Avidyne IFD540 or Garmin GTN 650/750 Series?

[Cabanaboy]

Avidyne IFD540  or Garmin GTN 650/750 Series?

What do you think? There is still a chance to put a deposit on New Avidyne $10,000.

I was wondering what other Mooney Drivers think.

[PTK]

I would download the simulators and play with them to see which one you like. Also I would visit avionics shops and see the units in person. They may also be able to show in an actual plane flying with someone who has them (GTN)  installed.

I can tell you I have the GTN 750 along with the remote transponder and audio panel and am extremely happy. I will get the GTN 650 as well in a couple months when I take the airplane in for software upgrades and as soon as my avionics installer fully recooperates. Poor guy had a heart attack and contracted pneumonia in the hospital! Check my gallery for some photos. I'll gladly take you flying and you can see my panel in action. I'm on the NE coast.

[docket]

I am gtn all the way

[jetdriven]

Quote: allsmiles

I would download the simulators and play with them to see which one you like. Also I would visit avionics shops and see the units in person. They may also be able to show in an actual plane flying with someone who has them (GTN)  installed.

I can tell you I have the GTN 750 along with the remote transponder and audio panel and am extremely happy. I will get the GTN 650 as well in a couple months when I take the airplane in for software upgrades and as soon as my avionics installer fully recooperates. Poor guy had a heart attack and contracted pneumonia in the hospital! Check my gallery for some photos. I'll gladly take you flying and you can see my panel in action. I'm on the NE coast.

[Steve Dawson]

I'd definately recommend the 750 also. I just went through a close to minimum approach and liked the way it had all the information right in front of me. Besides, Garmin is a couple of years ahead of any problem solving and has a larger customer base.

Give Kirk Fryer a call at Sarasota Avionics for a good price.

[bnicolette]

Well, I'll jump in I suppose.  I am totally onboard with the Avidyne!  Now, I don't have much to base this on but in my experience with MFD's concerning the MX200 and the EX500 I would take the EX500.  All my opinion obviously but I believe the EX500 is way faster at processing different screens and it is more user friendly.  I also think the EX500 had a nicer display.  I have used both in corporate aviation in real world every day flying.   Not just bee bopping around the sky.  They are both very nice units but I just prefer the EX500.

I also am so happy that we (the consumer) FINALLY have a choice in our colorful GPS/COM's.

There is nothing wrong with the GTN obviously but I also have total faith in Avidyne.  They have been around for a long time and are definitely a "player" with good equipment also.  I have jumped on the "band wagon" for the IFD540 as it's important to me to save $6K for the very same capabilities.

I can get all the same information right off the iPad/or droid device in a bright beautiful display.  I would just like to add the capability to do a LPV approach if the need ever arises; plus a multitude of other things.

[N601RX]

GTN 750?  I just upgraded from an ADF to a top ot the line KLN89B!

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

+1 GTN / Just had a 650 installed as a replacement to my 430W. It crossfills to my panel mounted 696.  I would say it's now impossible to get lost

[1964-M20E]

I jumped in on the Avidyne before the end of last year with a better price than now.  Unfortunately it will be later this year before the production units are ready.  I participated in a webinar the other day and the Avidyne seems really nice. 

The pro is if you have a 530 it is a slide in replacement and has more viewing area and higher resolution than the 530.  The con from the 750 is the Avidyne has a smaller screen than the 750 and you are still stuck with Jepp for the database.  In our Mooneys the 750 could be good since about 1” to an 1.5” of the larger 750 screen extends above the tray which could allow us to use the upper most portion of the radio stack where the tube structure interferes with the trays.

 

For the approximately $6k discount for a new touch screen panel mounted WAAS GPS I think it is well worth it especially if you already have an older 530 and you just want to upgrade.

Just remember at one time Garmin was the new kid on the block going up against King and others.  Besides I like multiple vendors and competition.  It would be nice if these radios were completive enough so that you could every 5 to 10 years just replace it with the latest and greatest and not have to offer up your first born.

 

[bnicolette]

I am meeting with an Avidyne sales rep tomorrow at my airport.  If anybody has any questions that they want answered I would be more than happy to discuss them with him.

I am extremely excited about Avidyne entering the market and it can only be good for us if they do well with the IFD540.  Would be really nice if they would STC their autopilot for our Mooney's as we just don't have many options right now other than the Stec as fas as I know.  Not that I need a new autopilot (Thank God), but would be nice to have other options.

I am very interested in utility since I am on a major budget.  Does the GTN series offer anything that the IFD doesn't?  Perhaps this is what should be discussed here as well since the thread is kind of like a "head to head".

One additional thing I like about the IFD is that it incorporates buttons as well as the smart touch screen.  It's the best of both worlds.

[PTK]

I don't think one could go wrong with either one frankly. The technology is light years ahead of what it is they are replacing! The major difference is that the GTN has a very large MFD display area and gives you the option to hide the tx and ap if you so desire. This saves space and cleans up your panel considerably. It's personal preference. 

I wonder if the 540 is available yet at avionics shops to look at. It would be good to see one in person.

[bnicolette]

Quote: jetdriven

Peter, what is the laid in cost of a GTN 750 and what was it with the  audio panel and transponder?

[PTK]

Quote: Bnicolette

Peter, what is the laid in cost of a GTN 750 and what was it with the  audio panel and transponder?

[Bennett]

I've had the GTN 750 with remote audio panel and remote transponder since they were first available.  A couple of minor teething problems the first month or so, but thanks to Garmin and Executive Airraft Maintenance in Scottsdale, they were taken care of. This combination allows for a large viewing area, and a clean panel.  I'm glad Garmin has competition, but I still like Garmin for well thought out products. Yes, the databases are expensive, but Garmin does have some "packages" to allow major cost savings for multiple Garmin products. Cleaning up the panel has allowed room for a panel mounted Garmin 696 (to be replaced ASAP) with a 796.  To reduce clutter on the GTN 750, and frankly to save cost, I have XM weather on the 696, along with the ZAON traffic interface. I've posted photos on my gallery.

[DaV8or]

One significant down side to the 540 for me, if I were upgrading, is that it won't cross feed to other Garmin products. Right now I have my 430 cross feed to my 696 and I really like that. As it stands now, the 540 is a stand alone unit unless you buy a second 540 or want to wait even longer for Avidyne's PFD 4000 in the future. Also still no plans for a 430 replacement, so people with a 530/430 combo would lose their crossfeed as well.

[bnicolette]

I got a quote from a Florida avionics dealer for the GTN 750 and also the IFD 540

0.We can interface the GTN-750 to either the HSI or KI-206.  Cost for the GTN-750 and the GMA-35 installed is $22038 plus $283.43 sales tax; total $22321.43

Following is a quote for the 540:

We are doing preorders on the 540 which is $10000 plus $500 for the antenna; the installation should be in the $2850-3000 range so the total would be $13,350-13,500.  This is a pretty good deal because they are raising the price on the unit $500/month until it is released and when it is released, the price on the unit will be in the same range as the GTN-750.

 The cost savings is pretty significant:  $9K

[PTK]

Brett, Did you get my pm? I sent it to you and Byron. 

[Piloto]

Not to undermine the value of the GTN-750 or the IFD 540 but what new trick can your Mooney do after spending $22,000 on it?. Will it go faster or farther?. Will it be quieter or more economical to operate? Will it be safer (deicing, TCAS, XM\WX or engine analizer). Will it look nicer (new paint/interiors). Will it have a 0hrs engine?. $22,000 amounts to over 350Hrs of AVGAS flying time. The above quote does not even include the XM\WX datalink box that you can get on an Aera 560 including the Aera itself for $1,500. If I am going to spend that much on touch screen I better get me a GPU or battery charger to play with my touch screen in the hangar because I would not have any money left to fly it (AVGAS at $7.50/gal.). Not to mention what my family would do with $22,000 (new car, college, big screen TV/furniture or unexpected medical expenses). But it is your money.

José

[bnicolette]

I agree with you Jose.  They certainly add very little utility or safety and the iPad/droid will display everything they will and more.  BUT, they are NICE to have!  

[jetdriven]

Wow, the IFD is just over half the cost of a GTN.  After playing with both of these and a KSN-770, the Avidyne seems like the best box.  THe King was a complete non-issue. 

[pjsny78]

If you are going to be spending this kind of money why not consider the G500 you can buy that loaded with SVT and all the options installed for under 20k. I rather have that then a GTN or avidyne.

[DaV8or]

Quote: Piloto

Will it be safer (deicing, TCAS, XM\WX or engine analizer).

[PTK]

Quote: DaV8or

I get your drift, but there is an argument that the GTN is safer than the 530 it replaces. Lots less heads down time fumbling with knobs and buttons is very good thing. Bigger display can also be benificial. Is it worth the money? That perspective all depends on how much money you have.

[N601RX]

Quote: allsmiles

I get your drift, but there is an argument that the GTN is safer than the 530 it replaces. Lots less heads down time fumbling with knobs and buttons is very good thing. Bigger display can also be benificial. Is it worth the money? That perspective all depends on how much money you have.

[PTK]

Quote: N601RX

I agree these boxes will not change the inherent characteristics of our Mooneys e.g. speed, comfort etc. What they will do however is expand the airplane's horizons in wx minimums. WAAS approaches are a wonderful thing and the safety they introduce cannot be underestimated! There are alot of fields that had no instrument approaches until WAAS came along. I know in my home field even our one VOR approach is 620 feet. The GPS approach to the same runway lowers us to 460 feet! With vertical guidance mind you! This is a significant margin of safety.

So yes they are expensive but the safety they bring us is unprecedented!