Doug wrote:
Still a few months from first flight but I am finalizing my instrument panel requirements and desires. I have decided on a Dynon Skyview 10" system, remote mounted Dynon transponder with a Garmin Audio Panel and Garmin SL30 Nav/comm. Also
installing the Dynon Autopilot with roll and pitch servos. Engine instruments will be displayed on an E.I. MVP-50. .I plan to do some very limited IFR flying.
My questions for all those who have gone before me...... I need a second Comm. Dynon told me it will be available from them as a remote mounted radio this year which saves valuable space on the Instrument panel. Do I need more than that.....such as a Garmin
GNS-430? What does a good minimum IFR capable panel have installed?....... I want some sophistication, but do I really need a Garmin GNS- 430 at about 10K or so installed? Maybe a panel mounted portable GPS like the Garmin 696 is all I really need. .......which,
as I said is mostly VFR with some occasional IFR down through the clouds. I am concerned I will regret not going with the GNS-430 which ultimately means I will likely install it anyway.
So what have you all installed that you feel you don't need and what do you regret NOT installing?
Doug,
You didn’t specify what type Lancair…the IV/ES series have relatively large panels; the two-seaters less. I’ll comment on some of the above systems that I am familiar with, and let others comment on the overall
instrumentation requirement.
I have a Dynon D-10A mini EFIS, with battery backup, installed in my IV-P. In four years and 750+ flight hours, that
unit has never failed to work as intended. It’s never displayed any incorrect data that I could see, even when it was severely overheated and the display changed to black/white to indicate same. Not familiar with the newer
Skyview system, but have heard equally good things about it from local builders.
I do have an E.I. MVP-50 engine monitoring system in my airplane. I’ve wired it to additionally monitor fire detection sensors in the engine compartment, cabin pressure, hydraulic pressure and the cabin air conditioning system. Did not hook up the flap and
gear monitoring systems as I already had these wired/planned before I decided on the MVP-50. One of the best pieces of equipment in the airplane. You will appreciate it.
I have an SL-30 and an SL-40 radio wired through a PS Engineering PMA8000B audio panel. These also work like a champ.
The SL-40 is my backup radio; I hooked it to the internal tail antenna and the SL-30 to a belly-mounted whip. I also wired the SL-30 to an independent HIS to give me a second IFR-legal instrument approach capability, although I usually fly WAAS-enabled GPS
approaches and monitor the ILS as a backup when it’s available. The radios have worked well.
Last item: I have a Garmin 696 panel-mounted on the right side. It has XM weather and TIS traffic (from a Garmin GTX-330
transponder. This is a superb aviation GPS, but not legal for IFR flight/approaches. As I have a “legal” IFR GPS, I use this as a backup, but have gained great confidence in it over the years. The weather display is priceless; to the extent that my Judy won’t
go on a cross country without it after I told her we could just ask ATC for weather along the way when it was down for repair. This didn’t work out too well (another story, but safe ending) and it’s now one of her pre-flight items.
A truly excellent piece of equipment.
My two cents.
Bob