King vs Garmin---glass panel retrofits

[231Pilot]

Has anyone used/compared the Bendix-King new glass six pack (KFD 840 primary flight display) vs the Garmin G500 and G600 units?  Ditto the new Bendix King KSN 770 gps/nav/com as opposed to the Garmin panel mounts?

For years Bendix King was the primary name in GA avionics and they seem to have been surpassed by Garmin over the last 5+ years.  These new entries look like a serious effort to get back into the top spot.  Anyone familiar with them?

I'd be interested in reading your thoughts.

Lew

[Parker_Woodruff]

I'm getting the G500 installed next week.  They've built everything outside the plane (wiring harnesses, etc.)...going from King silver crown stack to something a bit nicer.

[KSMooniac]

The KSN 770 has been delayed again, apparently indefinitely.  The KFD 840 (PFD only) is priced about the same as the G500 (PFD + MFD).  Methinks it is another swing-and-a-miss by Honeywell/BK...too late to the party and at the wrong price point.  If their PFD were priced closer to the Aspen we might have something to talk about, but I doubt they'll sell many.

[Parker_Woodruff]

Here's the beautiful mess I'm in.

[Cruiser]

Quote: KSMooniac

The KSN 770 has been delayed again, apparently indefinitely.  The KFD 840 (PFD only) is priced about the same as the G500 (PFD + MFD).  Methinks it is another swing-and-a-miss by Honeywell/BK...too late to the party and at the wrong price point.  If their PFD were priced closer to the Aspen we might have something to talk about, but I doubt they'll sell many.

[231Pilot]

Parker, what options, if any, are you adding to the G500?

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: 201Pilot

Parker, what options, if any, are you adding to the G500?

[231Pilot]

Looks like you are going to have a great stack.  Don't lose the "no smoking" placard, I like that....think I'll put one in my J :<)

[Jeff_S]

Seriously, no auto-pilot? I've never heard of an M20J that didn't have an auto-pilot, since it came as standard equipment. Is that because yours started out as an AT model? Did those not include a/p's for "training" purposes?

[KSMooniac]

Jeff, that is correct.  The AT models did not include an A/P.

[docket]

It looks like the boys down here in Texas are going to have the best avionics.

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: Jeff_S

Seriously, no auto-pilot? I've never heard of an M20J that didn't have an auto-pilot, since it came as standard equipment. Is that because yours started out as an AT model? Did those not include a/p's for "training" purposes?

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: docket

It looks like the boys down here in Texas are going to have the best avionics.

[Kwixdraw]

Quote: docket

It looks like the boys down here in Texas are going to have the best avionics.

[fantom]

Florida has some fine avionics shops, but no outstanding Mooney maintenance shops, in my experience.

I'll take a Texas Mooney (even without an A/P) to a Florida Piper (well, maybe a Malibu) anyday!

[Jim Peace]

On 1/14/2010 at 10:27 AM, fantom said:

Florida has some fine avionics shops, but no outstanding Mooney maintenance shops, in my experience.

YUP

[GeeBee]

My question of King vs Garmin is the commitment to the market. Honeywell seems to be in and out. I want staying power.

 

[DCarlton]

3 hours ago, GeeBee said:

My question of King vs Garmin is the commitment to the market. Honeywell seems to be in and out. I want staying power.

 

Isn't the question whether King is committed?  I have no idea, but it looks like King has rebranded the Avidyne and Sandia products.  I'm really curious about that.  Not a bad thing but I'm wondering if other companies are doing the design work.  

 

[Will.iam]

On 1/14/2010 at 5:59 AM, Parker_Woodruff said:

 

Quote: docket

 

 

It looks like the boys down here in Texas are going to have the best avionics.tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-cool.gif

 

 

Hey parker is it just my web browser or are other people not able to see your reply post?

[RobertGary1]

I wouldn’t touch king.  I’ve tried to get support for a radio and it was clearly an annoyance to them. Tried my dealer but he said they started a new policy that to retain manuals (required by the FAA to work on them) they had to pay a $10,000 annual license fee.  They seem like they want out of the small airplane business. 

[RobertGary1]

4 hours ago, GeeBee said:

My question of King vs Garmin is the commitment to the market. Honeywell seems to be in and out. I want staying power.

 

Garmin ha done a good job. 20 years ago I wasn’t much of a fan when they enters the market. But to see how they’ve driven innovation, pushed pricing by down (not cheap but cheaper by far with the newer offerings) and commitment to support I went $30k in on Garmin last year