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Unread 12-31-09, 07:39 PM
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Ernie Martin Ernie Martin is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2002
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I second Herb on both keeping the airplane (in part because the alternative of selling it will probably result in a BIG loss) and searching this Message Board on the remaining issues.

Prior messages will tell you that:

1. It may be way cheaper to repair the autopilot (most of the time all it takes is changing leaking capacitors), and the 400 is a good unit once repaired. It's not easy finding a shop that still repairs them but they exist, and the device is split into two boxes that can be removed from the aircraft and sent out.

2. It may be hard/costly to repair the fuel guages, in part because a special instrument to do it is hard to find (although yours may have non-capacitance sensors, and it may be easier), and while I don't recommend it, there are owners who've given up and carry a calibrated dip stick (since, even when they're working well, it's recommended that you always do a visual check).

3. The new Garmin Aera products and the wide availability of used modern avionics from shops who've removed them from airplanes that have gone glass offers the possibility of getting comparable performance to what you're considering at big, big savings.

Just food for thought.

Ernie Martin
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