Hello folks, I have been lurking in here for over a year and have enjoyed many of the posts and learned a great deal. I commenetd on a post regarding the wrinkled skin and a member (Greg Stratz) said show pics of your plane. Well this post is to introduce myself and my plane to fellowBT folks. Don't hold any of the following information against me, as I am who I am and fly what I can! I live an hour NE of Toronto Canada, I am a licenced aircraft mechanic with a structures ratings for over 23 years now and presently teach A/C maintenance in a college. The majority of my experience comes on Beech 99's and King Air90/100 series aircraft with my specialty being PT6 engines as well as structures repairs. Last year I made a dream come true and bought my Beech! Although it is the smaller sibling to the Deb and Bo's I certainly enjoy flying this aircraft, just under a 100 hr's now in the baby beech, and finally getting over the previous 300 in Cessna's. This winter I completed an avionics upgrade to the beech on my own and really enjoy the new panel. I am however still left drouling over some of the panels posted in here. Oh well live with in your means! Maybe the lottery will change that some day. If any of you fine folks are up through Oshawa Ontario ident CYOO look me up, love to exhchange stories. I am going to try and take the airplane down to Louissiana possibly this summer, another dream of going into the bayou and eating some cajun food. Anyone in the area any suggestions my ears ere open. Well enough boring drabble and back to my lurking. Thanks to all BT bretheren for the stories, information, and chuckles.
Wes Van Mierlo
AME M1,M2 S33
C-GGKP
MC-455
CYOO

Welcome,

Wes,

You have a beautiful Sierra! I think you've done a great job on the panel upgrade.

Keep posting, with all your aviation maintenance experience you will be a valuable asset to BeechTalk.

Wes,

Welcome to BeechTalk! I think you have a fine flying machine. Nice panel, too!

Regards,
Kent

Wes,

you've obviously missed the point of this very serious site if you think we are in the practice of providing CHUCKLES!



Just kidding of course, glad to hear from you and love the baby bo.

Hi Wes,

Welcome to Beech Talk.

Ah, you have a fine Sierra there I know the breed well having owned one for 9 years and 1400 hours.

Wish I had that fantastic panel of yours in my bird I had an Arnav Loran, two KX170B, DME, KR87 ADF and no autopilot.

The nice thing about them is that you have to fly them on final at or near Bonanza speeds (100mph, so they get you ready for the Bonanza transition) otherwise they float like a refrigerator with wings......LOL Just kidding, but I'm sure you know what I mean.

Enjoy.

Mike

Wes, glad I called you out on those pictures, that's a beautiful Sierra, like what you did with the panel also.
I had an A23-24 Super III for 10 years back in the late 80'-early 90's. Had an Arnav R20 Loran and a century 1 autopilot to go with a Narco stack. Was a great intro to Beechcraft, on my second Bonanza since then.
Please do keep actively posting on Beech Talk, you're a vailuable addition,

Wes,
As a fellow Canadian, welcome to the board,where you'll find the fastest info on just about any subject, including aviation.
Look me up if you fly west someday,
Gilles
V35
CNZ3

Wes, welcome aboard! There is nothing to be ashamed of in that panel you posted a picture of. It looks great and will get the job done. Great looking Sierra, also. Looking forward to your continued posts. I know we will benefit and learn from you based on your experience in aviation maintenance.

Welcome Wes! Love the panel!

Wes, Welcome and thanks for posting pictures of your plane. The install on the 696 is one I've not seen before. I'm assuming it is still easily accessible and useful to you in that location...

Beautiful airplane and beautiful panel, Wes! You are now "at home" on BT.

Welcome aboard Wes,Great looking ship,neat install of the 696

Thanks to all who have responded so kindly, I have flown the aircraft IFR several times so far and I am getting the hang of of the 430W. I have it set up so what ever is fpl in the 430 is displayed onto the 696. As far as reaching it from the pilot,s seat it is not to bad, with the autopilot on I monitor aircraft and set up weather and plates on 696. Better yet I get my wife to play with 696 and figure out winds, true airspeeds which makes her feel part of what I am doing which helps sell these toys I want! Next is a Pcas unit. My only glitch during the install is I have lost the ability for the aircraft to arm off the glideslope. It did arm the green light before the avionics change but never did trim the aircraft properly. I had a bad pot in the autopilot head which solves the trim, but why the arm function doesn't work baffles me for now. Just means I have to hand fly the aircraft using pitch trim on the autopilot, which could lead to an accident if not monitored closely. College is almost out so I will have time to troubleshoot within next couple weeks and will post my findings.
Thanks agin and enjoy your flying
Wes

Noticed you were planning to hook up a zaon Pcas to your 696. Is it
Possible to have the 696 connected to both agarmin 530 and Pcas at the same time.
I was thinking about panel mounting a 696

Welcome to BT Wes!

Great looking panel!