Ok, I’ve found a plane that I really like, and am considering buying, it’s a 182S. My plan is to do my IFR training in my own plane.
Avionics:
Garmin GTN 650 GPS/NAV/COM w/ WAAS
Aspen PFD1000 Pro
KX 155 Nav/Com
KI 208 VOR/LOC Indicator
GTX-345 Transponder with ADS-B In/Out
KMA26 Audio Panel/Marker Beacon/4 Position Voice-Activated Intercom
KAP 140 Two Axis Autopilot with Electric Trim and Altitude Preselect WX900
Davtron Digital Clock
If you owned this plane, what if anything would you replace, and why?
Also what would you replace with?
I know the KX 155 Nav/Coms are prone to display problems, anything else?
My knowledge of avionics is very limited. I don’t want to buy this plane and have to break the bank upgrading avionics...
Well, I'm really good at spending other peoples' money on avionics...
![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
But if you don't want to spend anything, don't! It's fine as is.
What you've got:
* Garmin GTN series are the state of the art navigators. Nothing to do here but replace it with a GTN 750 for the big screen!
![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
* Aspen PFD1000 Pro is a nice unit. They have the "Pro Max" upgrade becoming available that will update some of the electronics and that is likely worth doing at some point, but not necessary to do right away.
* KX-155 is a nice radio. They are prone to display problems, and the new LED displays you can repair them with are so expensive you might as well get a new radio. Plan to replace it with a Garmin GNC 255 or the like if it croaks.
* KI-208 is what you want, until you replace the radio at least.
* GTX-345, like the GTNs, is state of the art for transponders. Nothing at all to do here.
* KMA26 is OK, and more up to date than the KMA24 a lot of people are probably thinking of... Unfortunately, there are no slide-in replacements for it, and audio panels are somewhat installation-labor-heavy. Leave it alone until it dies, then replace with something from PS Engineering, or possibly the Garmin GMA 350c (which will allow you to give voice commands to the GTN 650 as well as the audio panel).
* KAP 140: A decent one-generation-old autopilot. Probably not worth doing anything with yet. Be aware that Honeywell-Bendix/King has been charging ridiculous prices for repair components, so if it fails, you may want to consider the Garmin GFC 500 (and the G5 that goes with it).
* WX-900: Well, Stormscopes are interesting but IMO not the most useful tools for storm avoidance these days. Sure looks cool on the panel though.
* Davtron: Nothing to add here, although Mid-Continent makes a nice digital clock with a pair of USB charging ports.
What you could get:
* FlightStream 510 will allow you to do flight plan transfer between an iPad (running ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot) and the 650 and also to update the databases on the 650 via the iPad. $1500, and worth every penny if you ask me.
At this point I could go nuts here and spend all your money, but that's not what you asked for. I think you're fine for now, I've outlined some options for if/when things fail, and really the only thing that would make it significantly better for not much money at this point is the FlightStream. I say, buy it and fly the heck out of it!