Username Protected wrote:
Just curious. What is replacing this? They're so new. Switching to Garmin? I've got an IFD 550 and there's nothing on the market that I'd even think about switching to.
Nothing, in all likelihood.
Alan sometimes picks up damaged planes from gear up accidents, tornado damage in hangars, etc where the plane is totaled but the avionics are fine, then strips the avionics and sells them.
I suspect he has someone he deals with regularly who parts out the engines, props, control surfaces, interior parts, gear/flap motors, etc and he takes the avionics.
Pretty profitable business model actually. I've watched several of these on the various insurance sites for this exact reason just to update my aircraft but I'm too deep into engine IRAN and Aspen install just to get me flying again to mess with it.
Will probably do this for one airplane when the economy tanks to get some avionics upgraded (530w to 540 Avidyne and ADS-B In, etc). It's a PITA to part out a plane. I wouldn't want to do it for a living.