ansonfogel
I'm New Here
Oh Wise Wizards of the VAF - I am a recent buyer of Tom Whelen's 1994 built RV4, a wonderful machine, well maintained, low hour, impeccably built - in 1994. All steam, barely useful GPS, etc - and showing signs of wear on the various electrical systems. So. I've been obsessively researching (I am an engineer by training, so get ready for a nerdy post):
I am fairly settled, and have quotes from Stein, for a single 10" G3X based EFIS and mostly garmin parts including full ADSB in/out, etc. My mission is VFR only, but I do fly often cross country for work and personal travel. I fly in mountains a lot - based in Utah, fly over CO Rockies at lot, etc. Space inside is a big limiting factor in RV4's, and I'd love to delete the lower between legs stack altogether. I fly by myself 75% of the time, with a passenger 25%. I do light aerobatics but no competition - I mostly fly to and from places in the west, XC. I cruise often at 12-14K feet, and my airfields are mostly at least 4K feet ASL.
Plan to is install all electric, no more steam. Garmin G3x, w/XM (like the better resolution and reliability over ADSB only), engine monitor, GPS20 adsb complaint GPS, heated pitot/AOA replace, Garmin pitch and roll servos using on board G3X controls (only, plane has no autopilot or electric trim now), GTR20 remote com, integrate existing King Com as Com2, Garmin GTR45 ADBS source/out/transcvr, and G5 backup instrument with its own battery. Update/move analog switching, alternator, battery - but keep those analog breakers and switches, no solid state new control box for that (?) in a new panel.
My debates are a few:
1. GTR45/GPS20 combo for ADSB 2020 in/out compliance vs standalone box (Lynx,etc). It is more expensive that the Lynx or Stratus options, but it fully integrates with the G3. I prefer the XM source over the ADSB for weather, traffic etc - but having both is a good backup. But **** its expensive.
2. iPad/Lynx/Stratus as permanent, always live backup w/iPad on dash, VS. ADSB vs. Garmin Integrated ADSB/GPS2020 with G5 backup. Of course, again, the separate low cost solution for backup is probably not as reliable. But, it gives me another full EFIS style screen via an Ipad on my right next to the G3x screen, for a lot less moola.
3. Keep an integrate my old King Com with the G3X and GPR20 as Com 1/Com2? Or just pull that hunk of metal out, its big, heavy and in the way and not that easy to integrate without a separate audio panel?
4. Audio panel vs. just internal G3X touch? Budget is busted, so hard to argue for it.
5. Autopilot panel vs. just internal G3x touch?
6. Pay Stein to wire (a lot) of it or no? Worry about their wire and harness lengths being pre made and not to fit, etc?
Trying to remember to keep it simple, yet, consider usability, safety and pilot workload.
I am fairly settled, and have quotes from Stein, for a single 10" G3X based EFIS and mostly garmin parts including full ADSB in/out, etc. My mission is VFR only, but I do fly often cross country for work and personal travel. I fly in mountains a lot - based in Utah, fly over CO Rockies at lot, etc. Space inside is a big limiting factor in RV4's, and I'd love to delete the lower between legs stack altogether. I fly by myself 75% of the time, with a passenger 25%. I do light aerobatics but no competition - I mostly fly to and from places in the west, XC. I cruise often at 12-14K feet, and my airfields are mostly at least 4K feet ASL.
Plan to is install all electric, no more steam. Garmin G3x, w/XM (like the better resolution and reliability over ADSB only), engine monitor, GPS20 adsb complaint GPS, heated pitot/AOA replace, Garmin pitch and roll servos using on board G3X controls (only, plane has no autopilot or electric trim now), GTR20 remote com, integrate existing King Com as Com2, Garmin GTR45 ADBS source/out/transcvr, and G5 backup instrument with its own battery. Update/move analog switching, alternator, battery - but keep those analog breakers and switches, no solid state new control box for that (?) in a new panel.
My debates are a few:
1. GTR45/GPS20 combo for ADSB 2020 in/out compliance vs standalone box (Lynx,etc). It is more expensive that the Lynx or Stratus options, but it fully integrates with the G3. I prefer the XM source over the ADSB for weather, traffic etc - but having both is a good backup. But **** its expensive.
2. iPad/Lynx/Stratus as permanent, always live backup w/iPad on dash, VS. ADSB vs. Garmin Integrated ADSB/GPS2020 with G5 backup. Of course, again, the separate low cost solution for backup is probably not as reliable. But, it gives me another full EFIS style screen via an Ipad on my right next to the G3x screen, for a lot less moola.
3. Keep an integrate my old King Com with the G3X and GPR20 as Com 1/Com2? Or just pull that hunk of metal out, its big, heavy and in the way and not that easy to integrate without a separate audio panel?
4. Audio panel vs. just internal G3X touch? Budget is busted, so hard to argue for it.
5. Autopilot panel vs. just internal G3x touch?
6. Pay Stein to wire (a lot) of it or no? Worry about their wire and harness lengths being pre made and not to fit, etc?
Trying to remember to keep it simple, yet, consider usability, safety and pilot workload.
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