2002 AVIONICS, ELECTRICS, & CONTROLS
Oct, 2002 - Many expensive choices to make here. Even though I am just beginning this project, I am already starting to think about what I'd like for avionics. If I can afford it, I am interested in a new style "glass panel"; all electronics and electronic displays for flight instruments, nav, comm, and engine monitoring. The Sierra Flight Systems and the Blue Mountain Avionics EFIS systems look good, although I've heard the Blue Mountain has some development problems. One of the guys I went to Alexander Technical Center with is getting the Blue Mountain (as well as an Eggenfellner engine), so I will see how his install goes. He already has his wings, fuse, and finishing kits, and his Eggenfellner engine on order, so I am sure he will be flying long before me. The Garmin and UPS Apollo nav/com/GPS stacks look very nice.
HERE is a very nice free web site that helps you design your panel. If you want to buy your own software to do this, look at Panel Planner, from One Mile Up. I don't know how much better their software is than Bill VonDane's free web site, though. I saw a brief demo at OSH 2003. There are also many companies that will build your panel for you, although I have found David at Avionics Systems to be by far the best. Other companies, like Aerotronics, Gulf Coast Avionics, and Pacific Coast Avionics, have been VERY non-responsive, and I would never buy from them. John Stark was also unusually good - very responsive, good service, good prices, excellent reputation among builders.
I also came across this very interesting shootout between the main GPS/nav/comm choices. The results paralleled what I determined on my own, through using the simulators for each product: http://www.avionicswest.com/archive/shootout.htm MARCH, '07 - THIS LINK IS BAD NOW, BUT I AM TRYING TO FIND THE SOURCE DOC, SO I CAN POST IT HERE. MAY '07 - Despite MANY emailed requests to Avionics West over the last few months, this guy does not respond at all. What a guy! I'll keep his responsiveness in mind when I buy more avionics. HERE is a thread comparing the Garmin 430 vs 480 NOV '07 - Thanks to one of my readers, HERE is a good link to the Garmin GNS430/GNS530/CNX80 shootout. This link won't be going away, because I now have it saved locally.
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