Recent content by bigmo

If $15-20k is your budget for your entire panel, you’re going to be hard pressed to put together anything that supports miniumun equipment to support instrument training. Even used, a WAAS GPS brings $3500 +/-. If you’re thinking you’d like actual IMC capability, no exaggeration, you’re off by...

I’m a Rotax owner and believer. The 914 I have is brilliant motor. It makes crazy power for its size/weight and flies beautifully well into the teens. I’m 1/4 of the way to my 2k hour TBO and not a single problem. While they are’cheaoer’, they aren’t cheap. At TBO I’m looking at $42k all-in. I...

My wife flies with me quite a bit and asked for a Bluetooth set that she could use as she likes to bring work with her on the flight (and needs audio). I gambled a bit with a set of Avcomm A1000. Absolutely brilliant headset. I had to send my Zulus out for a cable repair and used the Avcomms for...

I don't have any pros/cons to Gold Seal (I personally used Pilot Institute for my instrument). I think all of the prep options are just fine. I started with Sheppard, but it was too much new content..so I chose the "traditional" online ground school. I did go back to Sheppard for test prep and...

This was my original plan too - but the clean units that didn’t look as if they were dragged behind a truck for 20 miles are all selling for $3500+. I don’t need the extra radio, so $1500 more to be factory new, and arguably 20 years newer/better makes it a no brainer.

This is one of the most frustrating parts of dealing with avionics installs. One would THINK there would be some pretty standard tables for installs. Especially if we're talking a new or newer new a/c with a modern panel. For a SINGLE piece install, I was quoted everything from a low of 20 to a...

If everything is working well, by far your lowest cost option will be the GPS175. VERY solid unit, modern, and should compliment what you already have quite well. I'm having one installed in 60 days. Installation quotes were 'reasonable'.

I can't believe I don't know this - or can even find a discussion on the topic. With a NEW avionics purchase of a Garmin GTN (in the USA), does Garmin include/ship the units with *any* data? By data, I mean, a basemap, navigation data, obstacle, safe taxi, or terrain. I'm lining up install now...

So...the shop that said they ordered tens of thousands of dollars of equipment and "was already being benchtested" - but clearly wasn't will do a "free annual". Think I'd take a hard pass on the annual and ask for a sizeable discount on labor. Like 100% of it. You seemed pretty clear with...

Gauging folks here that do this for a living - or have experience installing a Garmin GTN in an "all Garmin" panel. My S-LSA Tecnam is all Garmin (twin G3X Touch, Garmin autopilot, com, nav, audio panel, etc.). I have the legal docs I need from the manufacturer for the installation, which can be...

I mean this politely…you’re overthinking things. The shortest answer to all your questions is money. Save as much as you can, then buy a big chunk of block time and get at it. Check out some of the proven accelerated programs that get you through Instrument - I did mine start to finish in 7...

Pretty long flight today. Three different centers, and like 6 different approaches and 2 towers. All crystal clear. Gonna chalk this up as it's ATC, not me lol.

No, sorry for the confusion. The freq given to me in my clearance was correct - but didn't work. I was only able to reach them when I reverted to a freq I used on the inbound flight.

Correct. They gave me the right frequency. The FBO had a "Picking up your clearance" poster - and the freq they gave on the phone matched. It was not, however, the same freq I cam inbound with. As oon as I flipped to that freq, I got them right away with 0 issues.

I *almost* called Center today when I got home - but figured I'd check in with the braintrust here at POA. Flew IFR into an uncontrolled airport (uneventful). Dropped a family member off. Pretty rural area, so I called bluetooth on the ramp and got my clearance for my trip back home. Easy...