a larger tube that cuts down the total radio stack height enough that a 2 row annunciator was too big (for GMC507, GTN750, GTN 650), but IAI made a single row to fit; still working out the kinks on this one.

Initial thoughts of the GFC500 and updates is that the update is much more intuitive and faster to use.  Having Baro sync and GFC automatically adjusting altitude is awesome.  I’ve found that tapping baro on G500TXi and then using knob is the fastest way for me to update barometer enroute.  G500TXi knobs in a much better place to access outside the horns.  Previously had to reach through the horns to access the PFD buttons/knob on the legacy G500.  Between touchscreen and the width of the unit it is better accessible around the yoke.  GFC500 at the top of the stack was suggested by AATG and seems faster to access.  I’ve also really enjoyed the remote radio feature with the G500TXi/GTNXi.  It’s nice to be able to send freqs to both radios from same waypoint page.  Interesting quirk is that freq being sent to active first takes the standby position then moves to active; so you have to choose active then standby; otherwise your standby is overwritten.

AP:  KFC150 would typically overshoot altitude target and I would have to use the up/down rocker to correct…now no need as the target IS the altitude.  I haven’t had a chance to really experiment with the VNAV but imagine this will make STARs a breeze.  I also find that when I’m in heading mode (90% of the time flying around DEN bravo they just give vectors with seemingly constant changes) it is WAY easier to adjust the heading from the GMC507 than it was using the legacy G500 knob that was right in the way of the yoke horns…so much more straight forward now.  I'm still squaring away GPS to ILS auto-switching, but approaches come down on rails.  I honestly wonder if you could have the GFC land for you by just controlling throttle it's just right on course!  Smart glide is an interesting feature that I hope to never need, but is pretty cool to use.  I initially thought that the green “v” vector path to the nearest airport on the flight path would be unnecessary, but I find that it really helps contribute to situational awareness and especially helps with pointing at airports behind you.  Adds to the game "if I had to land now, where would I aim?". 

Overall a great integrated flight deck that works every bit as well as advertised.  Previous steam to glass was done by the prior owner so it made this transition sting much less.  If you are serious about some avionics work and want an estimate I'd recommend you reach out to AATG.

PS. I'm cloning Don Kaye and have leaned on him for help!  So I both blame him for this and thank him for this!! ha ha.  Looking forward to flying with @donkaye again to get some more tricks of the trade for all the new goodies!

 

Edited October 24, 2022 by Marc_B
added postscript

[Greg Ellis]

The panel and avionics are beautiful.  Really nice.

[Pinecone]

I want this panel. 

It seems you went with a remote audio panel?

If you don't mind, how much?

[hubcap]

Beautiful

[Niko182]

On 10/24/2022 at 10:06 AM, Marc_B said:

Having Baro sync and GFC automatically adjusting altitude is awesome.  I’ve found that tapping baro on G500TXi and then using knob is the fastest way for me to update barometer enroute.

One trick I learned was using the G5 for Baro adjust. You don't need to press anything. The knob on the G5's main purpose as the backup to the G3X/G500 TXI is to adjust baro, and since the g500txi and the g5 are synced, it will adjust the baro on the 500txi.

[hais]

Congrats on your new panel! 

[Marc_B]

25 minutes ago, Niko182 said:

One trick I learned was using the G5 for Baro adjust. You don't need to press anything.

When I adjust Baro on the G500TXi it will sync to the G5. But when I adjust barometer setting on G5 it reverse highlights in yellow that it’s different but doesn’t send back to G500TXi. Is there just a lag or are you suggesting this should be instantaneous?

[201Mooniac]

On 10/25/2022 at 5:33 PM, Marc_B said:

When I adjust Baro on the G500TXi it will sync to the G5. But when I adjust barometer setting on G5 it reverse highlights in yellow that it’s different but doesn’t send back to G500TXi. Is there just a lag or are you suggesting this should be instantaneous?

That is the way it is documented as working.  Baro sync from the TXi to the G5 but not the other way.

[Niko182]

Odd. On the G3X it works both ways.

[carusoam]

Way cool…

Marc went with the EI MVP as well….  

See if @oregon87 has cruised by this thread… something he might like to see…

The wide screen TV makes the EI MVP look small…   

I would love a copy of this panel!

Best regards,

-a-

[oregon87]

I mean, I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to fly behind that panel.  I'd never want to fly my plane again, though.  

[PT20J]

On 11/8/2022 at 6:38 PM, Niko182 said:

Odd. On the G3X it works both ways.

The best integration is with G3X, G5, GFC 500 because they were all designed by the same team to work together. When you mix and match other Garmin products, you cannot assume all features of each product will still work. For example, the GTX 345 has an audible traffic call out TRAFFIC, 3 O’CLOCK, LOW! But when installed with a G3X, that is disabled and all you get is TRAFFIC! 

Sometimes it is difficult to know exactly what you are going to get because a lot is either undocumented or only described in installation manuals available only to dealers.

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