OIL LEAKS - LISTENING TO THOSE VOICES p.48

April 2021 • cessnaflyer.org 172 AND A LOCKHEED C-130 PHOTOSHOOT p.38

Avionics Upgrade Tips for Cessna Twins p.30

Destination: Social Distancing and the Simple Pleasures of GA Flying p.52 30 • Cessna Flyer / April 2021

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With the help of a well-thought-out plan, a realistic budget, and an experienced avionics shop, you can have twice, as much fun upgrading your twin s panel.

By Dale Smith

April 2021 / Cessna Flyer • 31 f you’re lucky enough to be the 20-year-old avionics that won’t deliver owner of one of, what I believe, the capabilities today’s units can,” stated are a stable of truly fantastic, Fred Ahles, founder, Premier Aircraft recent-generation classic twin-en- Sales. “Owners want an aircraft that will gine aircraft—I’m speaking of the deliver the functions and features of a Cessna 300 and 400 series—you modern panel.” are truly one fortunate flyer. But adding the “features of a modern Sure, they require a lot of panel” leaves the door open to literally upkeep. But what classic doesn’t? thousands of avionics and instrument up- INext time there’s a Cars and Coffee grade options. How do you put together a event in your area, drop by and ask a few plan that gets you what you want without owners of classic cars what they pay for mortgaging the farm? spare parts and upkeep. Odds are you’ll Let’s assume first that all the avionics be amazed at how their world of driving and instruments in your panel are func- a car that’s in a constant state of mainte- tioning properly. If not, unless it’s your nance parallels yours. LORAN or ADF, you’re going to want to As you and your bank account can put that change/upgrade at the top of well attest, classic aircraft are always in your “must-have” list. need of some repair, replacement, or up- “The way I advise our customers grade. While the need to swap out engine on this is to think about the primary and airframe parts is usually due to wear mission they have for their airplane,” and tear; when it comes to your avionics explained Mark Lee, CEO, Carpenter and instruments, upgrades are more a Avionics. “What can you add to your matter of want than need. aircraft that will enable pilots to fly their Yep, sooner or later, you’re going to typical mission better and more safely? need to replace those legacy instruments To me, that’s the best starting point for and radios with the new-generation glass an upgrade.” panels, digital autopilots, and touch- “If they fly a lot of IFR or at night, screen navcoms that you really want. then they’ll benefit from a more capable

…the new display units deliver a quantum leap in what kind of information you can see on your panel.

Panel planning 101 GPS navigator or autopilot,” he added. panel, as you know, the sky’s the proverbi- We’re going to assume that your twin “If the owner is trying to improve the al limit when it comes to upgrade options. is somewhere around 40 years old. And performance, reliability, and longevity of There are great glass units from Avidyne, that sometime along the line, at least one their engines, then a new digital engine Aspen, Dynon, and Garmin. And with of the original King or Narco radios has monitor will be a great addition.” great autopilots from Avidyne, Garmin, been upgraded to an Avidyne or Garmin Of course, who wouldn’t want to and Genesys (S-TEC), there’s a system to GPS navigator, and that you’ve done the replace their tired old mechanical ADI fit pretty much every twin. ADS-B Out installation. and HSI with a cool new electronic And, while we’re not going to point Then again, just because the radios flight instrument? Inch-for-inch, the new out specific units, there is a new product were upgraded in the past two decades display units deliver a quantum leap in that I think will be a “game-changer” in or so doesn’t mean those same avionics what kind of information you can see on twin-engine safety: the new Smart Rud- are not ripe for replacement. The last your panel. As an added bonus, if you do der Bias technology for Garmin’s GFC century called, and they want their replace your old autopilot with a digital 600 autopilot. This amazing new system technology back... unit, you may well be able to remove the basically brings turbine-class, automat- “If you were to use a 20-year-old aircraft’s problem-prone vacuum system. ed single-engine control enhancement aircraft with Garmin 430s as an exam- That’s a true win/win. to piston twin aircraft. Knowing what a ple, you could buy [aircraft equipped in As for what kinds of avionics you problem Vmca (minimum control speed this manner] all day, but you’re buying might want to consider for your new with critical engine inoperative) loss of

32 • Cessna Flyer / April 2021 control accidents are for light twins, I Sure, back in the pre-COVID days, it’s like to use new-generation avionics think the rudder bias capability is a great you would have just gone to a local and autopilots in the real world. And you safety-enhancing system. aviation event and gotten some per- can see how they’ve integrated new-gen But, as you know, avionics technolo- sonal time with the various avionics equipment with their legacy avionics gy is changing so fast that in the 60 or OEMs and their demo units. That’s a lot and instruments. so days that will have passed from the harder nowadays. time this is written until you read it, it’s Luckily, you have options beyond bro- Will what you want work with a safe bet that one of the avionics OEMs chures and webpages. Most of the major what you have? will introduce something that changes avionics manufacturers have online tools Unless you’re planning on ripping out everything—again. that you can use to demo their products. your entire current panel and replacing These tools do a pretty good job of giving it, you and your avionics shop are going A little help from your friends you “hands-on” experience with their to have to deal with integrating legacy While you’d think that picking the avi- units. I’d have to say that the Avidyne and and new avionics. While it’s not usually onics you want in your new panel would Garmin tools are especially helpful. an issue, in some cases, the added work be nothing but fun, the fact is, it can drive If you’re a fan of YouTube, you can to integrate such systems can add a lot of you a bit, well, nuts. There are so many search out some popular vloggers like time and cost to the installation. options, and each unit has features and 310 Pilot, Baron Pilot, or Martin Pauly. “Generally speaking, twins are going functions that you may or may not use. They’ll give you some insights into what to be a bit more complex than a typical

April 2021 / Cessna Flyer • 33 single, so the question of integrating may lose some functionality,” he added. new digital avionics with legacy analog “On the other hand, if you have a pan- systems takes on a bit more importance el-full of avionics that aren’t Garmin, and in panel planning,” Lee said. “Even if it’s you don’t have the budget for a full-on One of the hardest parts a relatively simple upgrade like adding a upgrade, then the Avidyne IFD may be a new touch-screen GPS navigator, you still better solution. of an avionics upgrade is need to look at how it will operate with “It’s a great flight management sys- the equipment that will stay in the panel. tem, and it’s very compatible with many choosing the right shop to “The Garmin GTN TXi is a stellar different kinds of avionics and autopi- GPS navigator, and its interoperability lots,” he said. “It will deliver a full array of do the work. is best when it’s working with other its capabilities without having to remake Garmin units. Mixing it with other your panel.” avionics can be done, of course, but you Of course, glass displays, touch- screen navigators, and autopilots may be at the top of the upgrade heap, but they’re not your only options. Another popular option is a new electronic engine monitor and/or fuel totalizer. There’s nothing more disconcerting in a light twin than engines running out of sync… except for running out of fuel! www.jerrytemple.net With the popularity of iPads and smartphones in the cockpit and cabin, What does it take to sell an aircraft? who could say no to installing a few USB power ports in the cockpit or Goals | Objectives | Targets cabin? Not me. Research | Due Diligence | Homework But, you ask, when I start planning Follow Up | Service | Support how all this comes together, how do I know what role my current avionics will Honesty | Truth | Integrity play in the panel? What can I keep? And, Experience | Knowledge | Expertise more importantly, how will it all actually Marketing | Web Presence | Temple Talk integrate with my new systems? Teamwork | Synergy | Combined Effort That’s where being able to rely on the experience of a highly qualified avionics shop will make the difference between avionics upgrade success and failure. MPLE AV TE IA Y T R IO R N E J

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0 9 Choosing the right avionics shop 1

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R E One of the hardest parts of an A N s T r Y E L S IV avionics upgrade is choosing the right IX N YEAR A N shop to do the work. No doubt, you’ll do even more homework in making That would be difficult to define.* your shop selection than actually Jerry Temple Aviation has developed proven aircraft brokerage procedures choosing your avionics. There’s a lot for 25+ years, which support both Buyers and Sellers. Although each riding on your decision. project is unique, we utilize the same core values that have defined JTA “Again, twins are very sophisticated, from the beginning. Our unsurpassed customer service and support always makes each transaction a successful one. and so are their avionics, so make sure you’re dealing with a licensed, Part 145 *All true. Then there is the backstory you don’t read about in our ads. Our avionics shop. I’d strongly recommend customer service also involves hundreds of airline flights and hotel/motel you contact the Aircraft Electronics stays, gourmet dinners consisting of crackers and cheese with a side of jerky, arduous negotiations, challenging pre-purchase inspections, difficult Association to find AEA member shops issues to resolve, more negotiations, insurance hurdles, pilot training , in your area,” Lee said. “Make sure the deliveries worldwide, follow-up, follow-up... and more following up. shop is an authorized dealer and ser- JTA is committed to you & your goals. Call us to discuss your aviation needs. vice center for the avionics you want. That can make any warranty issues easier to resolve.” Jerry Temple “Speaking of warranties, make sure TEXAS 972 . 712 . 7302 | [email protected] the shop also offers a written, in-house Rachel Schwartz Dan Moore warranty for their labor and installation TX - Dallas | CELL 469 . 877 . 0543 TN | CELL 423 . 647 . 4359 work,” he added. “And when they present [email protected] [email protected] their quote, make sure it includes every-

34 • Cessna Flyer / April 2021 thing for the project and it is all clearly spelled out. That’s a sign of a profession- ally run and managed shop.” OK, so you have your three written quotes, and you’re ready to decide. Un- fortunately, this is the stage where way too many owners make a dream-crush- ing mistake. “Do not go with the lowest bid. That’s a huge mistake,” stated Matt Schloss, Sales Manager, Gulf Coast Avionics. “I’m always getting phone calls from aircraft owners who went with the low-priced shop, saying their airplane is still in the shop several months later.” “When it comes to comparing one quote to another, there’s often a variety of very good reasons why a shop is a bit more expensive. If you take the time Premium Performance to look into those differences, you’ll probably see the added cost is worth from the Hartzell Voyager it,” he continued. “Larger [more expen- sive] shops have more experience and Hartzell’s latest 3-blade scimitar prop STC probably have more trained technicians on staff.” is custom designed for the 180, 182, 185 and 206. Getting to know the shop and its capabilities is the reason you need to per- • Up to 7 knots faster cruise speed sonally visit the facility before you sign • the papers. Is the shop clean? Do they 10% better take-off acceleration and exceptional climb rate have the right tools? Do they have expe- rience with your aircraft type? Do you • Rugged and durable see a number of aircraft sitting around in aluminum blades various stages of disassembly? Again, working on a Cessna is not the same as working on a twin Cessna. A good rule of thumb is to contact owners of similar aircraft and ask who they’ve worked with—and would they work with them again. “A smaller shop may promise you ‘personal service,’ but what happens when their only technician gets called off to fix a stranded aircraft or is home sick? Your airplane just sits there,” Schloss said. “Cutting corners on your installa- tion cost is pretty much a prescription for problems.” “If they’ve never installed a com- plete glass panel upgrade in your make and model before, I’d probably take a pass and look for a shop that has,” he added. “I’m not suggesting that the shop can’t do the work; I’m just saying that I wouldn’t want to be the first one on their list.” And while we’re on the subject of Now available for immediate delivery and installation. installations, now’s a good time to put the Visit hartzellprop.com inspection of your aircraft’s alternator and electrical system on your upgrade Built on Honor for over 100 years, Hartzell propellers are backed by our industry-leading warranty through HartzellProp.com/TopProp “to-do” list. You’ll want to make sure up first overhaul up to 6 years/2,400 hrs. Contact us at 800-942-7767 front that the alternator/electrical system

April 2021 / Cessna Flyer • 35 is providing all the clean, consistent Keep in mind that avionics technology inconceivable, believe me, they occur power your new systems will need. changes pretty fast, and any ROI guesti- more often than you think. Why? Well, You’d be surprised how many mate you get today may be miles off the the obvious reason is these less-than-op- avionics technicians have spent hours mark in three to five years. timal locations make the installation a chasing down a problem only to find No matter where you stand on the lot easier and less expensive. For most that the cause was a worn wire or avionics upgrade ROI discussion, there owners, saving a few hundred dollars is a weak alternator. are still some sound guidelines you powerful motivator. need to consider when laying out your How much upgrade is too much? new panel. One thing to avoid is getting One final upgrade… When it comes to determining your too “creative” with your panel’s content Well, there she is: your twin-engine budget and any possible return on and layout. beauty is on the ramp with her newly that investment, there are two ways Work with your avionics shop to de- upgraded panel. Now all you need to do of looking at it. The first is the owner sign a panel that not only makes efficient is climb aboard and take off for some real who plans on keeping that airplane use of the space but also maximizes all aviating fun! for a long, long time. If that’s you, then the benefits that your new avionics may Not so fast, my friend. Chances are, any amount you spend in making your offer. For example, if you’re installing a it’s been a number of weeks or perhaps airplane more capable and safer will be touch-screen GPS navigator, don’t install months since you’ve been in the left seat a great investment. it so far away that it becomes awkward to and, your single-engine skills are proba- The second is the owner who wants to use. Or, don’t mount your standby ADI in bly a bit rusty. Everyone was thinking it. upgrade now but will probably be selling a location that makes it difficult to use in I’m just saying it. in the foreseeable future. This pilot needs critical situations. It’s an excellent idea to schedule to take a different approach to their When it comes to a good panel lay- some refresher training time with your upgrade. If you’re really curious, it may out, thinking something will work when multi-engine instructor. Having an expe- be worth it to contact a licensed aircraft you’re sitting on the ramp and knowing rienced pilot in the right seat isn’t only a appraiser to see how your aircraft may you can actually use it when you’re benefit to sharpen your flying skills, it’s stack up against the market. AOPA’s trying to shoot an IFR approach with also a great way to learn all about your VREF guide can also help. (CFA Support- your eyes looking at your knees are two new avionics. er VREF.com offers many aircraft valuation different things. The instructor/pilot can fly and look services. —Ed.) While situations like these may seem for traffic while you are concentrating

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36 • Cessna Flyer / April 2021 on pushing buttons and learning how to RESOURCES work all the cool new avionics you spent a lot of time and money on. And it’s espe- CFA SUPPORTERS OTHERS cially smart when you practice your first instrument approaches coupled to your Avionics AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION new autopilot. aea.net Being on final in reduced visibility is GARMIN LTD. no time to realize that things aren’t shap- garmin.com AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION ing up the way you think they should. (VREF) GENESYS AEROSYSTEMS (S-TEC) tinyurl.com/AOPAVREF With a little planning and help from genesys-aerosystems.com some knowledgeable experts, upgrading ASPEN AVIONICS the avionics in your twin can be a lot of Installers aspenavionics.com fun and extremely rewarding. Not to mention, it’s a great way to add years of GULF COAST AVIONICS AVIDYNE CORP. life to a wonderful airplane. gulfcoastavionics.com avidyne.com

 Dale Smith has been an aviation Engine Monitors DYNON AVIONICS journalist for 30 years. When he’s dynoncertified.com not writing aviation articles, Smith INSIGHT AVIONICS insightavionics.com does commission aircraft illustrations CARPENTER AVIONICS INC. specializing in seaplanes and flying JP INSTRUMENTS carpenter-avionics.com boats. Smith has been a certificated jpinstruments.com pilot since 1974 and has flown 35 PREMIER AIRCRAFT SALES INC. different types of General Aviation, Aircraft Valuation premieraircraftsales.com business, and World War II vintage aircraft. Send questions or comments VREF to [email protected]. vref.com

April 2021 / Cessna Flyer • 37