what would you do to this panel?

[alun]

this is the panel on my (hopefully) new baby.  the avionics are pretty stock and i would like to upgrade to something more modern.  where would you start?

 

[alun]

with pic!

[alun]

for info.  i am thinking along the lines of:

GARMIN 430 NAVCOM W/ HARNESS		5,000	nav/com
GARMIN SL-30 NAVCOM W/ HARNESS		3,400	nav/com
GARMIN GTX-330 MODE S W/HARNSS		3,621	Mode S
Garmin GMA 340 audio panel		1,789	Audio
DYNON EMS-D120 ENGINE MONITORING SYSTEM		2,653	Engine monitor
GEAR ALERT SYSTEM		1,245	Gear alert

but not sure if the money will go that far.

I would also like to go for the new Aspen avionics PFD/MFD but that will have to wait until the MFD is certified I guess and I have some more money to play with. 

[Cruiser]

I would start with the Aspen PFD as the first choice and pull one of the 170s to put in an approach legal GPS and get the ability to file IFR direct.

[RobertoTohme]

Stay away from Aspen!!  Give them another year to improve their manufacturing quality control or go broke, whichever comes first...  I made the mistake to jump on it when it first came out, and has been very problematic; I'm into the 4th. display already since june this year, and this last one the FD doesn't match the attitude bars....  And, I'm not alone in the complaining; several folks on other forums are also into their 3rd. or 4th. units already, so if you consider that they were released for installation in may this year, that'll make a very crappy record...  There's something very wrong with the water in Albuquerque!

[Greg_D]

Roberto:  Which airplane did you install the Aspen in?  If it was your Mooney, were you able to get it to interface with your autopilot?

[alun]

ok thanks!  i didn't realise there were so many problems.  has anyone bitten the financial bullet and gone for the garmin g600?

[N57039]

Your list is a good one and pretty much in the order of importance as I would rate it. One change might be to bring the engine monitor to 2nd highest priority behind the 430W. I don't know the Dynon unit. I have the JPI EDM800 (with fuel flow) and am very happy with it. I don't know how well they are supported in GB though.

[alun]

the list wasn't in any particular order, it was just a list.  the engine monitor was actually my no.1 as the oat and egt guage was not working so it was more a necessity.  i have a portible gds and the radios work so they not so high in my estimation, but is i was going to go through the upgrade then a mode s with a system that can give trafic info seems like a worthwhile investment.    i was looking at autopilots as its only got a century II but it all seemed like a lot of money.  I thought i was getting a good plane but i've already spent the same again in my head on new toys.....hmmmm... toys..

[mooniac58]

Quote: alun

the list wasn't in any particular order, it was just a list.  the engine monitor was actually my no.1 as the oat and egt guage was not working so it was more a necessity.  i have a portible gds and the radios work so they not so high in my estimation, but is i was going to go through the upgrade then a mode s with a system that can give trafic info seems like a worthwhile investment.    i was looking at autopilots as its only got a century II but it all seemed like a lot of money.  I thought i was getting a good plane but i've already spent the same again in my head on new toys.....hmmmm... toys..

Also take note that the FAA is already phasing out the TIS traffic system...which is what the mode S stuff feeds on.  I have the GMA347 Panel, GNS430W GPS,SL30 radio and GTX330 Transponder in my bird.  In Hawaii the TIS only works in a 50 mile radius of the Honolulu TIS installation, outside of that you have no traffic data.  I don't know what the mainland coverage is but I was just reading how 17% of the nations TIS stations will be removed in the next few years with all of them likely gone in 10-15 years. (link: http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2005/051101tis.html)

No doubt though that TIS is a great affordable solution for GA pilots compared to the spendy TCAS counterparts.

[alun]

nice panel.. thats really what i was thinking along the lines of.  really confusing, first you must have mode s, then its going, then its something else...

[RobertoTohme]

Quote: Greg_D

Roberto:  Which airplane did you install the Aspen in?  If it was your Mooney, were you able to get it to interface with your autopilot?

[Magnum]

Quote: alun

this is the panel on my (hopefully) new baby.  the avionics are pretty stock and i would like to upgrade to something more modern.  where would you start?

 

[Magnum]

One other thing: If you are thinking about upgrading your new baby, it is usually cheaper to buy one with the gadgets already installed. I paid around 20.000 € for a GNS430W, GPSS and used DME upgrade. If you want a new autopilot that would be another 15-20.000€. There is a '88 M20J available right now, doesn't have the GNS430 but looks nice: 

http://www.planecheck.com?ent=da&id=9654.

There is another one with the GNS430, but no price mentioned: http://www.planecheck.com?ent=da&id=9958

Magnus

[Magnum]

Quote: alun

the list wasn't in any particular order, it was just a list.  the engine monitor was actually my no.1 as the oat and egt guage was not working so it was more a necessity.  i have a portible gds and the radios work so they not so high in my estimation, but is i was going to go through the upgrade then a mode s with a system that can give trafic info seems like a worthwhile investment.    i was looking at autopilots as its only got a century II but it all seemed like a lot of money.  I thought i was getting a good plane but i've already spent the same again in my head on new toys.....hmmmm... toys..

[alun]

Has anyone seen a price for the new Avidyne PFD4000 yet?  

I only have enough funds for either a radio/gps stack refurb or at a stretch some new shiny glass bits.  For info new baby is on an N reg.  

I am paying £36,900 so £25,000 under the one you mentioned above, this also leaves me with around £15k to spend on the toys.  I don't think i will find a similar spec'd Mooney in this price bracket as I have been looking for a while and most other a/c i have looked at have been priced in € so they are now 30% more expensive than 6 months ago.  Asking price was reduced from £50k as the vendor needs the cash having unfortunately lost his medical and hence his aviation job.

Re the Dynon does this need to be fitted as a substitute? I didn't think that non servicable EGT&OAT guages were an airworthy issue (like a non functioning clock for example).  I am fairly new to all this so bear with me!   As for the transponder, the TRig TT31 looks like a nice option, especially if it saves a bit of money.   I have also heard about the ADS-B and its nice to be future proof but is this something that is happening or will be of use in Europe? All i have read indicates its a US (and possibly sweden!) thing.

Cheers,

Al

 

[alun]

Thanks!  Lets hope the pre-buy is all ok.

Had a big long chat with a guy at Airtime, Bournemouth about the avionics.  He is recommending a 430W, mode S and a JP Instruments EDM as the dyson isn't STC'd or TSO'd as far as he can tell.  We shall see how it all works out but that i think is my budget spent! 

[Magnum]

A really good price. Before I found my M20J I was looking in GB, too, but usually the prices were about 10-20% higher than inthe rest of Europe. ADS-B is already used by the airlines, so you can see the big birds.

If you want to buy a EDM, go with the EDM800. You have the fuel flow, OAT, manifold and HP-percentage. Makes power setting really easy, no need for the power charts anymore. You can also check the new G3 from Insight (http://www.insightavionics.com/g3.htm), but I don't know if they have a certification yet.

IMHO the engine analyzer is the first thing you should buy, everything else is just "convenient" to have.

Magnus

PS: Good decision to have it N-registered!!!

[alun]

i was looking at the EDM930 as it had lots of pretty lights!

[mooniac58]

Quote: alun

i was looking at the EDM930 as it had lots of pretty lights!

 That is the same unit I would like to install as well.  Image attached for those not familiar.

The unit has all the features in teh 800 + more goodies!

[Cruiser]

The EDM930 looks great. Where will you put it? Sounds like a total panel redesign to me.

[mooniac58]

Ever since removing the old King radio gear and replacing it with Garmin goodies my panel seems to have a lot of open real estate.  I have enough room left for an EDM930 and probably enough left after that for a GMX200.  All I have in that void now is a handy v-speed reference card and my carbon monoxide detector thingy...

[Mooney_Allegro]

I'm getting the new G600 installed now, so hopefully it won't have any bugs.  Sarasota Avionics, the avionics shop I'm working with now has already done 2 G600 installs and the owners have not reported any issues.  I'm also getting the 430W, 530W, L3 Skywatch Traffic System, GDL69A XM WX/radio w/GRC-10 remote, JPI EDM-800, Garmin GI-106A VOR/ILS indicator for backup, ME406 ELT, Jepp Chartview, WX-500, Whelen LED replacement Nav Lights, GTX-330 Transponder, and the GMA340 Audio Panel.  If I were you, I'd upgrade to a WAAS GPS to give you more capability, an engine analyzer, and some way to get XM weather, even if it's on a Garmin 496.  Most of my friends have the Garmin 496 w/XM weather and love it.  I would also recommend some sort of traffic system.  When you fly with TCAS, you will never want to fly an airplane without some sort of anti-collision system.  Good luck with your plane!!

[mooniac58]

I really want to see pictures of your G600 installation.  This is my next fantasy upgrade!

[Magnum]

Quote: Mooney_Allegro

I'm getting the new G600 installed now, so hopefully it won't have any bugs.  Sarasota Avionics, the avionics shop I'm working with now has already done 2 G600 installs and the owners have not reported any issues.  I'm also getting the 430W, 530W, L3 Skywatch Traffic System, GDL69A XM WX/radio w/GRC-10 remote, JPI EDM-800, Garmin GI-106A VOR/ILS indicator for backup, ME406 ELT, Jepp Chartview, WX-500, Whelen LED replacement Nav Lights, GTX-330 Transponder, and the GMA340 Audio Panel.  If I were you, I'd upgrade to a WAAS GPS to give you more capability, an engine analyzer, and some way to get XM weather, even if it's on a Garmin 496.  Most of my friends have the Garmin 496 w/XM weather and love it.  I would also recommend some sort of traffic system.  When you fly with TCAS, you will never want to fly an airplane without some sort of anti-collision system.  Good luck with your plane!!