Jeff After having run the wiring and having to have Brian Kraut bail me out with the radio, I would run a good quality Icom or similar handheld, with headset adapter, and external antenna unless you are going to have a professional wire the tray style radio up. I have an SP200 from Sporty's with a headset adapter that I have been using since I began flying N96TA due to in panel radio issues, and have done fine. An intercom with 2 to 4 jacks can be had for around $100, SP200 for $299, and adapters for less than $50. Run the external cable like Mark L. shows on his web page and you are set. Also my SP200 doubles as a VOR receiver, so I can track the airways and non-precision approaches.
ADF is only needed if you plan on using older CDI instruments that require the ADF as part of an instrument approach, like our ILS at Sanford. It requires for the ADF to be there in the event of a missed approach, to use the NDB for the missed procedure. This is in the event of lost comms because ATC always gives you alternate missed instructions anyway. The FAA is decommissioning most of the NDB transmitters due to GPS, and only keeping a few for some remote airports that would be negatively effected. I would also not invest in an RMI as they are also disappearing in favor of GPS. If you have to have an analog instrument then invest in an HSI (horizontal situation indicator). 3 instruments in one, and makes analog navigation a breeze. A Garmin 296 does not have the more expensive color display, but does have the 6 pack of instruments in one nice neat package, along with GPS functions. If you plan on night flying, and I do, then you really should have the instrumentation for IFR even though you are not flying IFR. Just some thoughts... Colin Rainey brokerpilot9...@earthlink.net EarthLink Revolves Around You.
