#2 OBS, what would you do?

On 15-Aug-2003, (Snowbird) wrote:

Leave out the #2 OBS altogether and fill the hole with an electric
horizen gyro? We can identify intersections and back up the loc
with the GPS...course it's less precise...


If you fly "serious" IFR, that would definitely be my vote. The electric AI
will provide backup for failure of either the vacuum system or the primary
vacuum AI. Furthermore, the GPS will identify location of an intersection
with far GREATER accuracy than a pair of VOR receivers/CDIs, or even a
VOR/CDI and a DME. Think about it: if the CDI has an error of only 1
degree, at 40 nm from the VOR station that translates to a lateral error of
about .7 nm. By comparison, the GPS is accurate laterally to a matter of a
few meters.

You are correct that this setup will not provide localizer backup in the far
less likely event of failure of the #1 Nav or its CDI, but you still have
the approach-approved GPS for that situation

-Elliott Drucker

wrote in message ...
On 15-Aug-2003, (Snowbird) wrote:
Leave out the #2 OBS altogether and fill the hole with an electric
horizen gyro? We can identify intersections and back up the loc
with the GPS...course it's less precise...

If you fly "serious" IFR, that would definitely be my vote.

Heh. Yeah, I suppose you would say we fly "serious" IFR.
Perhaps more serious than one ought to get in a light GA
single.

This has a certain attraction. But for some time, I've been
wanting to move in the other direction: adding a 2nd glideslope
receiver. For those times when the ILS is the only way down.
We don't take off into that situation, but we seem to get
there all the same.

OTOH, for some time I've been wanting to add an electric AI,
too, and I've been growing increasingly skeptical of how useful
a right-side instrument would be if we could find one.

Re some other posts: actually putting hands on a used KI-214
doesn't seem to be an issue. Even a yellow-tagged function
checked KI-214. What concerns me is the fact it would be a
product of similar age to the KI-201C we're replacing. If
it's true that this KI-201C basically can't be repaired 'cuz
it's just too old, same concern applies to KI-214.

Does anyone know if there's such a thing as a 2 1/2" CDI
which will work w/ King 17X radios?

Thanks for the input, Elliot!
Sydney

Ignoring used v/s new costs for the moment... Consider the VAL INS-422...
entire VOR/LOC/GS/MB radio in one small hole in the panel... No moving
parts... Should last a long time..

My #2 VOR/LOC/GS is an MX-300A and it has the LED needles built into the
face of the radio... Not legal for approaches I suspect, but it is dead nuts
on when compared to the KI-214... A great comfort to me when I get carried
away and shoot ILS approaches in actual...

I agree on the utility of the 2nd GS... I had a GS fail during an approach -
in actual - a few years back... The &*^%($# piece of lethal crap failed
with the GS needle centered and no warning flag... Only when I noted that
my VSI showed that I was flattening out at ~300 fpm and there was not a
corresponding GS needle deviation, did I begin to question things (up to
that instant I thought I was an ATP)... The ceiling was 100 feet below legal
for a localizer approach, but knowing the airport very well, and knowing
that I was descending into a flat area, free of obstructions, I opted to
keep the localizer needle centered and and the VSI on 380 fpm as called for
on the approach plate... I broke out on center line, and on glide slope
according to the VASI... The MX-300A was ordered the very next day while I
was shopping for a complete #2 nav/com radio package and I stumbled across
it whilest talking to Eastern Avionics owner... It slid into an existing
tray on the panel saving me installation cost... A $35 used splitter for the
GS antenna and I was in business....

Denny
"Snowbird" wrote in message
om...
wrote in message
...
On 15-Aug-2003, (Snowbird) wrote:
Leave out the #2 OBS altogether and fill the hole with an electric
horizen gyro?

"Dennis O'Connor" wrote in message ...
Ignoring used v/s new costs for the moment... Consider the VAL INS-422...
entire VOR/LOC/GS/MB radio in one small hole in the panel... No moving
parts... Should last a long time..

Actually, we're considering that. Our avionics guy never heard
of it. It's pricier up front but it's *possible* that the installation
costs would even out.

Anyone here w/ experience want to comment?

My #2 VOR/LOC/GS is an MX-300A and it has the LED needles built into the
face of the radio... Not legal for approaches I suspect

Why do you say that? Why shouldn't it be legal for approaches?

I agree on the utility of the 2nd GS... I had a GS fail during an approach -
in actual - a few years back... The &*^%($# piece of lethal crap failed
with the GS needle centered and no warning flag...

Yeah, that's happened to a couple of people we know, leading to
our reluctance to just substitute an electric horizon gyro.

Cheers,
Sydney