Avionic Upgrade on a FTB337G Reims 1974

[Alainb]

Hello,

I own a Cessna U206G and I am very happy with it. I have the possibility to invest in a Cessna FTB337G 1974 Reims aviation turbo project.
The plane is sold without avonic and I am looking for a reasonable solution for a modern avionic. My budget is around 30-40K

I imagined these 2 options:

Option 1
Garmin G3X 10''6 landscape Display with 6 cylinders ESI
Angle of attack GI-260
Garmin GSB 15
Garmin GMA 350
Garmin radio GTR 225 As second radio
Transponder 345
ELT
Garmin GNS 430 waas As back up


Option 2
Garmin 275 Attitude indicator
Garmin 275 HSI
Garmin 275 ESI 2x
Aoa Eagle
Garmin GSB 15
Garmin GMA 350
Garmin radio GTR 225
Transponder 345
ELT
Garmin GNS 430 waas As back up

I am waiting for your opinions and advice

Sincerely

Alain

[n86121]

The Garmin stuff feels like disparate engineering teams working on their own bits
Then it gets slapped together in the end.

I went full avidyne, because of the cleaner human I/O

====
AXP 240 audio panel - all the bells and whistles anyone could want

550 large screen GPS nav com w AHARS
no need for 2nd MFD!)

440
small screen for backup, additional functionality
almost went to 540 large screen, but left room instead for something else down there

Avidyne 605 active traffic
pings and tracks mode C targets w/o dependent on ADS

SkyTrax 200
integrates traffic from ads B and active traffic into coherent presentation

AXP 340 transponder
mode S ES ADSB

KI 209A ILS/CDI
I understood the pure LED (vs arms) costs a lot more and jumps, vs smooth movement

Shadin
fuel totalizer feeding the whole thing

WX 950 Stormscope
heading stabilized display shows me JUST real-time lightning

GDL69 XM weather in cockpit
Not the A, I don't need it for music.
Audio panel bluetooths whatever is on my wife's iphone

====

For my next upgrade I am working with my FSDO for an FAA approved onboard Nespresso coffee machine.

[Alainb]

Hello,

Thanks for your replay. I really thank you for you help.
You ll find attached a pic of the actual panel

My questions for you

TRANSPONDER 340
Can you see the trafic on your I pad on forflight or skydemon ?

As I have a Garmin 430 I would like to add a IFD 550. Can I then eliminate the vacum pump ?

I have An autopilote STEC 55 x , can I use it with avydine product ?

Concerning the engines monitor, With you shadin , do you have gaz gauges also ? Did you keep the old gauges ?

I would like an Angle of attack instrument , do you know if the IFD 550 has this option ?

Any other advises ?

Thanks

Alain

[n86121]

My questions for you

--------
TRANSPONDER 340
Can you see the trafic on your I pad on forflight or skydemon ?

......ANSWER
As I understand it the 340 transponder is JUST a mode S ES ads-b OUT transponder
Skytrax 200 is what pulls everything IN together:
uat, mode s, mode S es, and active traffic, all into one coherent picture

And yes, using the wifi from the 550, everything is visible, both ON the 550 and foreflight

Avidyne also uses 'open' wifi protocols, so will work with anything.
At this point Garmin and Foreflight are limiting what hardware you can buy.

---------
ELIMINATE VACUUM
As I have a Garmin 430 I would like to add a IFD 550. Can I then eliminate the vacum pump ?

.........ANSWER
Not sure, but would seem to make sense.

BUT, vacuum pumps on twins don't work as hard as singles, and are also redundant.
I still like my vacuum gauges: No need for a MFD in front of me repeating the AHARS.
In the unlikely event the panel goes dark, I still have a 100% independent source of flight information.

-------
AUTOPILOT
I have An autopilote STEC 55 x , can I use it with avydine product ?

..........ANSWER -
I expect so.
The Avidyne stuff interfaces to most anything from this century.
I even have it driving my CDI, which drives Ye Olde Navomatic 400A autopilot just fine.
No vertical guidance, but that saves $35k for a new autopilot.
And frankly, on descent, I'd prefer to be 'in the loop.'

-----------
FUEL TOTALIZER
Concerning the engines monitor, with you shadin , do you have gaz gauges also ?
Did you keep the old gauges ?

....ANSWER
I currently have the shadin twin with its own display.
Similar information is ALSO presented in the 440 or 540 utilities page

If I did not already have the shadin for fuel flow,
I might consider a JPI 790 engine analyzer instead, with fuel flow.
That can also feed the fuel data into the avidynes

BUT. so far in 25+ years I haven't felt the need for an engine analyzer.
The exhaust sensors are thermocouples in the path of a torch, so not perfect.
With two inline engines, there's not much that will take me down.

The only 'threat' from a 337 engine is that it provides a thermal target for a surface or air launched infra-red locking missile, ...which an engine analyzer cannot address..

---------
ANGLE OF ATTACK
I would like an Angle of attack instrument , do you know if the IFD 550 has this option ?

ANS -
Not that I am aware.
Now that you mention it, my old IM, MM and OM area could now hold one. Hmmmm.
I was a heli-chopter owner pilot first, which is all by seat of the pants.
But I DO have an RSTOL....
But I also have a good feel for it, so the gauge might be nice, but rarely critical.

-----
Any other advises ?

Think about what actually enhances your mission,
what coould change your operational decision making,
at what cost.

Recognize anything added beyond that,
that doesn't change your capability,
is just being indulgent,
.....which is just fine too!


Thanks

Alain
__________________
Alain
+41 79 266 2000

[n86121]

By going with a whole Avidyne stack, and radio-racks (brackets that hold everything together)

FIRST they put the whole avionics stack together, tested and debugged on a lab bench.

THEN they put it in the airplane.

I think that may have saved a lot of labor, as well as made it a much better /cleaner install.

Also,

By going all with one mfr for everything, no finger pointing at 'the other guy.'
Either during install, or later, or for warrantee.
Everything works together, and always will, and has one party for warrantee.

One stop shopping!

[Alainb]

Thanks for your help and advises.
I will study all the different possibilities and there are a lot...

Right now I own a Cessna U206G 1980. I love the plane but I am a 337 fan and As I fly often from Switzerland to Sardegna It would fit my mission.

I found a very clean and nice FTB337G Reims and I will probably buy it and at the same time up grade the avionic.

It has a stol kit ... But need to sort if it's an horton or robertson. As I land in a short field in Sardegna (600 m) I plan to add vortex generator.

If you come or fly to europe let me know

Alain

[n86121]

To be a Robertson STOL, as you lower flaps, ailerons will also lower like extended flaps.