Philosophical question on owning & IFR rating

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote:
Let's say you have an aircraft with a LORAN, a NAV/COM with glide
slope receiver, and
a marker beacon receiver. The radio stack is full, but you have a
spare 3.5" hole in
the panel. Would you -

a. Replace the LORAN with an approach certified GPS.
b. Add a NARCO 121 NAV in the round hole.
c. Replace the intercom with an audio panel and MBR and replace the
MBR with a NAV
unit or slim NAV/COM.
d. Something else.

a.

GPS is a Swiss Army knife WRT approaches.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

G.R. Patterson III wrote:
a. Replace the LORAN with an approach certified GPS.
b. Add a NARCO 121 NAV in the round hole.
c. Replace the intercom with an audio panel and MBR and replace the MBR with a NAV
unit or slim NAV/COM.
d. Something else.
As always, money's tight, so I would pick b, though c also is attractive. Your
choice? Panel can be seen at

George,
If money is really tight, I'd go with (a.), but use one of the previous
generation of IFR GPSs like the UPS AT/Garmin AT GX-50/60 or the Garmin
GNC-300XL. They'd require an external CDI like the small ones sold by Mid
Continent Instruments. It'll install in the 3 1/2" hole using an adapter
plate. I've got a GX-60, and it works just fine, even though it's not as
glitzy as the 430/530/CNX-80s. You'll get the capability you need, and
you can "chase" the leading edge of handheld GPSs, every couple of years,
to satisfy any need for a nicer moving map. With an IFR GPS, you'll have
the ability to fly to any intersection, so identifying them with dual VORs
won't be an issue.

--- Jay



--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

Jay Masino wrote:

If money is really tight, I'd go with (a.), but use one of the previous
generation of IFR GPSs like the UPS AT/Garmin AT GX-50/60 or the Garmin
GNC-300XL. They'd require an external CDI like the small ones sold by Mid
Continent Instruments. It'll install in the 3 1/2" hole using an adapter
plate.

If it fits in the smaller holes, I have two empty spaces for the CDI; one to the left
of my T&B, and one below it. I don't know how well the FAA likes the idea of putting
the CDI on the left side of the panel, though. I'll let my avionics tech decide that,
I guess.

With an IFR GPS, you'll have
the ability to fly to any intersection, so identifying them with dual VORs
won't be an issue.

That was my thinking too. Thanks for the leads.

George Patterson
If you want to know God's opinion of money, just look at the people
he gives it to.

G.R. Patterson III wrote:
If it fits in the smaller holes, I have two empty spaces for the CDI; one to the left
of my T&B, and one below it. I don't know how well the FAA likes the idea of putting
the CDI on the left side of the panel, though. I'll let my avionics tech decide that,
I guess.

I think the FAA's guidelines for placement of the CDI is something vague
like "within view of the pilot", so the left side would probably be
fine. However, if it was me, I'd use your 3.5" hole with adapter. It's
a more intuitive location for an IFR scan (in my opinion). That said,
mine is to the right of the radio stack. Take a look at:
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino/private/panel2.JPG
My ILS head is where your spare hole is. Anyway, you can see what one of
those Mid Continent CDIs looks like inside a 3.5" hole.

--- Jay


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

Jay Masino wrote:

Take a look at:
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino/private/panel2.JPG

Thanks. Nice photo.

George Patterson
If you want to know God's opinion of money, just look at the people
he gives it to.