I agree with Tim: the Chelton system is super  My ES-P has a 3-screen Chelton Sport that handles all my navigation, with a GNS480 as a WAAS-approved backup that I too usually set direct to destination, and also an SL30 for ILS redundancy.  The Cheltons are independent of each other and every screen display comes up on each.  Pass the stick to the co-pilot and he switches his screen to flight director mode.  It is true that the basic design is a decade old but when introduced it was light years ahead of anything else.  Today it is right in there with the current Garmins and has been tested far beyond what any of the newcomers have endured. 

The system is not perfect: my Stormscope gets so many false strikes that I have it turned off and it will not display the Strikefinder spherics so that is not an option. 

Access behind the panel is great with the Cheltons.  A couple screws and the Chelton units slide out forward leaving gaping holes for work behind. 

Robert M. Simon

ES-P N301ES   

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Olson [mailto:Tim@myrv10.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 8:12 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Chelton??and more...

Geez Mike, I don't know....but when I look, I see that between the

4 main sections, there are 360 topic, with over 2500 posts, and the most recent was today, with the one before that being the end of the week last week.  I know it's not a super active forum, but it is a place to go that people actually watch and answer questions related to the system.  My biggest question is, with the system being so very good at navigation, what's the big benefit to even having the 2 systems transfer flight plans.  I leave my 480 set to either GPS direct mode to destination, or sometimes when I'm bored I punch in all the legs and keep both systems running.  But when push comes to shove, I'm happy to just do it all on the Chelton without dealing with the other boxes.  No, it's not going to be upgraded and turn into a current system, but it still does very well if you consider both navigational features, and it's very organized and clean, easy to read display.  It's really not that tough of a decision...if you don't like what it has to offer, just ditch it and get the thing you do like.  I picked up a whole new system from someone who was in that boat, and now have one that I got at a great price to put in my next kit if I choose to build another...and until then, it's a great 100% complete spare to what I have.

Tim