Idea for VFR Panel

[davidwv]

John, I have almost the same panel in my flying RV-7.

1. GRT Sport EX (Advanced Touch package - includes map, SV and more)
2. uAvionics Echo ADSB with GRT Safe-fly GPS (package deal)
3. Garmin 327 Transponder (bought used)
4. Garmin GTR200 Com
5. iPad Mini 4 w/ WingX and Foreflight
6. GRT EIS engine monitor (with all probes/sensors)
Plus added roll/pitch GRT autopilot servos

Everything above was about 9k.

This is a lower-priced but still very capable panel. I would pay the little bit extra for the fully featured Sport EX.

The weak link, I feel, is the iPad in bright sunshine. I've heard the iPad Mini 5 (just released) is brighter, so my suggestion is to get the Mini 5 if going this route.

Good luck!

David

[penguin]

I would use a Trig TY96 radio, or possibly Garmin GTR200. Always worthwhile investing a little more in a good radio.
Pete

[Canadian_JOY]

Personal bias here... I opted to go for a stand-alone autopilot and am glad I did.
That having been said, I agree with BVD - the GMC507 sets the standard for man/machine autopilot interface in GA aircraft.

As for adding features to whichever GRT EFIS you purchase, just do it. You can turn off the maps and terrain so they don't show, if you choose, or just learn how to use them and be happy. You'll be surprised how quickly you'll get accustomed to seeing the terrain and map features on the EFIS, then you'll try to switch back to just a "standard" EFIS display and miss the map and terrain. For the money involved, I think one would be foolish to buy a GRT display without these options installed.

Now for the caveat... I'll soon be replacing my dedicated engine monitor with a Sport EX acting as the display for a remote EIS. The Sport was purchased without additional features because I already have maps and terrain on the Mini and HX. The Sport EX will be my tie-breaker in the event of an attitude mis-compare and as such a simple PFD presentation is sufficient. The Sport EX glass is very nice indeed.

I have a Mini-X and HX on the pilot's side. I leave the Mini in PFD mode at all times so I know that no matter how badly I might mess up my "button-ology" on the HX, I will always have PFD info just a glance away.

The HX gets put in PFD mode for takeoff, approach and landing, then is in map or HSI mode for the rest of the flight.

To the left of the pilot's primary panel I have an Android tablet running FltPlanGO, allowing me to show an "official" Canadian chart, be it a sectional, VTA or Victor Low, plus approach plates. The combination of the tablet plus the two EFIS displays provides incredible situational awareness. Once the Sport EX is installed I'll also have enhanced redundancy and improved situational awareness. All in all, this is turning out to be an incredibly functional panel.

Coming back to a basic VFR bird, the Sport EX plus mapping and terrain will be a powerful tool. Keep in mind the Sport EX comes with its own internal GPS receiver so the map function is very useful, right out of the box.

[Pilot135pd]

Originally Posted by BobTurner

I have an independent (but usually coupled to the GRT HX) Trio (great autopilot, imho) for exactly the reasons you state. But, I do fly IFR, so redundancy is important to me. For a VFR airplane, it?s not so important. And stand-alone autopilots tend to run about $1K more than those that are EFIS add ons (because they need all the attitude sensors that are already in the efis). So money and panel space considerations are not zero.

$1000 on a $100,000 plane to me is $0 compared to the redundancy I?d get.

[pilot28906]

Thanks for all the great input, this is exactly what I was looking for. I think the Map/ADSB option is the way to go.

Penguin, you mention looking at a Trig or Garmin radio; do you or anyone have any experience with the MGL V16?

Thanks again.