Hi everyone. First post, and most grateful for some advice. Am configuring the panel of a new FK-14B Polaris and wonder how I should/could spec the office. Panel space and funds not a problem happy to say, but weight always an issue with this class of aircraft. Fly full EFIS for my day (sometimes night) job, so am comfortable with the presentation, but have a few parameters: Would like to start without but later add autopilot capability. Need ability to swap EMS and EFIS data laterally. Need basic flight data and ems redundancy (VMC day ops) with weight as factor. Appreciate any and all input before I order. Many thanks, Mike the nooby.
Hello all and config advice request
- Thread starter Polaris
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I've got a D180, SL30, 496 (with XM), GTX330and PMS 3000.
It's got more bang for the pound that any other panel. In fact, it will do EVERYTHING a G1000 will do (although the GPS isn't "legal" for IFR) including TIS traffic and weather.
The RMI function of the D180 will even let you shoot a VOR/LOC approach with step downs from cross radials with just a single SL30. Freq. will auto-load from the GPS and you can monitor the stand-by freq. for ATIS.
I've added mechanical AS, ALT, tach, idiot lights for temp/press and the 496 will give you basic back-up flight instrumentation.
With the Dynon autopilot being just a couple of servos away, you've got everything you can possibly want.
Space/money being no object, I'd add a HS34, autopilot control and a 2nd 100 series display as I don't like having to choose between engine data and nav data being displayed either.
PilotKris
It's got more bang for the pound that any other panel. In fact, it will do EVERYTHING a G1000 will do (although the GPS isn't "legal" for IFR) including TIS traffic and weather.
The RMI function of the D180 will even let you shoot a VOR/LOC approach with step downs from cross radials with just a single SL30. Freq. will auto-load from the GPS and you can monitor the stand-by freq. for ATIS.
I've added mechanical AS, ALT, tach, idiot lights for temp/press and the 496 will give you basic back-up flight instrumentation.
With the Dynon autopilot being just a couple of servos away, you've got everything you can possibly want.
Space/money being no object, I'd add a HS34, autopilot control and a 2nd 100 series display as I don't like having to choose between engine data and nav data being displayed either.
PilotKris
PhantomPholly
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Hehe - not quite, but pretty close. You don't get the new Synthetic Vision, and you never had the option of entering your flightplan as Airways (nor in the 430/530, which is why I chose the 480).
But, for a difference in the neighborhood of $60,000 I'll bet we can live without those...
I agree that I can do without the synthetic vision and I have to carry a chart anyway so the airway thing does not bother me much.
Here is my plan for the most cost effective IFR/Traffic/Terrain/Weather/Full Featured Dual Axis AP /G setup I could come up with.... Not shown is the Zaon unit.
Here is my plan for the most cost effective IFR/Traffic/Terrain/Weather/Full Featured Dual Axis AP /G setup I could come up with.... Not shown is the Zaon unit.
I agree that I can do without the synthetic vision and I have to carry a chart anyway so the airway thing does not bother me much.
Here is my plan for the most cost effective IFR/Traffic/Terrain/Weather/Full Featured Dual Axis AP /G setup I could come up with.... Not shown is the Zaon unit.
This setup wouldn't be what I'd recommend if weight is a concern.
The only thing the 430 does is allow you to legally file /G, it adds no extra capabilities and would necessitate the added expense and weight of an audio panel.
You already have XM radio with the 496 so there is no need for Sirius unit in the audio panel.
I'd also go for 2 100 series Dynons rather than a D180/D10A combo (not that much more weight/expense and allot more capable).
PilotKris
On the 430W.../G is important to me and this box offers the best bang for the buck to get there. The 420/400w have poor price to value ratio compaired to the 430w so they are out.
The other thing the 430W does is gives me ILS like approaches to thousands of airports with no other precision approach.
I failed to mention that I am not using that audio panel, it is just a placeholder, I am planning a PMA-8000B.
With my setup, I have two separate Efis systems. If you do a DASB reconfig, you can even have AP control redundancy. Not possible with a D120 and a D100.
The D100's only major advantage over the D10A is screen space and the HSI fits just fine on it. I love the layout possibilities with the D10A as the second screen. Everything I need is right in front of me in a nice tight, symmetrical layout.
The other thing the 430W does is gives me ILS like approaches to thousands of airports with no other precision approach.
I failed to mention that I am not using that audio panel, it is just a placeholder, I am planning a PMA-8000B.
With my setup, I have two separate Efis systems. If you do a DASB reconfig, you can even have AP control redundancy. Not possible with a D120 and a D100.
The D100's only major advantage over the D10A is screen space and the HSI fits just fine on it. I love the layout possibilities with the D10A as the second screen. Everything I need is right in front of me in a nice tight, symmetrical layout.
Important to you but Mike (who asked the question) didn't mention needing/wanting to shoot WAAS aproaches.
So you might ask why I recommend a NAV/COM to a guy who isn't planning to fly IFR...
The SL30 NAV/COM is a better value than the SL20 COM as it adds additional navigation capability (including ILS) with very little weight/cost penalty and the Dynon units have the HSI built in so there no need to purchase a separate CDI/OBS.
PhantomPholly
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The 430W is a fine unit and the most popular on the market today.
If you are truly looking for the most "bang for the buck," you might consider a GNS 480. They are now discontinued, so you might find one in stock for an excellent "clearance price."
The 480 does everything the 430W does, plus it has the Victor / Jet airways in it's database. If you do any IFR flying up east, you will appreciate being able to quickly enter ATC instructions exactly as issued (e.g. "Direct Xray V111 Yankee V222 Zulu") and see it miraculously fill in all the dog-legs for you without reference to the chart. Being IFR legal, you can legally leave the chart behind (if you are willing to fall on the mercy of ATC if it should fail on you, which should be no problem because your primary navigation would also have failed in that situation).
Oh, and I will agree with PilotKris - you have plenty of panel space on the right, go with another Dynon 100 unit instead of the little 10 series. The difference in price is minimal; the wiring identical.
If you are truly looking for the most "bang for the buck," you might consider a GNS 480. They are now discontinued, so you might find one in stock for an excellent "clearance price."
The 480 does everything the 430W does, plus it has the Victor / Jet airways in it's database. If you do any IFR flying up east, you will appreciate being able to quickly enter ATC instructions exactly as issued (e.g. "Direct Xray V111 Yankee V222 Zulu") and see it miraculously fill in all the dog-legs for you without reference to the chart. Being IFR legal, you can legally leave the chart behind (if you are willing to fall on the mercy of ATC if it should fail on you, which should be no problem because your primary navigation would also have failed in that situation).
Oh, and I will agree with PilotKris - you have plenty of panel space on the right, go with another Dynon 100 unit instead of the little 10 series. The difference in price is minimal; the wiring identical.
Oh no you can't....
Not legal and not a good idea as there is a TON of additional information on the enroute/area charts that is not available on the 480... MEA, MRA, MCA, frequencies, mandatory reporting points etc...
Victor routing is a neat feature that I wish the 530W/430W had but I'm a bit worried that Garmin isn't going to fully support the orphaned units. Just look where the other IFR GPS' and Lorans (Northstar, Apollo/UPS/Garmin) ended up. With no database/operating system updates, many are just doorstops.
PilotKris