182 Avionics upgrade

[Captain Bubba]

Removed:
Garmin GNC 300XL
King KX-155 NAV/COM
King KNS-80 RNAV (used as NAV1 LOC/GS and DME)
Electric and vacuum AI gyros
Vacuum gyro DG
Dual CDIs
King Intercom
JPI EDM 700 head
Vacuum pump

Added:
Left side instrument panel removed and replaced with new cutouts
Old plastic cover on right side removed, panel painted, and unused holes filled
4 RAM mounts installed
Dual Garmin GI-275 ADI/HSI with required IFR sensors
Garmin GNC 355 GPS/COM
Garmin GNC 255 NAV/COM
Garmin GMA 345 (with bluetooth)
JPI EDM 830 head (added Oil pressure, RPM, and MAP sensors)
Garmin GSB-15 USB
Co-Pilot PTT

Retained:
Stec-20 turn coordinator (required for autopilot)
Airspeed indicator
Digital clock
Garmin GTX 330
Garmin GDL-82 (ADS-B out)
Stratus 2 (ADS-B in)

We decided to keep our old airspeed indicator to avoid configuring the GI-275s in mph (aircraft originally certified in mph). So the old airspeed indicator serves as the "primary" airspeed reference which the GI-275 is configured for knots. The old DME antenna and cable for the KNS-80 was retained and repurposed as the UAT antenna for the Stratus. So our Stratus has an external GPS antenna mounted to the top of the plane and an external UAT antenna mounted to the bottom.

All in all it's a very nice setup which gives us the latest generation of Garmin avionics and radios and relatively cheap vs GTN and glass panel options. The new JPI engine analyzer head now makes engine monitoring much easier and it's also right next to the ADI which makes it easier to scan.

Old panel (Airspeed and Turn Coordinator removed for annual inspection)

New panel

 

[Jesse Saint]

Major improvement! Very nice!

 

[Captain Bubba]

Major improvement! On your specs, I think you mean a GNC255 Nav/Com. Very nice!

Yep, fixed it

 

[eman1200]

I read through your long list of avionics in a Forrest Gump Bubba voice.

 

[MountainDude]

Congrats. Can you tell us what the total cost was?

 

[Captain Bubba]

Congrats. Can you tell us what the total cost was?

Just under $50K

 

[Randomskylane]

The JPI on the left must be great for your back and neck!

how long did it take to adapt to the gi 275s? Seems like lots of info in a small area while bouncing around in weather

tia

 

[Captain Bubba]

The JPI on the left must be great for your back and neck!

how long did it take to adapt to the gi 275s? Seems like lots of info in a small area while bouncing around in weather

tia

For me it didn't take anytime at all, but I have a fair amount of experience flying behind various EFIS systems. Personally I like having a lot of information in a small area as your scan doesn't have to go very far and I find it easier to manage when getting bounced around. There's even an option to put the course and vertical deviation indicators on the ADI which puts just about everything you need for IFR within 3" of each other. The only thing I wish it had was a flight director. It actually does have that capability, but an AFCS is required and my autopilot doesn't have it.

 

[bnt83]

These are great airplanes for sweet panels

 

[Ed Haywood]

Very nice. Those GI-275's work great as a pair, especially with the automatic redundancy.

Can you slave off the GNC to do all kinds of groovy stuff on your AI and HSI?

 

[WDD]

What shop did you use/would recommend?

 

[John Pringle]

It’s like comparing baby pictures but this is our 1962 C182E new panel. Flying has never been more accurate and precise.

 

[John Pringle]

So we got rid of everything except the old flap indicator and the JPI 930 we had installed with a new engine in 2019, we installed duel Dynon HDX 10” displays, new PSI 450b audio panel, Garmin 355 GPS, Garmin 255 Nav Com, all new electrical wiring through out the aircraft, pre wired for the Dynon Auto Pilot if it ever gets certified, and the entire panel structure required to be rebuilt to repair the old hack jobs done over the last 50 plus years. All in all it’s a dream to fly compared to the old six pack.