Greetings
I am a relative novice flyer, 350 hours instrument rated with a newly bought A36 in October 2011, 1978 model, spent 4 months in the shop getting its older King Bendix avionics fully replaced with a new Garmin GTN 750 touchscreen. It has been hangared its whole life so great exterior, leather interior. Previous owner flew it very little--only 375 engine hours SMOH 12 years ago, but on the other hand a lot of moths in the works from disuse that I am still having to deal with--propeller crankshaft gasket was rotted with my first indication being oil splattered across my windshield as I was landing, a nonfunctioning ammeter and right tank fuel gauge, lights burning out, a tachometer that just broke at 11,000 feet--nuisance problems that hopefully will get sorted out as I fly it more. Biggest issue is cracks in the wingspar found during the avionics overhaul--that 1995 AD that I have to fix. But it flies beautifully and has a lot of useful things--DME (which also broke, now looking for another)I, ADF, JPI, fuel flow and total fuel digital readouts, second radio and transponder. Have already taken a few nice trips, trying to build up time by traveling, hope to take the BPPP courses soon once the AD has been resolved. Thanks for having me as a part of this site, I hope to learn from it and I am open to any and all tips and advice. I still have the old avionics in the casings with wiring if any body is interested. Any info on getting a DME would be welcome.

Welcome Eric:
Nice looking bird, as far as DME I use my old 430 only, never had to use anything else

Sure, GPS is sufficient--unless the unit goes out, then what do you have for distance? Not a likely scenario, but the partial panel portion of the IFR checkride still sticks in my mind. My instructor was an old timer who just would not let me use the GPS for anything but the RNAV approach, taught me a lesson

Great looking plane, as the kinks get worked out, you'll really appreciate it. For the check ride , mark it INOP ? as it is. or just pull it. Others may have much better advice then I, so stand by.

Welcome to BT.

Welcome! I wouldn't spend any $$ on the DME. Don't have one on our S35 and neither does the 737NG I fly for work. Save your money for the host of other little things you're going to discover as you "wake" your plane up from it's long periods of inactivity. The best thing you can do for a plane is to fly it on a regular basis....at least once a week for an hour or more. Enjoy your new A36!

Welcome to BT Eric!

Nice looking plane ya got there!

Sounds like you are paying for some deferred maintenance or lack of flying by the previous owner. Once you get through the first year, your maintenance costs will go way down.

Good luck, you have a fine aircraft.

Eric, congratulations on your new partner; she needed you!

Regarding dme or back-up gps function, i've been really happy with WingX on my iPad (swivel-mounted to dual yoke); this screenshot shows "close to" in lower left corner, and nearest airport/vor info pop-up when you tap the search icon at lower right corner. Nicely supplements my waas 430w.

Ken Sarkey

Welcome aboard Eric!

Welcome to BT.

I'd forget about the DME and get a good portable with XM or ADSB weather.

Welcome to BeechTalk!

Welcome! Great airplane. I agree on the DME. If you want to buy a boat anchor then just go buy a boat anchor. Go for the handheld GPS with Nexrad unless you have it in something else. I would be happy to debate your instructor on the utility of a DME vs. a new handheld GPS.

Take my post with the good nature in which it is intended.