<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
         <<  Lancair Builders' Mail List  >>
         <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Posted for "Douglas L. Dodson, Jr." <dodsond@QNET.COM>:

What turned me to the UPS stack is the terrain database.  Garmin has no such thing.  While not of any "legal" benefit, the terrain database would be a real boon to night VFR in the mountainous and sometimes very dark SW U.S.  It could be a life-saver in a situation where MEAs are high due to reception requirements and ice was forming on the airframe such that altitude could no longer be maintained.  Steer between what is typically widely spaced peaks to get to warmer air and land in scud-run mode.  That did happen to me once, I keep thinking about how the terrain data would be better than blind luck.

Doug Dodson
Glasair II-S FT
Flight Test Engineer, CFI-A,G


IFR Stack Comparison

UPS System (SL15M, MX20 w/ ChartView, GX60, SL30, SL70)
Stack Height = 11", Cost ~25K.
PLUS's - Lovely VFR & IFR en route charts on MX20.  Jepp Approach Plates with
the ChartView option.

MINUS's - Relay switching means more wiring.
Three different NAV/COM boxes to operate
GX60 GPSCom has ONLY GPS approaches.
MX20 with ChartView ($2.5K option + data base updates) provides all
approaches via using GPS to position plane on a displayed Jepp approach
plate.  Even with ChartView, you still need paper approach plates in plane to
be legal.

Data Base Costs
GX60 - $595/year, 28-day updates
MX20 - $238/year, 6 mos updates
ChartView - $950/year, 14-day updates


GARMIN System (GMA340, GNS530 (or 430), UPS SL30, GTX 327*)
Stack Height = 10", Cost ~$25K.

PLUS's - Relatively easy to wire, digital switching.
GNS 530/430 has all approaches.
*New GTX 330 xpdr can display traffic on the GNS 530/430 navigators in
terminal radar environments (add $3K to price)

MINUS's - No VFR or IFR charts

Data Base Costs
GNS530 or 430 - $595/year, 28-day updates
If you want two GNS navigators, some users suggest using previous (outdated)
data base for second unit.

LML website:   http://members.olsusa.com/mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair
Please remember that purchases from the Builders' Bookstore
assist with the management of the LML.

Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.