Simon

[Simon T]

Good Afternoon, 

I would appreciate any comments or Experience with  the Alpha Systems, Angle of Attack  Eagle Flush Mount AOA Kit.  I am considering installing it on the Glare Shield of my Mooney Acclaim S.  Also  should the installation be located in the center of the pilots View  or a little to the side?  And how far back on glare shield?

Thank you for your time.

Simon

[Bolter]

9 minutes ago, Simon T said:

Good Afternoon, 

I would appreciate any comments or Experience with  the Alpha Systems, Angle of Attack  Eagle Flush Mount AOA Kit.  I am considering installing it on the Glare Shield of my Mooney Acclaim S.  Also  should the installation be located in the center of the pilots View  or a little to the side?  And how far back on glare shield?

Thank you for your time.

Simon

Hi Simon...I think we met at the MAPA PPP in Santa Maria...I have an Alpha Systems AOA that was already in my plane.  I am not sure which model it is precisely, but it looks like the basic Eagle kit.  It is on the glareshield, and easily seen in my peripheral vision.  I think the flush mount would be all that and cleaner looking.  OVerall, I like it for the AOA display, but it is still mostly an airspeed indicator.  

[KSMooniac]

I have the first-gen Eagle kit in my J, and mounted as far forward on the glareshield as I could, just to the left of the center post.  I did not want to put it on the left edge in the way of my peripheral vision.  I'm very happy with the product and my installation choice, and would do it again.  The newer flush mount kit might be even better.

[Simon T]

KSMooniac and Bolton,

Thank you for your comments.

Simon T

[dkkim73]

Please let us know your experience. This is someone I would like to add at some point (same plane).

[Pinecone]

In just had one installed (not the HUD version).

I had it mounted to the left of my straight ahead view.  That was it is in plain view when turning to the left. 

Also, I am used to it being over there from the T-38 and A-10.

I hope to fly the airplane this afternoon after all the work.

[Simon T]

Pinecone,  Please let me know how it works for you.  And if you have time, please take a picture of your Display on the Glareshield so I can get an idea of how it will look.  I'm having mine installed beginning next Wednesday.  Simon T

[Pinecone]

I will, but it will not be until late next week.  I am at Garmin for training Monday and Tuesday, fly home Wednesday

[Simon T]

What a coincidence.  I will be there  for training myself on Thursday and Friday..

 

[Pinecone]

What course?   I am doing the G3X/GTN course.

[Simon T]

The G1000 course

[LANCECASPER]

9 hours ago, Simon T said:

The G1000 course

Let us know what you think of the course. I was thinking of going in August

[Pinecone]

12 hours ago, Simon T said:

The G1000 course

That should be fun.

[LANCECASPER]

Well as coincidence would have it, @Simon T and I were in the same G1000 class Thursday and Friday of this week in Olathe KS at Garmin. I was impressed with the course. Each student had either a legacy G1000 or NXi set up to the software of the user’s airplane right in front of them. In our case, 401.37 software in the Mooney G1000.



The flight scenarios they gave us helped us put everything together (Flight Plans, Departures, Arrivals, Holds, VNAV, etc). As the instructors walked around the room they helped to make sure that everything was set up correctly and gave you ideas on ways to do things more efficiently. There was a Demo mode on their set-ups so that you could “fly” the scenarios and see what was happening.

I left Olathe as soon as the class was over to fly down to Arlington TX to see a baseball game. ATC changed my clearance to include a STAR and then amended the altitudes at various intersections. It gave me a chance to put into practice everything we had been using in class right away. Before I would have been scrambling to get everything set up. After the class it was a breeze.





I remember reading about the G1000 in articles back in 2004 and thinking about how nice it would be to have an Integrated Flight Deck. In November 2021 when I bought the Acclaim I picked up information in books and online videos and figured out most of it, but the class helped put everything together. I am glad I spent the time and money to do it - well worth it.

People on here sometimes make the comment about the G1000 being old technology and how they don’t want a system that’s tied to the airframe certification, and I have to admit that before this airplane I had those thoughts. After this week those thoughts are completely gone. Do I wish we had the G1000 NXi upgrade approved for our Mooneys? Yes, but the slight differences mentioned in the class are not game-changers. Being able to transfer Flight plans over Bluetooth would be nice. If they just approved an FS210 for our installation that would do it.

So not only am I glad I took the class - I made a new Mooney friend, @Simon T