Avionics Survey

[Scott Spangler]

For July issue of Avionics News, which will be distributed at EAA AirVenture, I?m writing a survey story about the avionics and instruments people put in their warbirds, vintage, and homebuilt aircraft. Because RVs predominate in the homebuilt fleet, I thought what better place to find answers to my questions:

Specifically, what make, model, and year RV do you own, and what make and model communication, navigation, surveillance radios, and/or instruments are in your panel?

Why did you decide on this equipment?

Did you buy new or used equipment?

Who did the install, you or an avionics shop?

Is this an original installation or an upgrade?

If upgrading, what equipment are you replacing?

You can respond here in the forum or send me a message, and I?d appreciate it if you would provide your full name and hometown.

Thanks for your help!
Scott Spangler

[Mike S]

Scott, welcome aboard

I decided the general design of the panel early on, kept watch on who and what was available in the market. I keep refining my equip list as products came available or went away----sadly many companys and products do evaporate.

In the end, it was moot, as I ended up with buying a mostly done kit, with a minimum panel already included. I used that as a starting point, and filled it out to my liking.

The best advice I can offer is to wait as long as you can to make any purchases in the avionics arena.

Early info gathering, and general design parameters is fine, but wait to make the final decisions.

[Scott Spangler]

Thanks, Mike! It's good to be here.

Why do you suggest waiting? And wait how long?

Thanks!

Scott

[RV7Ron]

Originally Posted by Scott Spangler

Thanks, Mike! It's good to be here.

Why do you suggest waiting? And wait how long?

Thanks!

Scott

Not to answer for Mike, but you wait because the state of Avionics is constantly in flux these days. If you decide on your avionics two years in advance...you will already be behind the curve when you finish your plane. New technologies and capabilities are coming out all the time and competition is really driving prices down....or at least increasing the bang for your buck. With some of the E-AB targeted (not-TSO) Avionics out there now, the competition has been great for us consumers. I am already resigned to the fact that I will wait til the last minute, buy my avionics, and know that a few years after its flying it will probably be out-dated again! Its a revolutionary time for Avionics development right now.

[Danny7]

Originally Posted by RV7Ron

I am already resigned to the fact that I will wait til the last minute, buy my avionics, and know that a few years after its flying it will probably be out-dated again! Its a revolutionary time for Avionics development right now.

They won't be outdated. You'll just think the latest greatest stuff is "better"

[RV7Ron]

Originally Posted by Danny7

They won't be outdated. You'll just think the latest greatest stuff is "better"

hahaha, yes, this is probably true! I am a gadget freak...always gotta have the newest gadget. So take my comments with a grain of salt!

[Mike S]

Yep, what Ron said.

[videobobk]

I'll answer the easy past first: All new, and I installed everything. My 9A first flew in early '07.

Original equipment included: XCOM 760 com radio (best bang for the buck and contains intercom,) Dynon D-10A EFIS (state of the air when bought in mid '06,) AFS 2500 engine monitor (ditto as 10A,) Trio EZpilot AP and Alt Hold (liked the capabilities and price,) and AvMap EKP IV GPS (better deal than the Garmins.) Had top quality backups (Allied alt, VSI, etc.)

1st upgrade, '08: Added a VAL 429 VOR/GS. Better price than Narco and takes little panel space. Also doubles as CDI for 430W.

Current upgrade: Adding Garmin 430W and PMA5000EX audio panel. Upgrading to Trio ProPilot (removing EZpilot and ALt Hold) 430 adds huge to IFR capability and ProPilot adds vertical steering.

Future upgrade: Will remove altimeter and VSI and add GRT HX EFIS. (probably within two years.)

Waited on the 430 because of cost. I also believe everyone should wait as long as possible to buy electronics.

Bob Kelly

[Gary 40274]

I was one of the early purchasers of OP intigrated panel. If I had waited a bit the problems that they had would have surfaced and I could have saved myself lots of problems. The folks with Blue Mountain and many other companies can relate.

The other side of wait is wait until there are lots of examples of what you are contemplating buying on the flight line at OSH and most of the owners are happy with their choice. Let the other guys be the bata testers! Bata testing for most of us is very frustrating.

In the end I ended up with a Garmin 900x with a Dynon backup in my RV10. For the most part I love it. It does have some limitations imposed by its certified heritage. (no private airports in the database, I live on one and winter at another) but on a whole it is a trememdous system.

Gary Specketer

[pmccoy]

- TruTrak EFIS with Auto Pilot Level 3
- GPS Map 696 (provides the moving map and AP Track to follow)
- Lift Reserve Indicator (secondary air source for back up)
- PS Engineering PMA9000EX Audio Panel
- SL30 Nav/Com (Comm1)
- iCom A210 (Comm2)
- GTX330 Transponder (Mode S with TIS traffic, will display traffic on 696)
- TruTrak EFIS, full back up EFIS screen on passenger side

This equipment is all new, going into to RV9A. I am still building, and hope to complete this year. I just finished putting the cowling on, and have started the engine baffling.

Building this panel was several years, and several trips to Oshkosh in the making. I kept comparing the screen displays and features of all the vendors. In the end, I chose TruTrak for two reasons. First, I love the semi round display for airspeed and altimeter. It just seems easier to understand then the tapes. I also like the fact that they are a trusted source for Auto Pilots, and the auto pilot functions are built into the EFIS system. For me, it is simple yet elegant. That fits my mission statement. It's ok to use advanced technology, as long as the flying part is still simple.

As for installation, that's all me. I considered having the wiring done by a pro, but decided I needed to learn how to take care of that task as well. In the beginning, I didn't know how to rivet either... that is part of the process. You learn as you go.