Fun, no?
Here's the situation: We purchased our RV-8A in June. It's ten years old, with just 400 hours on her. (Of which we've put 100 on since June.)
When the original Arizona builder was putting her together, it appears that he solidified the panel design in about 1998. As a result, the panel is strictly steam gauges, with a Garmin GNC-300XL GPS/COM slaved to an excellent TruTrak two-axis autopilot. It also has an ancient GRT EFIS, and an antique analog King transponder.
My wife (also a pilot) hates the single com set-up, and we both despise the EFIS with a passion. We've grown used to it, and it does provide the necessary information -- but we long for the graphic readout we enjoyed with the JPI in our last plane.
So...we want to trash pretty much everything except the autopilot, and start over.
With that in mind, I've been reading...and reading...and reading. Everything I read seems to create new questions. Every opinion I receive seems to contradict the last opinion I've received. This has been incredibly frustrating.
I've narrowed my search to Dynon's SkyView system, and GRT's HXr. Both in the 10" size. Beyond that, I've run into a couple of brick walls.
First, I need a shop in Texas to do the work. I'm hip-deep in off-season remodeling at our hotel (just finished the Flying Tigers Room) and just don't have the time to start another project. I've got a local avionics guy who is interested, but he has ZERO experience working with experimental aircraft. This has me a bit nervous. I'd rather have an experienced RVer do it.
Second, I need advice from someone who has experience flying behind both systems. They appear to be quite similar, but I know nothing of these companies other than what their websites tell me. Who's got the better service? Support? Upgrades? Future?
I need someone that can actually TELL ME WHAT I NEED, when I give them the parameters of what I want to do. Here's a list of what I'm thinking I want in the panel:
- 10"+ display
- Moving map navigation
- Sectional map display
- Must work with the Tru-Trak autopilot
- Must work with the existing GRT engine monitoring probes
- Synthetic vision
- Dual com capability.
- Integrated transponder
Given these parameters, what do I need to buy?
It seems like the more I learn, the less I know! Part of the problem is that I did not build the plane. Thus, I don't know the structure of the panel. For example, is it possible to install the new avionics into a new panel outside of the plane, get everything wired up and working on the bench, and then remove the entire existing panel and (more or less) install the new panel as a whole? Or, as in all of my other airplanes, do you have to do everything in the plane as it sits in the hangar?
I know these questions will probably spur more questions, and I'll bet there are strong feelings in favor of both systems, but I'm here to learn! Anyone want to take a swing at this on a fine Christmas day eve?
Here's the situation: We purchased our RV-8A in June. It's ten years old, with just 400 hours on her. (Of which we've put 100 on since June.)
When the original Arizona builder was putting her together, it appears that he solidified the panel design in about 1998. As a result, the panel is strictly steam gauges, with a Garmin GNC-300XL GPS/COM slaved to an excellent TruTrak two-axis autopilot. It also has an ancient GRT EFIS, and an antique analog King transponder.
My wife (also a pilot) hates the single com set-up, and we both despise the EFIS with a passion. We've grown used to it, and it does provide the necessary information -- but we long for the graphic readout we enjoyed with the JPI in our last plane.
So...we want to trash pretty much everything except the autopilot, and start over.
With that in mind, I've been reading...and reading...and reading. Everything I read seems to create new questions. Every opinion I receive seems to contradict the last opinion I've received. This has been incredibly frustrating.
I've narrowed my search to Dynon's SkyView system, and GRT's HXr. Both in the 10" size. Beyond that, I've run into a couple of brick walls.
First, I need a shop in Texas to do the work. I'm hip-deep in off-season remodeling at our hotel (just finished the Flying Tigers Room) and just don't have the time to start another project. I've got a local avionics guy who is interested, but he has ZERO experience working with experimental aircraft. This has me a bit nervous. I'd rather have an experienced RVer do it.
Second, I need advice from someone who has experience flying behind both systems. They appear to be quite similar, but I know nothing of these companies other than what their websites tell me. Who's got the better service? Support? Upgrades? Future?
I need someone that can actually TELL ME WHAT I NEED, when I give them the parameters of what I want to do. Here's a list of what I'm thinking I want in the panel:
- 10"+ display
- Moving map navigation
- Sectional map display
- Must work with the Tru-Trak autopilot
- Must work with the existing GRT engine monitoring probes
- Synthetic vision
- Dual com capability.
- Integrated transponder
Given these parameters, what do I need to buy?
It seems like the more I learn, the less I know! Part of the problem is that I did not build the plane. Thus, I don't know the structure of the panel. For example, is it possible to install the new avionics into a new panel outside of the plane, get everything wired up and working on the bench, and then remove the entire existing panel and (more or less) install the new panel as a whole? Or, as in all of my other airplanes, do you have to do everything in the plane as it sits in the hangar?
I know these questions will probably spur more questions, and I'll bet there are strong feelings in favor of both systems, but I'm here to learn! Anyone want to take a swing at this on a fine Christmas day eve?
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