Avionics for Dummies

[ScottM-Sonex1629]

ForeFlight subscription for $75 a year
iPhone or IPad / iPad Mini ($199 and up)
GPS input to iPad, I paid about $85 for my Dual XGPS

Updates monthly for free, very detailed and accurate.
Now also offering synthetic vision for $25 a year more.

Add the Stratus II GPS receiver and you get XM weather, ADS-B in and AHRS for backup instruments / artificial horizon.

Has this feature plus many more. Hard to beat a tablet these days for portability and upgradability.

The New MGL Discovery Lite has the synthetic vision and moving map with airport database. That's going to be the least expensive MGL option to do what you asked.

[chris]

If he just wants nearest airports, I believe that the Xtreme will do that. http://www.mglavionics.com/html/navigator.html

[ScottM-Sonex1629]

Thanks Chris, thats good to know. I have the Xtreme in my panel but have not spent much time with all of the features yet.

[fastj22]

If he just wants nearest airports, I believe that the Xtreme will do that. http://www.mglavionics.com/html/navigator.html

That feature is both very useful and aggravating.
It is difficult to scroll through a fairly congested area for your airport if its on the fringe of your range. Can't find it if there are 100 or so waypoints closer.

On our return trip from OSH, my iPad was dying. bad USB cable and the battery was near death after 6 hours of flying. So 100 miles from home, I engaged the MGL as a backup. Finally was able to find my home airport on the list and did a direct to. It locked in fine and using the HSI, was able to navigate fine. I do like it as a backup GPS, but not primary. The iPad is superior.

[mike.smith]

My setup, which I'm very happy with:

- MGL Xtreme Mini
- with AHARS and Magnetometer
- Monitors all engine parameters including all 4 CHTs and EGTs
- MGL V6 radio. Been very happy with this, too. Built-in intercom/VOX.
- Sandia STX-165 transponder
- This could have been a remote box that was controlled by the MGL Xtreme Mini, but I felt that was too much stuff going on on a small screen, and I like having a separate display and set of controls on the panel. Besides, it gives my passenger something to do!
- Aviation GPS: Android tablet running "Avare" software
- Avare is FREE open source GPS software. It's REALLY good and getting better.
- Includes high and low altitude charts, sectional charts, and airport plates.
- Plates are georeferenced
- Updates are free
http://apps4av.com/avare-overview/

http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_l ... 8901&row=5

[SonexN76ET]

Here is a picture of my panel. I have the Garmin GTR 200 digital COM radio, a Garmin GTX 327 transponder, an MGL Velocity E1 Engine Management System, an airspeed indicator, and altimeter, and a Belite fuel gauge with Belite fuel probe. In the middle is an IPAD Air that runs only WingXPro and that is connected to an iLevil AW for ADS-B traffic and weather, Attitude Heading Reference System, pitot static airspeed and altitude, and WAAS GPS.


Here is a picture of it in flight. So far, everything works great. No problems. I used these components because they are all modular. If one item breaks or becomes obsolete, I replace just that one item. I feel like I have a $30,000 panel that probably cost around $7,000 all together.

Jake

[kmacht]

To contrast that I have a panel that cost me less than $700 to put together (used MGL Ultra, used ICOM handheld wired into an intercom, and avare on my phone for navigation). The plane flies just as well as if I had put in a $30,000 panel. Granted I fly out of a uncontrolled airfield and most of my flights are local 1 or 2 hour jaunts. It would be nice if I had a bigger moving map, engine data logging, a transponer for class B and C airspace, and probably a dozen other features but none of that is required to get the plane up in the air and flying. They can all be added later if I find that I really want them.

Keith
#554

[SonexN76ET]

I fly out of Charlie Brown Airport in Atlanta. It is right next to the inner ring of the Class B airspace for Atlanta Hartsfield International, the busiest airport in the world. There are only three experimentals based at my airport, only about 20 single engine aircraft and seventy business jets of all shapes and sizes. I have to contact ATIS, get the ATIS code letter, contact ground control to taxi, contact the tower for takeoff and then often get handed to a departure frequency, so I need a good, crisp and sharp radio, and a good map to navigate the complex airspace where I am located. I am happy to say the Sonex, as I have it equipped does it exceptionally well. I should also say, I have no problem with the tremendous speed range of the Sonex sharing the traffic pattern with a G-650.

Jake

[Gunther]

Jake, thanks for posting the photos. I really like your crisp and clean panel. Are you satisfied with your Belite fuel gauge? Is the gauge accuracy significantly affected by positive pressure tank ventilation?

Actually, all the panels that have been posted lately are very nice as each one has unique benefits and features.

Gunther