"MJC" wrote in message
...
Thanks guys; combined, you give me good direction on getting back into
the air. After some google searching, I also found AC No. 61-10A which is
a
rough guide and syllabus for Refresher Course training, but it's dated
9/27/72. However, it looks like it also points me in the right direction.
I'll be dropping by my local FBO this coming weekend to load up on all
the books and manuals mentioned as well as to chat with one of the flight
instructors and beg for mercy. It's funny because when I got my ticket 20
years ago in '84, all the instructors were older than me. Now, they're all
younger than me. I think I waited way too long to get back in the air.

CJ, I'm building the RV7-A Quickbuild kit. I've already got the QB
fuse
and wings and am working on the empennage. One reason I need to get back
to
flying soon is because I'm figuring out how to go with the instrument
panel.
At the moment, I'm leaning heavily toward a glass panel (Dual Grand Rapids
EFIS's w/EIS) with the radios being the GNC 300XL GPS/Com and the SL-30
Nav/Com plus a 2-axis AP (TruTrak DGII) and then the rest of the usual
"stuff".
A panel like that is a lot different from most GA/SE aircraft today
with
steam gauges and basic Nav/Coms so I am a little concerned about finding a
CFI that will not only instruct in my RV, but will also continue on with
instructing me to get my IFR ticket. My panel WILL be "certified" in that
all the nav equipment is certified for GA aircraft, but it's still an
Experimental aircraft and I don't know how you CFI's feel about that.

I like the RV7 myself; although I will never find time to build one of my
own, I sometimes help others work on their planes.

Glass panels are becoming much more common. The Garmin G1000 will even be
available on the Skyhawk next year, so instructors better get used to them.
My guess is that virtually every plane Cessna sells next year will have a
glass cockpit. Cirrus, incredibly, has even managed to fall behind a little
bit in technology (bet they won't stay there for long!). The FAA, in
conjunction with manufacturers, has also developed special training programs
in advanced avionics for instructors.

The day of steam gauges is nearly over.