Upgrades Complete

We picked Mike Hotel up on Tuesday, before Winter returned to Cleveland. (Currently, there are 5+ inches of snow outside my townhouse. When we picked the plane up, it was 75+ and the ASOS was reporting density altitude.)

As you may have read, we recently overhauled the panel. There really wasn't anything wrong with it, but MS and I won the MegaMillions and we decided to blow a few thousand each on some new goodies. OK, part of that statement is a lie, I imagine you know which part. Hint: the "few thousand" may, in fact, be an understatement.

Currently, the panel now consists of:

• Garmin 430 GPS/NAV/COM with GI-106A indicator
• Garmin MX-20 (sporting a brand new display and other upgrades after an service call)
• Garmin GMA 340 audio selector panel
• MAC 1700 digital NAV/COM with VOR/LOC/GS and KI-209 indicator
• Garmin 327 digital transponder
• Garmin 396 portable GPS with XM WX Satellite Weather, hardwired for power and slaved to 430 for automatic input of flightplan data

In addition, we had a bypass installed on the #2 COM antenna. In the event of electrical failure, we can disconnect the #2 COM radio from the antenna and patch in our handheld transceiver. That should give us much better range than the antenna on the transceiver itself.

I know, I know, you want pictures. Sure 'nuf, Igots 'em right here:

(Note: "GPS for VFR" placard will be removed when FAA sends in approval paperwork.)

See it for yourself in Toronto!!!