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  #1  
Old 05-29-2013, 11:12 AM
Randle Randle is offline
 
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Location: Atascosa, TX
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Thumbs up Unofficial New Advanced Fight Systems Pricing (5/29/2013)

OK, so I am almost done with my wings and have been spending a little too much time at work researching EFIS feature and pricing changes and updating my ?spreadsheet? of choices when all of a sudden, none of the info on my spreadsheet matched what Advanced Flight had listed on their Price List. I started to look at it and noticed the prices on all of the 5500 Series EFISs had dropped a few hundred bucks, and then I noticed the price of the Autopilot dropped a GRAND, that?s no chump change. Getting gitty about what I noticed, I realized they also dropped their pricing a couple hundred bucks on their EMS add-on, their AHARS, AOA A and B kits and the list goes on. The total dropped the price of a complete 2 Screen system a little over 3 grand!! I always drool over the RV10?s out there sporting the full AFS decks and their capabilities as well as their convenient included extras from the user checklists, weight & balance page, and maintenance page. Their pricing has always been a little too far off for my reach (Building Dave Ramsey Style), but now instead of the ?Big G? angel on one shoulder fighting with the GRT angel on the other shoulder; Advanced Flight just threw the ?Big G? off and jumped in the fight. Whatever am I supposed to do?

I am sure Rob Hickman is going to jump in here eventually and sort everything out or begin his own post announcing the new lower prices, but I just couldn?t let this go.
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  #2  
Old 05-29-2013, 11:23 AM
SteinAir SteinAir is offline
 
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I believe the prices were lowered at SnF and have just remained there.
Seems all the companies offering the most popular EFIS systems (AFS, Dynon, Garmin, GRT) are all pretty close in price now.

Cheers,
Stein
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  #3  
Old 05-29-2013, 11:25 AM
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DaleB DaleB is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Randle View Post
OK, so I am almost done with my wings
8< snip...
Whatever am I supposed to do?
I'm at roughly the same stage you are, and I'll tell you what I'm doing... I'm completely and totally NOT committing to any vendor until I've got the fuselage done to the point where I have to install avionics! Considering the huge changes in the EFIS landscape just since I've been watching (less than a year) I can only imagine any decisions now could be completely wrong by the time I actually need the gear.

I'm told there is a builder around here somewhere with a complete Blue Mountain EFIS setup, still in the boxes, ready to go into his yet-to-be-completed plane. I'm sure it seemed like a great idea at the time.

And FWIW, I really like Garmin's prices and gear, but the cost of keeping it up to date? That money would pay for a lot of avgas.
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  #4  
Old 05-29-2013, 12:33 PM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Quote:
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And FWIW, I really like Garmin's prices and gear, but the cost of keeping it up to date? That money would pay for a lot of avgas.
$99 a year...page 11 here: http://download.garmin.com/avdb/Garm...Price_List.pdf
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  #5  
Old 05-29-2013, 01:37 PM
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DaleB DaleB is offline
 
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Ah, I see that now -- I was looking at the PilotPak at $499, but apples-to-apples the mini would be more in line with Dynon's features. OK, so only 17 gallons.
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  #6  
Old 05-29-2013, 06:59 PM
Randle Randle is offline
 
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That may be true for the bare bones G3x updates, but throw in the GNS or GTN updates along with the SL40 or GTR updates and if you have an aera series GPS as a backup, then what is the bare bones cost? And who is going to run a G3x suite without a Big G navigator? All the costs add up very quickly once the whole panel maintenance costs come together. I do hope to be able to add a GTN once the time comes, but the "$99" a year I would be saving by going with AFS is still a hundred bucks I didn't have yesterday. Advanced Flight, Dynon, and GRT has had their mapping updates free for as long as I have been paying attention the the expirimental world, how long will Garmin have those "minimal updates" available for $99? They may have dropped the prices of their G3x suite to be competitive with the current market, but I won't put any money down saying the updates will ever get any cheaper.
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  #7  
Old 05-29-2013, 07:47 PM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Originally Posted by Randle View Post
That may be true for the bare bones G3x updates, but throw in the GNS or GTN updates along with the SL40 or GTR updates and if you have an aera series GPS as a backup, then what is the bare bones cost?
You can't make this comparison due to the fact that you could replace the G3X in the above statement with any EFIS System. Dynon, MGL, GRT, AFS. The SL40/30 does not have any database to update. GTR's are so new who knows if they will become popular or not in the experimental world. Also the backup handheld GPS is optional and could be any make or model.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Randle View Post
And who is going to run a G3x suite without a Big G navigator?
Same question back at you...who is going to run an AFS, Dynon, GRT or MGL system without an IFR Navigator? The answer: Tons of people including owners of the G3X platform. There are many G3X systems in use out there that are VFR only. The G3X is an amazing VFR platform and does not need any IFR Navigator unless you plan to fly IFR. By the way, if you fly IFR with any of the other brands, guess what.....your going to need an IFR Navigator sooner than later. No matter what brand IFR Navigator you buy, it is going to have a hefty database subscription cost. It is the cost of participating in the IFR system.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Randle View Post
All the costs add up very quickly once the whole panel maintenance costs come together. I do hope to be able to add a GTN once the time comes, but the "$99" a year I would be saving by going with AFS is still a hundred bucks I didn't have yesterday. Advanced Flight, Dynon, and GRT has had their mapping updates free for as long as I have been paying attention the the expirimental world, how long will Garmin have those "minimal updates" available for $99?
I would ask you the same question except in reverse. How long do you think all those guys will be able to provide their updates for free when more and more free sources for this data are drying up? Keep in mind that not all database updates are free for some of the manufacturers you mentioned.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Randle View Post
They may have dropped the prices of their G3x suite to be competitive with the current market, but I won't put any money down saying the updates will ever get any cheaper.
A bunch of people (including me) never thought they would ever compete in this market yet here they are.....competition is what is driving those price reductions you are planning to enjoy.

Look I don't really care what system people buy into. I have been helping to support most of em for the last 10 years. I am just a guy that has a passion for experimental avionics. I have manuals for all of em on my Iphone and Ipad and read em just in case someone needs some assistance while I am at a flyin, some airport or their garage. There are things I like and dislike about all the systems. There is no such thing as a perfect solution for everyone. I just like to see fair comparisons on this forum. Of course we would all love everything to be free or next to it but history has proven that is not a good long term business model.
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RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook

Last edited by Brantel : 05-29-2013 at 08:17 PM.
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  #8  
Old 05-29-2013, 07:59 PM
BobTurner BobTurner is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brantel View Post
No matter what brand IFR Navigator you buy, it is going to have a hefty database subscription cost. It is the cost of participating in the IFR .
Umm, exactly what brands does one have to choose from?

It doesn't matter if you are talking about ifr TSO'd GPS, or a crankshaft for your engine. When there is only one source you can count on paying thru the nose.
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  #9  
Old 05-29-2013, 08:06 PM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Originally Posted by BobTurner View Post
Umm, exactly what brands does one have to choose from?
Avidyne for one...(are they shipping yet???)

Not sure beyond that.
__________________
Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook

Last edited by Brantel : 05-29-2013 at 08:20 PM.
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  #10  
Old 05-29-2013, 08:21 PM
Randle Randle is offline
 
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Misinterpret my intentions as you may, but I do hope to one day be able to add a navigator to mine. Apples to apples, if there was a hundred dollar bill sitting on the ground, I would pick it up. trying to avoid the too-often thread drift that is known on this site.

Has anyone recently installed the 5500 series setup that could give a little RELATED input into ths thread for possibles such as myself?
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RV-7A - empennage done minus glass
wings nearing completion
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