Author: "roadsterman63" <hodde@...> Time: Tue Jan 13, 2004 12:59 am PST Link
Forgive the cheapskate in me; I read that fancy avionics can
approach the cost of the kit.
What if I just want to wire up my handheld transciever and GPS and a
set of steam gauges?
I am a clear weather flier with no desire to fly thru nasty
weather.
Help me understand why this is a bad idea - Thanks - Doug
Author: "Dan Checkoway" <dan@...> Time: Tue Jan 13, 2004 3:02 am PST Link
> What if I just want to wire up my handheld transciever and GPS and a
> set of steam gauges?
>
> I am a clear weather flier with no desire to fly thru nasty
> weather.
>
> Help me understand why this is a bad idea - Thanks - Doug
That may be what the poor fellow up in Oregon thought as well, who crashed
his VFR-only -7 into a hillside after inadvertently entering crappy weather
conditions.
>From what I heard, that was a veteran pilot who was instrument rated and had
all the skill in the world.
Avionics aren't cheap, but the Dynon is "cheap enough" to justify in my
opinion. And if not, I would think at least *some* sort of horizon would be
advisable. I could be thinking a little too conservatively, though.
Be careful out there,
)_( Dan
RV-7 N714D
http://www.rvproject.com
Author: linn walters <lwalters2@...> Time: Tue Jan 13, 2004 7:43 am PST Link
roadsterman63 wrote:
> Forgive the cheapskate in me; I read that fancy avionics can
> approach the cost of the kit.
Fancy avionics can be (will be?) much more than the cost of a kit. As
an example, my buddy's Glastar sports a $50K panel (yes it's nice). If
you use Van's $35K guesstimate ......
> What if I just want to wire up my handheld transciever and GPS and a
> set of steam gauges?
If that's what you want, go for it! That's all I have in my Pitts!
> I am a clear weather flier with no desire to fly thru nasty
> weather.
> Help me understand why this is a bad idea - Thanks - Doug
Well, 'bad idea' isn't a good term, as it's subjective, and everyones
personal requirements get in the way. It all depends on your mission.
If you NEVER get caught on top of a cloud layer, or your VFR weather
NEVER closes in and traps you without an exit ..... then I have no
problem with flying with just the basics. Having the ability to fly an
approach ..... even without the rating ..... just may save your butt.
How much is your butt worth??? Do you yank out the meager panel and
replace it if you decide that you want to fly IFR down the road? Doing
it once is preferable to doing it twice.
I look on panel equipment as knowledge ..... and knowledge is power
..... to be used when you need it.
Be really far-sighted when you decide what to put in your panel and bear
in mind your 'possible mission' in the future. If you're single and fly
alone, then a single place is OK. If you want to date or fly your wife,
then you need two seats. And, if either one gets pregnant ..... well
your choice of 3-seat airplanes is limited ...... you see where this is
going!!!!
Best of luck!
Author: "Brian Denk" <akroguy@...> Time: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:15 am PST Link
>Forgive the cheapskate in me; I read that fancy avionics can
>approach the cost of the kit.
Absolutely, and THEN some.
>
>What if I just want to wire up my handheld transciever and GPS and a
>set of steam gauges?
I wouldn't have a problem with that at all. My RV8 isn't much more than
that! I have steam gauges, vacuum gyros (NEVER again), one com and
transponder, and a handheld GPS. It's gotten me through four years of RV
bliss just fine.
>
>I am a clear weather flier with no desire to fly thru nasty
>weather.
Nothing wrong with that at all. I would still try to instrument the RV10
panel for minimum IFR capability, or at least cut some holes for the stuff
for later. If you need to/want to sell it, I can see the typical RV10 buyer
as wanting IFR stuff aboard. You don't have to go wacko with all the latest
gadgets to be legal, although the new stuff sure is cool. Along with this
ability, comes some other airframe concerns...windshield defrost and pitot
heat come to mind.
My -10 will be equipped for IFR, even though I am not rated for it....yet.
I currently do not mess with IMC and honestly don't feel that I could stay
safely current. Where I live, IFR conditions are rare, and when they do
occur, typically last maybe an hour or two at most! I'm a very conservative
flier and never need to be anywhere by a deadline.
>
>Help me understand why this is a bad idea.
It's not at all. It's your airplane, and your finances. As long as YOU are
happy with the end result, then mission accomplished.
Brian Denk
RV8 N94BD
RV10 51 finishing rudder
_________________________________________________________________
Scope out the new MSN Plus Internet Software — optimizes dial-up to the max!
http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us&page=byoa/plus&ST=1