Hi Doug,

 

I often fly IFR in my Legacy with only a single SL 30 radio.  Don't forget that the SL 30 is like having one and a half radios, since you can listen on the backup frequency while still tuned to the primary frequency.  That works well approaching my destination by monitoring the ATIS while still remaining on ATC's frequency.  Enroute, when I want to check weather, I request clearance from ATC to leave their frequency for five minutes to check weather. 

 

I have a hand held radio for backup, but in five years of flying my Legacy, the SL 30 has been 100% reliable.  (I know, this posting will probably cause the SL 30 to fail on my next flight!)

 

I'm happy with the single radio plus hand held radio as backup.  The disadvantage of a hand held radio is that the rubber ducky antenna has limited range.  Put a connector into the antenna feed line and if your main radio fails, disconnect it from the antenna and connect your hand held to the antenna for increased range. 

 

I also have a Chelton system and I have a hand held VFR GPS as backup for that.  The benefit of hand helds for backup is that they share no common hardware with the primary.  For example, two panel mounted radios sharing a single antenna, have a single point of failure, plus they might also share some kind of relay, another single point of failure.  You might not achieve the additional reliability you expect. 

 

Best,

Dennis

Legacy