I think that this would be a pretty good plan. Your situation isn't all that
different from ours in our Cherokee a year or so ago. We got a good deal (local) on a
KLX-135 (King VFR GPS/COM), and ebay'd up a KY-197 and KN-53 (no GS)... basically a
KX-155 in two separate boxes. So, we needed the ILS to make it IFR trainable/flyable,
so we found a deal on a KNS-80. I'd assume panel space is a bit of an issue in a 152
so it might be a bit big, but I still maintain that a KNS-80 is great
bang-for-the-buck in used avionics now. Digital VOR/LOC/GS/DME/RNAV... GREAT for ifr
training. If the 300XL weren't also a COM, I might agree with the handheld GPS crowd,
but it's a lot of functionality, and it's more reliable in the panel. My GPS isn't
moving map, but aside from airspace visualizations, I don't miss it.
The trouble with the KX-155 is that it's very popular... thus overly
expensive. Maybe a KN-53 with GS for a stand-alone NAV to go with the GPS/COM.
Sorry for rambling, but it's difficult to find any sort of deal in avionics. My
experience is a bit skewed from most since my installation expenses were very
minimal...
-Cory
Paul Folbrecht wrote:
: Ok, here's what I'm thinking now. Critisism of this setup not
: discouraged!
: - 300XL installed *VFR only*.
: - PSE 6000 Audio panel with marker beacons.
: - KX-155 nav/com - there's one on Ebay right now I may pick up.
: - KX 209 Indicator.
: Local shop tells me no more than $3500 or so for this install, including
: antenna for 2nd com. Does that sound right? I'd be ditching the 385
: nav/com that's in there now, of course.
: Full cost of this setup assuming used KX-155 and 209 and new audio panel
: should be $9-$10K. While this is definitely more money than I wanted to
: spend or figured I'd have to spend, I think it may be worth it. I
: actually ran a price quote on my plane (aeroprice) with this equipment
: installed and was pleased to see the value go up by 80% or so of what
: I'd be putting into it. I plan to keep the plane for probably 4-5 years
: (until I build my RV-9).
: Again, what I want to do here is have an aircraft in which I can get my
: instrument ticket and be able to practice real-world instrument
: approaches. Subsequent to that, I don't see myself flying hard IMC, but
: being able to do a lot more flying on those marginal VFR days that keep
: me grounded now. (MVFR can turn into IFR too damn easily - I've already
: discovered that.)
: Tell me if I'm all wet (please).
: Paul Folbrecht wrote:
: I've just purchased a '79 152 that is currently VFR only. Avionics
: consist of a single nav/com and xponder. That's it.
:
: At some point in the next year or two I am going to want to get my
: instrument ticket in this aircraft, so I'm already starting to think
: about the best way to do that. Trouble is I know precious little about
: IFR equipment at the moment. If someone has some good resources/links
: that could get me up to speed I'd appreciate it.
:
: Actually, I already started buying stuff. I bought an IFR Garmin 300XL
: GPS on ebay (it was a steal). That's my start. I'm completely open to
: suggestions on where to go from there.
:
: Maybe a B/K 80 nav? Has everything else I need, right? I know I need
: an audio (switch) panel and at least one more CDI.
:
: I'll be searching for an avionics shop soon to install the GPS, but
: until then any idea what that will cost me? Might it make some sense to
: have them do a VFR-only install initially and then do it IFR when I have
: the rest of my equipment? (I want a GPS now, of course, for VFR flight.)
:
: TIA.
--
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* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
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