Avionics recommendation

[silentwing22]

Hi, I'm a 1200 hr IFR pilot with most time in Cirrus SR22. Sold it years ago and now they are too expensive.  Looking for a Mooney and found a number of M20Ks that look pretty good.  One is tricked out with dual Dynon SV-HDX, HDX-800 and an avidyne IDF-540.  The other needs a new stack and I'd probably look at a full Garmin 3X stack.   I'm familiar with older Garmin's 430's from the cirrus.   Costs are about a wash (except for the months in the avionics shop!)  Any thoughts between the 2 avionics stack?   I'd appreciate any feedback from folks that have flown either.  

Thanks! 

[bigmo]

Does the Dynon a/c have the new AP installed? I don't pay attention to the latest daily ongoing, but it's approved now correct?

I have a decent amount of hours behind both and frankly dont really prefer either once I have my buttonology down and my flows are easy to recall. My last a/c had all Garmin (twin G3X) and one nice thing is the massive community of users. Any oddity that came up yielded a very quick solution.

All things being equal, I'd take the "ready to fly" plane over an anticipated project. That's just me though, I hate down time and want my plane when I want my plane.  FWIW, I only have a few flights behind the IFD-540 and loved it. My current navigator is a "pre-Garmin - Garmin" (GNS-480), so my brain is open to other ways to navigate. It's much easier for Garmin pilots to hop in a operate any modern Garmin navigator (not mine lol) - whereas they'll struggle a bit with anything different. But you'll pick it up fast and learn to be comfortable.

Both sound like great options. But before you buy the upgrade plane - have realistic conversations with installers...and then add 50-100% onto that timeline.

 

 

[hubcap]

I have dual 10”  G3x’s with a GFC 500 autopilot and GTN 650xi. Absolutely ZERO complaints with the avionics. I have no experience with Dyson so I cannot comment on their equipment. I made the commitment to have a solid IFR panel even though my plane was down for months. No regrets. I have the next 15 years to get my money’s worth.

[Fly Boomer]

36 minutes ago, hubcap said:

I have dual 10”  G3x’s with a GFC 500 autopilot and GTN 650xi.

One more picture?  Please.

[EricJ]

22 hours ago, silentwing22 said:

Hi, I'm a 1200 hr IFR pilot with most time in Cirrus SR22. Sold it years ago and now they are too expensive.  Looking for a Mooney and found a number of M20Ks that look pretty good.  One is tricked out with dual Dynon SV-HDX, HDX-800 and an avidyne IDF-540.  The other needs a new stack and I'd probably look at a full Garmin 3X stack.   I'm familiar with older Garmin's 430's from the cirrus.   Costs are about a wash (except for the months in the avionics shop!)  Any thoughts between the 2 avionics stack?   I'd appreciate any feedback from folks that have flown either.  

Thanks! 

The Dynon and IFD package sounds pretty awesome, actually.   

[hubcap]

8 hours ago, Fly Boomer said:

One more picture?  Please.

This is my setup. 

[MikeOH]

What are the yokes for?

[Pinecone]

I went with 10" G3X primary and 7" on right panel with GFC-500, G-5 backup, and GTN-750Xi and -650Xi (already had it in the panel).  Remote GTX-345 and PS Engineering 450B audio panel.

Already done is nice, but even better is to do your plane, to what YOU want, layed out the way YOU want is priceless.  My plane was in for a bit over 4 months for the avionics work.   But every time I fly it, the more I feel I did it RIGHT.  FOR ME.

I also changed to toggle switches, laid out in groupings of like function.

[TCC]

Choose your navigator and go from there. garmin navigator probably tips to scales to other Garmin avionics and autopilot.

An IFD navigator probably tips the scales towards a Dynon panel. I prefer IFDs over GTNs but the GFC500 seems to perform better than Dynon’s AP however I seem to recall there’s been some updates that seem to resolve the altitude capture on the Dynons.

Each system has it’s own set of pros and cons.

[silentwing22]

On 10/26/2024 at 9:31 PM, bigmo said:

Does the Dynon a/c have the new AP installed? I don't pay attention to the latest daily ongoing, but it's approved now correct?

I have a decent amount of hours behind both and frankly dont really prefer either once I have my buttonology down and my flows are easy to recall. My last a/c had all Garmin (twin G3X) and one nice thing is the massive community of users. Any oddity that came up yielded a very quick solution.

All things being equal, I'd take the "ready to fly" plane over an anticipated project. That's just me though, I hate down time and want my plane when I want my plane.  FWIW, I only have a few flights behind the IFD-540 and loved it. My current navigator is a "pre-Garmin - Garmin" (GNS-480), so my brain is open to other ways to navigate. It's much easier for Garmin pilots to hop in a operate any modern Garmin navigator (not mine lol) - whereas they'll struggle a bit with anything different. But you'll pick it up fast and learn to be comfortable.

Both sound like great options. But before you buy the upgrade plane - have realistic conversations with installers...and then add 50-100% onto that timeline.

 

 

Yea, it has the new autopilot the was just STC’d

[DC_Brasil]

10 hours ago, hubcap said:

This is my setup. 

What a sweet setup!!

My plane's is in the shop for un upgrade and, since I had a GNS430 and had read great things about the GFC500, decided to go with a G3X setup (1 10" screen + G5 backup).

My reasoning was mainly because of service and support availability but also looking at upgrade plans. I live in Brazil and it will be way easier to find support and service for Garmin than any other brands.

Additionally, since my budget didn't allow for me to upgrade the GPS now, going all Garmin will make it easier in the future (albeit somewhat expensive) to replace other parts of the panel.

And as @Pinecone wrote: having the panel made the way YOU want is part of the upgrade fun :-)

 

[McMooney]

if the planes are in equal condition, I'd buy the dynon plane.   Buy the plane ready to fly not ready for the shop.

Dynon and g3x are about a wash and now that dynon has an AP STC for the K, not much you'd be missing. 

My buddy  has  a dynon connected to a gtn650 and it is the snazziiest thing ever.

 

[ArtVandelay]

I personally don’t like the Skyviews shelf design for the buttons and knobs. I flush mounted the G5 because I don’t like the thick bezel sticking out.

[802flyer]

I went with 10" G3X primary and 7" on right panel with GFC-500, G-5 backup, and GTN-750Xi and -650Xi (already had it in the panel).  Remote GTX-345 and PS Engineering 450B audio panel.
Already done is nice, but even better is to do your plane, to what YOU want, layed out the way YOU want is priceless.  My plane was in for a bit over 4 months for the avionics work.   But every time I fly it, the more I feel I did it RIGHT.  FOR ME.
I also changed to toggle switches, laid out in groupings of like function.

Really like what you did with the switches


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[Pinecone]

43 minutes ago, 802flyer said:

Really like what you did with the switches


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Thanks.

I thought a long time playing with a layout program.