arkvet
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- Sep 15, 2014
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So I'm getting all excited about the panel upgrade!!! I've been researching the AHRS part of the 550 and it looks to be compared pretty closely to the garmin G5 although it currently lacks certification for that use. Can anyone here imagine a day when you have a pair of 550's with one of them mounted where the Aspen usually goes? Crazy to think.
Anyways, with the 550 and IFD100 combo it makes placement of the iPad so much more important IMHO. I went to the hangar at lunch to take a look at what might be the best arrangement. Consider I'm not doing a complete panel makeover from scratch.
I'm going to attach some pics and see if what I have in mind seems reasonable or if better ideas are available. I am keeping the GMA340 audio panel for now. Idea is to simply pull the 530w and insert 550. Looking at that center stack the only thing I could see that would be desirable would be to shift both the 340 and 550 up to the top of that stack. Not completely necessary but given the AHRS ability of the 550 I would think higher would be better. The biggest factor here will be labor. There is an annunciator and switch for the JPI 830 in that space above the 340. Might be super easy to move those over or the shop might say it's a nightmare for whatever reason. I will ask about this. You guys may see that idea as undesirable or unnecessary ?
Right stack: this one to me is easy. I'm going with the AXP322 remote transponder so I won't need space for panel mount transponder. So essentially the only thing left on that stack is the KX155 which I want to move all the way to the bottom of that stack. The CD player is being removed. That frees up plenty of room for a mini or even a 9.7 pro in landscape mode (see pic) Utilizing a mygoflight stud or clip mount I could angle the iPad towards pilot or swing it over front and center for a capable copilot. The IFD100 will really shine here. The iPad wouldn't be integrated flush into the panel but the mount would really open up unlimited positioning which I really like.
Another consideration would be to move the kx155 to the bottom of he center stack if the 340 and 550 could be moved up. This would essentially make the entire right stack be empty freeing up space for an iPad in any orientation.
As for the other aspect of the panel (6 pack). I wasn't terribly thrilled with putting the G5 in the T/C slot but to move my vacuum AI it was going to be 15-20 hours additional labor. I got a 2nd opinion on this and it was the same. Not a really easy move. I was almost committed to biting the bullet having the G5 moved but got to thinking about the future capabilities of the G5. If at some point garmin has an analog/digital converter to allow the G5 to run my AP then instantly the need for my vacuum AI vanishes and moving the G5 becomes easy. Therefor I'm holding out on that endeavor for now.
Other thoughts are sprucing up the panel overlay on both sides once the panel upgrades are made. I have thought about getting Nulights for the unlit instruments which would negate the need for the ge bulb backlights. It's just a thought though.
Current panel pics.
View attachment ImageUploadedByPiper Forum1491244217.715055.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByPiper Forum1491244229.615609.jpg
Likely iPad position with IFD100
View attachment ImageUploadedByPiper Forum1491244259.687813.jpg
Anyways, with the 550 and IFD100 combo it makes placement of the iPad so much more important IMHO. I went to the hangar at lunch to take a look at what might be the best arrangement. Consider I'm not doing a complete panel makeover from scratch.
I'm going to attach some pics and see if what I have in mind seems reasonable or if better ideas are available. I am keeping the GMA340 audio panel for now. Idea is to simply pull the 530w and insert 550. Looking at that center stack the only thing I could see that would be desirable would be to shift both the 340 and 550 up to the top of that stack. Not completely necessary but given the AHRS ability of the 550 I would think higher would be better. The biggest factor here will be labor. There is an annunciator and switch for the JPI 830 in that space above the 340. Might be super easy to move those over or the shop might say it's a nightmare for whatever reason. I will ask about this. You guys may see that idea as undesirable or unnecessary ?
Right stack: this one to me is easy. I'm going with the AXP322 remote transponder so I won't need space for panel mount transponder. So essentially the only thing left on that stack is the KX155 which I want to move all the way to the bottom of that stack. The CD player is being removed. That frees up plenty of room for a mini or even a 9.7 pro in landscape mode (see pic) Utilizing a mygoflight stud or clip mount I could angle the iPad towards pilot or swing it over front and center for a capable copilot. The IFD100 will really shine here. The iPad wouldn't be integrated flush into the panel but the mount would really open up unlimited positioning which I really like.
Another consideration would be to move the kx155 to the bottom of he center stack if the 340 and 550 could be moved up. This would essentially make the entire right stack be empty freeing up space for an iPad in any orientation.
As for the other aspect of the panel (6 pack). I wasn't terribly thrilled with putting the G5 in the T/C slot but to move my vacuum AI it was going to be 15-20 hours additional labor. I got a 2nd opinion on this and it was the same. Not a really easy move. I was almost committed to biting the bullet having the G5 moved but got to thinking about the future capabilities of the G5. If at some point garmin has an analog/digital converter to allow the G5 to run my AP then instantly the need for my vacuum AI vanishes and moving the G5 becomes easy. Therefor I'm holding out on that endeavor for now.
Other thoughts are sprucing up the panel overlay on both sides once the panel upgrades are made. I have thought about getting Nulights for the unlit instruments which would negate the need for the ge bulb backlights. It's just a thought though.
Current panel pics.
View attachment ImageUploadedByPiper Forum1491244217.715055.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByPiper Forum1491244229.615609.jpg
Likely iPad position with IFD100
View attachment ImageUploadedByPiper Forum1491244259.687813.jpg
