Yep - always a hard process as there are many choices, and even more opinions on what to do.
What I recommend:
- Decide now if it will be VFR only or IFR. There is no such thing as “light IFR”.
- Assuming IFR, design your panel. Get a blank panel from Van’s, cut out the components from full scale printouts, then move them around like paper dolls. Much easier and faster than doing CAD stuff.
- Now divide that panel into “now” and “some day”. The now will be a nice VFR glass with full ADS-B in and out, two axis autopilot and such - everything you need.
In other words, don’t spend a penny on anything unless it supports your end state panel. Here is where EFIS integration shines. For example a very nice VFR panel that would support full IFR later would be:
- One SkyView 10” EFIS. This would included the SkyView 2020 GPS receiver/antenna that makes you ADS-B out compliant using the SkyView integrated XPDR (for $2130 this XPDR is a steal).
- One Dynon COMM radio.
- If your end state calls for a full featured audio panel, look at the PS Engineering. PDA-360EX.
- Both roll and pitch AutoPilot. The integrated SkyView system cost $1650 for the servos and mounting kits.
- The integrated SkyView ADS-B in receiver.
- For this intern panel consider installing your current Airspeed and Altimeter instruments for backup. This may require a new piece of panel aluminum to get to the end state, but for ~$30, some time cutting holes and paint this is a cheap option.
From this VFR install, incremental adds to a first class IFR install is now straight forward - just add money, cut some more holes and a weekend (or so) of wiring. The hardest and most frustration thing will be to, at some point, bite the bullet and buy an overpriced TSO GPS IFR navigator.
PM me if you like on how to make this approach as easy as possible - as there are things to do now to help you later.
Carl