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Permalink Reply by John Austin on November 11, 2013 at 7:04pm

I was going steam gauges for flight instruments, but my A&P friend got me to consider the MGL XTreme EFIS and it was a no-brainer, especially since it has an internal GPS and internal autopilot capability. Rock solid reliability and by far the best bang for the buck! Take a look at it!

John

N750A

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Permalink Reply by Bob Pustell on November 11, 2013 at 7:25pm

I have tentatively settled on steam gages for the engine and a Dynon flight display. The price is hard to argue with, for what you get. Also, I plan on an autopilot and the Dynon has the autopilot capability build right in, just wire in some actuators, no additional electronics required. And, the Dynon will serve as your altitude encoder for the transponder, one less electronic box you need to buy and wire.

Originally I planned on a backup airspeed indicator and altimeter. Then, I got a Garmin GPS 496 and use it in my Stinson until the Zenith is built. The GPS derived flight panel display in a modern GPS is more than enough to get you on the ground if the Dynon should die during a flight. I have actually practiced flying instruments with the GPS flight display and it worked very well. Obviously, I had a safety pilot along and was in VMC, but I put on a vision restricting hood and flew the Stinson around for almost an hour with only reference to that GPS display. You are flying needle, ball and airspeed when using the GPS display, there is no attitude indicator, but there is plenty to get you on the ground and stay dirty side down until you get there. The GPS display is groundspeed, not airspeed, and ground track, not compass heading, but both will do the job to get you on the ground.

Plus, the Dyon and the Garmin both have built in batteries and will continue to function if you loose aircraft electrical power. That seems like enough backup for me since I am a VFR kinda guy since I retired. My last IFR flight was on my retirement leg five and a half years ago, Boeing 777 from London to Boston. If one was to fly their Zenith real IFR then I would suggest either a backup altitude and airspeed or a second, independent Dynon flight display AND the GPS flight panel display in either case.

My two cents..........

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Permalink Reply by James Austin on November 11, 2013 at 8:49pm

Dirty side down
I love that line.
James

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Permalink Reply by Brendon Lindfield on November 12, 2013 at 8:03am

I have 2 skyviews in my panel plus a garmin gdu 370 in the middle but I still have steam alt airspeed vsi even with the backup batt on the dynon doesn't mean that it has been charged nice to have redundancy

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Permalink Reply by Mark Maltais on November 12, 2013 at 9:31am

I was going for steam gauges at first, then I went for a Dynon with backup steam gauges.  Then I got a Garmin GPS and things got tight on the panel.  Now I dumped all the steam gauges except for the tach (just because it doesn't "lag" like the EMS tach when doing mag checks) and couldn't be happier.  I have great confidence in the Dynon and since my GPS has a panel built in (so does my phone) I doubt there would be any issues if it did conk out one day... I'd still make it to where ever I was going! :)

Haven't flown it yet, but am very happy with how it's turning out.  There is just WAY too much customizing available with glass and the cost isn't that much more.  I got my Dynon and GPS used from guys that are upgrading so I saved even more. 

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Permalink Reply by Ken Pavlou on November 12, 2013 at 3:33pm

It really comes down to what makes the most sense to you in terms of processing data and what your mission statement is. Some people understand and process a standard ASI gauge better than an electronic tape spitting out the same info. In terms of reliability, I've not been convinced that glass is any less or more reliable than standard gauges.

 

I chose an all glass panel with no steam gauge backup.  Both my EFIS screens and my GPS have battery backup in case of an electrical failure. I figure that in the highly unlikely event of the entire panel going blank I can keep the plane right side up and back to terra firma safely by using the instruments we predominately use during VFR like that natural horizon out the window that the sky and the ground make.  Not to mention that I still have my iPad and iPhone available for course, speed over ground, and position.  I don't have a solution for engine monitoring in the event of my panel going blank, but then again, if the engine is running with no changes in smoothness or power I have no reason to panic.

 

 

I found it was a lot of fun looking at all the panel options available. Good luck choosing your instruments.

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Permalink Reply by Bob McDonald on November 13, 2013 at 6:30am

"AWESOME"   :>)

Under glare shield LED lighting is real slick.

Bob

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Permalink Reply by Chris Aysen on November 12, 2013 at 4:51pm

Nothing wrong with steam backups. Really a matter of redundancy for safety. Odds say electronics not likely to go out.....but what if does? I would have a minimum of airspeed and turn/bank. My two cents.

Chris

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Permalink Reply by Daniel C Hall on November 12, 2013 at 5:22pm

I would prefer steam gauges myself.  I'm powered by steam,..or hot air anyway.  But the MgL suite gives more bang for the buck in both the weight and duty categories.  If you factor in new gauge prices there's no question all electronic is the way to go.  I've already bought the MGL radio.  I'll probably be going mode S since it's not that long until we'll have to have it anyway.  

Dan

PS.  I think the MGL enigma is slated for a new version next year.  Maybe by the time I'll need one.  Imagine your radio changing frequency to the local as you fly along.  Might be nice. 

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Permalink Reply by Randall Wade Grandpre on November 12, 2013 at 6:55pm

brian, I don`t blog much, so my 2 cents. the d60 and an I-fly gps would fit the bill for simplicity. the  I-fly has an artificial horizon plus a/s / vsi /ground speed /and a bunch more,. go to adventurepilot.com and look. for the money and simplicity it is hard to beat.  portable too! and light for my 701.  living the dream, wade

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Permalink Reply by John Austin on November 12, 2013 at 9:36pm

For my engine monitoring, I thought steam gauges would be best for a simple, VFR/daytime-only type missions. However, since I've got a 6 cylinder (Jab 3300), CHT/EGT monitoring is a must. I wound up with the GRT EIS engine monitoring system. I feel it's actually even better for "low and slow" where you want to keep your head out of the cockpit and watch the terrain and traffic: you program all your normal parameters and its got a big 'ole red "idiot light" you can put anywhere you want on the panel. When flying "low and slow," all you have to do is glance occasionally to make sure that light is not flashing! If it's off, everything's A-OK, if it's flashing, things are B-BAD! It automatically pulls up the page of the abnormal parameter and flashes it at you, so that's plus, too!

John

N750A

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Permalink Reply by Vincent Demers on November 13, 2013 at 11:44am

Hey Brian,

I'll just comment with the question my wife always asks me when I bring up the subject...

 

''What is the price difference between replacing 1 faulty steam gauge vs replacing an entire panel that has 1 bug?''

 

You can replace a single stean gauge if it's acting up but if your panel is acting up..... $$$$$$

I'm still going digital though.  lol :)

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