Well, Twinkie is in the shop being torn apart now. Only one day into it and Ben comes back to me and tells me the Collins won't work with the Aspen, and all of the work that he will have to make it work, along with other modifications, will cost enough more that he sold me a Garmin 430W and a used KX155 at "cost". It will ease his installation and give me a lot more bang for the buck. Dang, I did not want to spend this much.
As I look back on the progression of this panel upgrade, I recall it all started with wanting a reasonably capable autopilot for all of the IMC cross country flights I make. (all 4 or 5 of them a year
) Any capable auto pilot required the changing of my DG, and, depending on the unit, my AI. For the price of those changes, I could get an Aspen unit if I kept my autopilot to a altitude hold model instead of a glide slope capture model. A few iterations here and there, a few changes here and there, and the price went from 12-14K on up through 24K and on up to 28K, which is where I thought I had it capped. My partner really wanted a 430W, but since he wasn't ponying up any cash, he had no say in the matter. Fast forward to yesterday, one day after I dropped it off. Ben calls me and tells me things aren't gonna work so well. For $7500 I'll throw in a new 430W and a used KX155. Everyone's life will be much better. Except now I have to add more money into this money pit in the sky.
So, if all works out well, and my wife doesn't shoot me, and my daughter's don't call me for more money, maybe I will show off my new panel at Windwood Fly-in. Provided, of course, I don't decide to blow another tire on landing.
New panel will be an Aspen Avionics with a full complement of backup vacuum gyros, a new Garmin 430W, a KX155, a backup VOR indicator, and a NAV122 backup VOR/LOC w/GS, all installed in a new grey powder coat panel. Should be something to see.