What would it cost to add a sandel HSI and a 2nd GNS430 to the “A” model after I take delivery. If I could do this relatively inexpenssively, I would get everything I ever wanted and more, including electronic HSI and back IFR gps. The money saved between not upgrading to the large arnav and not upgrading to “B” or “C” should easily pay for this. What do you guys think about this. I would toss the GNC 250 and the DG. Would this not be a better package than CDs “C” model?
What would it cost to add a sandel HSI and a 2nd GNS430 to the “A” model after I take delivery. If I could do this relatively inexpenssively, I would get everything I ever wanted and more, including electronic HSI and back IFR gps. The money saved between not upgrading to the large arnav and not upgrading to “B” or “C” should easily pay for this. What do you guys think about this. I would toss the GNC 250 and the DG. Would this not be a better package than CDs “C” model?
The HSI would be at least $15K (before installation), and you have to find somewhere to mount the external gyros (which are internal to the DG and the HSIs they’re shipping in the upscale models). The second 430 would require plumbing additional NAV and GS antennas. You could tie the old CDI to the second 430. Last I heard the 430s were going for about $8K. When you include the installation costs (which are very steep for this kind of work) you are getting close to the $30K differential between the A and the C.
As far as I can tell, the only improvement over the C is the Sandel (which is whizzy but limited as a map), and what you’re left with is missing the redundant alternator and the GS coupling and course intercept features of the autopilot.
You might get a couple grand for the used DG and 250, but it’s in the noise.
What would it cost to add a sandel HSI and a 2nd GNS430 to the “A” model after I take delivery. If I could do this relatively inexpenssively, I would get everything I ever wanted and more, including electronic HSI and back IFR gps. The money saved between not upgrading to the large arnav and not upgrading to “B” or “C” should easily pay for this. What do you guys think about this. I would toss the GNC 250 and the DG. Would this not be a better package than CDs “C” model?
Well I was thinking of the same thing. But After contacting several avionics shops, I came away with an installation cost of around $15000 (including the HSI and gyros etc. ) So if you really want to have an HSI, then get the “B” option (You get the HSI, Autopilot upgrade and a Garmin Comm). In short, you get more bang for your buck.
I’ve thought about the Sandel, too. But with it and the second 430 (as you suggest) you would FOUR moving maps in the aircraft, and four databases to update (though I realize the Sandel doesn’t have to be updated very often because it gets updated waypoint info from the GPS). Four moving maps seems like overkill to me.
That said, however, I’m still considering the Sandel, but for a different reason. I learned my IFR flying in the military where we almost always had RMI arrows which pointed to the VOR and TACAN stations. I never realized how much I relied on them until I didn’t have them! With the arrows you had a continuous read on your radial and its rate of change and thus much better situational awareness; with the CDI you only get a snapshot every now and then. All of my corrections and intercepts were done with respect to the arrows, with the CDI used only for fine tuning. I really miss them!
Even with the HSI upgrades for the Cirrus you still don’t have the arrows (as far as I can tell).
So I’m considering the Sandel for that reason alone.
Joe
What would it cost to add a sandel HSI and a 2nd GNS430 to the “A” model after I take delivery. If I could do this relatively inexpenssively, I would get everything I ever wanted and more, including electronic HSI and back IFR gps. The money saved between not upgrading to the large arnav and not upgrading to “B” or “C” should easily pay for this. What do you guys think about this. I would toss the GNC 250 and the DG. Would this not be a better package than CDs “C” model?
The HSI would be at least $15K (before installation), and you have to find somewhere to mount the external gyros (which are internal to the DG and the HSIs they’re shipping in the upscale models). The second 430 would require plumbing additional NAV and GS antennas. You could tie the old CDI to the second 430. Last I heard the 430s were going for about $8K. When you include the installation costs (which are very steep for this kind of work) you are getting close to the $30K differential between the A and the C.
As far as I can tell, the only improvement over the C is the Sandel (which is whizzy but limited as a map), and what you’re left with is missing the redundant alternator and the GS coupling and course intercept features of the autopilot.
You might get a couple grand for the used DG and 250, but it’s in the noise.