Panel upgrades: Garmin G3X with an Aera

[mandm]

Just wanted to share this in case anyone is pondering a panel upgrade.

I of course had the option to have the co-pilot panel side blank and clean with all Garmin avionics, since I have a Garmin Aera 760 already, I decided to panel mount it. One of the drawbacks with the Garmin G3X is the number of accessories that you can connect to it directly. With my setup, I ran out and was unable to connect the Aera to my G3X/650 to push flight plans and frequencies back and forth, however I was able to connect it to aircraft power and ADSB-in which proves useful.

My setup and Aera 760 is already prewired so that a smaller G3X 7” could be easily retrofitted in the future with the existing setup, if desired.

On a recent flight, my Bluetooth was acting funny on my G3X, so I reset my Bluetooth settings and this time, I connected the Aera to the G3X via Bluetooth with automatic reconnect function enabled on both devices. And now everytime I have a flight plan from my 650, it automatically and instantly loads it into my G3X and Aera 760. I haven’t tried the reverse way yet, but I’m pretty happy with this.

One thing about the Aera 760, was that it was displaying ground speed instead of IAS/TAS (now this is before the G3X and Aera were bonded via Bluetooth so I need to check if this is updated the next time I fly if it’s been updated - the Aera is a bit too small to use for airspeed indicator and attitude compared to the G3X), so I use my G3X as primary instruments and I typically use my Aera for traffic (since I’ve been flying from the right seat lately). It’s a very nice screen for traffic and I look forward to using it for terrain when flying out west in the future.

Some more food for thought, now I have my phone and foreflight connected to the Garmin GTN650, but I’m not really seeing the push flight plan from foreflight to the 650 (foreflight offers this when connected to the G3X or Aera) nor do I see foreflight updating with the latest flight plan from the 650. Sometimes the 650 would have a message bubble with a flight plan available for import but this usually comes a couple minutes after I updated my foreflight and I’m looking for instant gratification here. This was sort of working when my phone was connected to the G3X, I can’t remember but I thought the Aera only liked to be connected to one Bluetooth device at a time, but I can play with this again next time I fly.

 

[mandm]

Does anyone know how to change the default map size on the G3X? When I do split screen to view charts, I always need to adjust the zoom setting and I’m usually back and forth when monitoring my engine, back to charts, etc.

 

[Pinecone]

You can push the flight plan from FF to the avionics. I find that FF sees the change in flight plan in the avionics and asks it you want to update much faster than the avionics see a change in FF.

BTW, I was going to do the same thing on the right, but since I have both a 750Xi and 650Xi (already had the 650 in the panel), I was REALLY short of RS232 connections. So went with the 7" G3X. VERY happy with the decision. And pilots in the right seat like it even more.

 

[mandm]

You can push the flight plan from FF to the avionics. I find that FF sees the change in flight plan in the avionics and asks it you want to update much faster than the avionics see a change in FF.

BTW, I was going to do the same thing on the right, but since I have both a 750Xi and 650Xi (already had the 650 in the panel), I was REALLY short of RS232 connections. So went with the 7" G3X. VERY happy with the decision. And pilots in the right seat like it even more.

It kind of seems like the avionics notice a change in FF and then it populates via a message on the 650 and then you’d need to click to activate the flight plan import.

 

[MooneyDriver78]

With the Aera 660, I have it both wired to G3X and Bluetooth connected to GDL50, and yes only 1 Bluetooth connected at a time.
I transfer FP to G3X which populates it to GTN without any confirmation, and to the 660, but it asks for confirmation.

 

[Pinecone]

It kind of seems like the avionics notice a change in FF and then it populates via a message on the 650 and then you’d need to click to activate the flight plan import.

I am trying to remember, but I think the GTN only sees FF having a FP if you push it from FF.

But if I am flying and get a direct to a further fix, I do that on the GTN and FF asks if I want to update from the panel.

 

[Dixiebluesky]

Try this, it could just be a fluke with my system but worth trying and costs nothing. I always do it before putting in altitudes or anything but they not matter. On the PFD side my split/full screen little box or button whatever you want to call it is in the upper right corner. If I hit that button 10 times or so really fast and swap from full to split screen as fast it can. If I do this then:

I can go from full to split or look at different tabs, when going back to the moving map it will always be at the scale I left it.

I can touch the altimeter and reset it from split screen.

I can touch and change autopilot altitude from split screen.

I can touch the HSI and set minimums.

If I don't do the fast flip flop trying to do any of those change actions it automatically brings up full screen, then going back to split my map scaling will be changed.

 

[William Pete Hodges]

I have an AERA 760 with panel mount equipment for $800. I have about 100 hour on it over 4 years? I did a panel redo and needed the room for other things. IM me and we can discuss.

 

[Pinecone]

It kind of seems like the avionics notice a change in FF and then it populates via a message on the 650 and then you’d need to click to activate the flight plan import.

I mostly now make the flight plan changes on the 750 and FF automatically updates (sometimes it asks and sometimes it just updates).

If I make changes on FF, I have to manually push it up to the avionics. Most time it asks and with a tap, uploads it. But you have to accept the change on the 750.

 

[William Pete Hodges]

I have an AERA 760 with panel mount equipment for $800. I have about 100 hour on it over 4 years? I did a panel redo and needed the room for other things. IM me and we can discuss.

I still have the AERA 760 with panel mount hardware available.
IM me anytime.