Steve,
Just a thought - it hardly seems worthwhile spending all those bucks on an
electric HSI when modern, mid range GPS receivers offer HSI options in
their displays. Lowrance Airmap and Garmin 195 to name but two; these are
$799 and $899 respectively I think. Apart from the obvious advantage that
they offer all the other GPS features, if your electricsl did fail, the GPS
reverts to its own internal battery automatically.
Also electric gyro instruments are very heavy, much more complicated and
hence arguably less reliable than their windy counterparts.
Dave Simpson
Luton, UK
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> From: Steve Genotte <gopack@sprintmail.com>
<list@keskydee.com>
> Subject: Vacuum v. Electric
> Date: 09 August 1998 15:55
>
> Folks,
>
> In the grand tradition of putting the cart before the horse, I'm doing
> some panel planning even though I won't be starting my Europa kit for
> another 4 or 5 months. I've decided to go for a basic IFR panel that
> will let me get up and down through the occasional basic crud.
>
> Here is my dilemma. I've heard the horror stories about vacuum systems
> and vacuum driven instruments being a weak link in an IFR set up. I
> won't have room (will I?) for a backup vacuum system. That being the
> case, an electric panel sounds better. I'm also considering an HSI to
> save precious space. Unfortunately an electric HSI costs about $US
> 6,000, nearly 25% as much as my entire kit! Am I barking up the wrong
> tree here by going all electric? Is the incredible expense of these
> compared to vacuum instruments worth it? Since I'm not planning on
> doing a lot of IFR flying, is an all electric panel even cost
> effective? How can a knife be "self-sharpening"?
>
> Looking forward to some really subjective comments :-),
>
> Steve Genotte
> Dallas, TX
>
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