New Panel Completed

[flight2000]

I picked up the Mooney today and I cannot be happier.  The difference is night and day between the new and the old.  Higginsville Avionics Lab did a fantastic job.  Total time down was 7 weeks from drop off to pick-up.  Should have been 4 weeks, but two instruments needed repair and that added to the time.  The job included a full panel makeover, Garmin 430W, Garmin GTX-327, PSA8000B, King KX155, and the CDI's for both. Money well spent...

Brian

[piperpainter]

Looks good!

[Parker_Woodruff]

Looks nice!

[flight2000]

Thanks guys.  One thing I didn't know they were going to do, (or could do for that matter) was wire in an MP3 jack in the back seat and below the co-pilots jacks (small hole below the normal one on the right side of the panel.  It's an interesting feature with the PS8000B that allows the back seaters and front seater to listen to independant MP3 players at the same time.  I can even listen in and have it cut off in my headset when radio calls come in.  I love it.

Brian

[hansel]

Quote: flight2000

Thanks guys.  One thing I didn't know they were going to don (or could do for that matter) was wire in an MP3 jack in the back seat and below the co-pilots jacks (small hole below the normal one on the right side of the panel.  It's an interesting feature with the PS8000B that allows the back seaters and front seater to listen to independant MP3 players at the same time.  I can even listen in and have it cut off in my headset when radio calls come in.  I love it.

Brian

[drpep]

Congrats Eric. Your panel looks great and is remarkably similar to mine. I aslo installed the PMA 8000B  I quite enjoy the music! I have Vaneglis on board and I really like how it cuts out when the radio is active and aslo the fact I can isolate the music so many different ways. I trust you will enjoy it as much as I do

Once again have a grat experience with your new panel!

Philip

[rob]

Quote: hansel

The panel looks great! I also have the PS8000 in the same arrangment. PS Engineering did a great job with this product-- I'm sure you'll be happy with the results.

[hansel]

One nice feature on the PS product (which i understand is absent from the Garmin) is the ability to mute the music in multiple ways depending on the preference of the user (e.g., not having the music cut out each time a transmission is received).

[KSMooniac]

Actually, there is an option on the 340 that I found after 2 years that allows you to enable "karoake mode" which keeps the music going when talking on the intercom.  Radio transmission still soft-mutes the music, though, as it does with the PS product I believe.  Default on the 340 is for the music to mute everytime someone talks on the intercom, which is not optimal IMO.

[fantom]

What a difference....looks great!

I'm another happy PS8000B user.

[hansel]

Quote: KSMooniac

Actually, there is an option on the 340 that I found after 2 years that allows you to enable "karoake mode" which keeps the music going when talking on the intercom.  Radio transmission still soft-mutes the music, though, as it does with the PS product I believe.  Default on the 340 is for the music to mute everytime someone talks on the intercom, which is not optimal IMO.

[Carl S]

Quote: flight2000

Thanks guys.  One thing I didn't know they were going to do, (or could do for that matter) was wire in an MP3 jack in the back seat and below the co-pilots jacks (small hole below the normal one on the right side of the panel.  It's an interesting feature with the PS8000B that allows the back seaters and front seater to listen to independant MP3 players at the same time.  I can even listen in and have it cut off in my headset when radio calls come in.  I love it.

Brian

[flight2000]

Thanks.

Well, the GIBs will need to fight over who has control of the iPod as they listen to the same input, only the seat behind the pilot has the MP3 jack.  From reading the manual, I think the pilot has two options, he can have radio silence or listen to the copilot's iPod with soft mute or cut off during radio calls.  I didn't see anything saying he could be listening to the back seaters music, but I'm still learning this new audio panels features.  Got XM radio through my 496 though which was a surprise today.

Brian

[flight2000]

Well, I have had a really happy day and sad day all in the same week.  I dropped the aircraft off this afternoon at the paint shop.  I'll be without an airplane again for the next 4 weeks.  Wish I could have flown her to Cali for paint, but it's not feasible on my schedule, so R&B Aircraft in Topeka is doing the paint job.  It's a family owned business that's been around for 40 years and they do some great work.  Hope time flies by quickly....

Brian

[scottfromiowa]

Brian,

Love your new panel!  Your choices for avionics look fantastic.  I did mine on more of a "poor man's" budget for expansion.  I also added a 496 with XM (using panel mount Air Gizmo with angle toward pilot).  I have the PS 3000 Stereo intercom with separate panel jack.  I can attach I-pod to jack or connect 496 to have XM radio.  I also like the 496 audible terrain alerts and altitude alerts.  I plan to have 300XL (currently VFR) made IFR and will run a line to the 496 so IFR flight plans will be overlaid from 300XL to the 496.  My plane is painted with VERY similar scheme to yours except John Deere tractor green.  Appropriate for Iowa :<)  Enjoy your new panel,

Scott

[flight2000]

Thanks Scott,

The paint scheme was the original from 1967 and was almost working its way to being a naked lady, especially underneath.  The new scheme is a lot different.  Should be done in three weeks.  I'm getting pics tomorrow while I'm at the shop.  They are in the process of stripping her down the rest of the way.  All of the control surfaces and gear doors have already been removed and stripped.  The main body is Friday.

First time I got the audible warnings from the 496, it scared the crap out of me until I figured out where it was coming from.  Like the callout at 500 feet agl.

I like the look of your three blade prop and spinner.  That might be in the near future when it's time for the overhaul and to get ride of the constant Eddy inspection every 100 hours.  Doesn't cost that much, just a pain to schedule and fly to KC Downtown Airport to get it done.

Brian

[scottfromiowa]

Yes, I had a "holy $#%^" moment when I was rapidly losing altitude to get down to pattern and 496 said warning rapid decent...or something to that effect.  Gets your attention when it yells "terrain alert" too.  Nice to have the audible warnings/alerts.  They are a potential life saver.  Do you have a multi-probe engine analyzer?  This is a must have on your future shopping list too...scott being a siren...can't wait to see your paint pics.  Enjoy!

 

Scott

[flight2000]

Right now the only thing I have is a four probe egt monitor.  The EDM 700 is on the shopping list first along with an S-TEC 30 and G500.  The extra hole for the EDM is already there.  All in do time.... 

And yes, the panel will be worth more than the aircraft, but it's only money right....

[scottfromiowa]

I'm living YOUR dream too...vicariously...You go Bryan.

[SpookyTex]

Beautiful Plane and panel!

Did you pick this up from Mooneyland? If so, how did you like the experience? I am looking at using Zeph and I love his website but wondered what others thought.

[Buster1]

Uhhh Oh...he said Mooneyland!  Get ready 'yall!

[Mcstealth]

Quote: Buster1

Uhhh Oh...he said Mooneyland!  Get ready 'yall!

[Barry]

Richard helped me find my Mooney. He steered me away from one which would have cost me mucho bux and I ended up with one which I have not been able to find comparable per price to this date.

[flight2000]

Quote: SpookyTex

Beautiful Plane and panel!

Did you pick this up from Mooneyland? If so, how did you like the experience? I am looking at using Zeph and I love his website but wondered what others thought.

[hansel]

Quote: flight2000

Short answer is yes.  I didn't have time to chase a lot of aircraft and I checked several references before using his service.  I have nothing but good things to say about the experience.  Little disorganized on the website, but once you figure out where everything is, it's a gold mine of information.  His services didn't cost me anything and the price was right.

Brian