At 01:41 PM 10/4/05 -0700, you wrote: >The future is GPS, if you plan to go to fly-ins (X-country). Lowrance 1000 >can be gotten for $499. > >Larry Severson ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In my opinion, the Lowrance 1000 is much too large for the KR cockpit. I tried one once and it seemed half the size of my panel. The Lowrance 500 is much more reasonable in size and can be had for $349. I intend to get one for $249 with the $100 rebate letter I got from Lowrance for turning in an old non-functioning Lowrance 300. If your are years away from flying I'd suggest you not buy anything yet. As to the AC instruments, I wouldn't mess with trying to get them to work. They are more hassle than they are worth. I purchased an electric gyro horizon once that was working fine when removed from an airplane, so I was told. Turns out it is a 28volt, 400Hz unit that came with a converter for a 12VDC system. The converter doesn't work, the instrument is shot, and I'm out $25 in phone bills trying to find someone to work on it, not to mention my time. If you're starting from scratch, consider going the Dynon route or whatever that solid state 10 in one instrument is. $2000 seems steep but price out the instruments it replaces and see what you come up with. On the engine instruments, wait until you know what engine you will be using. I'd suggest going with electric instruments whenever possible, i.e. , oil temp, oil press, tach, etc as that keeps hot oil lines out of the cockpit and trying to run a tach cable, etc. I forgot who started this thread but it sounds as if they have been out of aviation for a while, are a low time pilot, or both. This is not a put down, just an observation from the questions asked. I'd suggest you find a local EAA chapter of builders and pick their brains, buy the Tony Bingelis books, and in general , try to determine just what type of an airplane will fill the bill for the type of flying you intend to do. It might save considerable time and money. Also, if you stay with the KR, I'd highly suggest you make the Gathering next year and soak up several days of KR info. Larry Flesner
