With OSH 2005 fast approaching, the blood is quickening, and there's a new
spring in my step. The Big One is almost here!

However, as we do every year, we're starting to look at Atlas -- our 1974
Pathfinder -- with a jaundiced eye, looking for deficiencies that need
filling, either in his accoutrements or in our personal comfort. Oshkosh is
*the* place to see/touch/try all of the new stuff on the market, and we're
always looking for ways to keep Atlas new and fresh.

I'm leaning toward a couple of things. First, our old Narco audio panel is
functional, but I've repaired the cracked faceplate three times. Like
clockwork, it cracks again every winter, when the temperatures are 100
degree colder than they are today -- and Narco wants $200 just for a stupid
faceplate! So, an audio panel is on the short "take a look at" list.
Dunno if I can justify it, though. They sure want a lot of money for those
danged things.

Our AvMap IIIC is looking big and clunky next to the sleek new AvMap IV (or
whatever they'll be introducing at the show). We might be looking to pick
up one of those babies.

A GPS/Com to replace our tired but trusty old Com 2 (a Narco 120) would be
an excellent addition to the panel. Again, an awful lot of money to replace
something that's working just fine -- and do we really need a THIRD GPS?
Maybe...

XM/Sirius radio is still at the top of my "must-have" list, but I'm still
stymied by not having a front-seat input jack into my intercom. (I *do*
have a jack for the back seat passengers, but the front seat is served only
by our PS Engineering CD player). I guess I'll have to have that jack
installed, at some ridiculous price, and then be prepared to hunt down
electrical bugs for three months after the installation....

The new blue-tooth wireless headsets should be THE cool thing to see this
year. I'm hoping LightSpeed has something to show us at the show, but I
haven't heard anything from them, yet. Wouldn't it be great to get rid of
all those wires?

What are YOU guys looking for at OSH this year?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"