So does this make the Garmin panel upgrade viable for the Avanti II/Evo now?[/quote]

I would not want it. The current system works well, is powerful, a true FMS. Much better than G1000 in my experience.[/quote]

Your opinion, def not mine. FMS is too much heads down. Had enough of it in the airline world. PL21 is archaic in my opinion.[/quote]

It is my opinion and my experience must differ from yours. I was uncomfortable with the PL21 in the beginning and it now feels like second nature. It reminds me a bit of using an HP12C with reverse Polish notation. You either can or can't. The good news is that if you want the older airframe you can choose. When I purchased mine I wanted a II, though I'd have purchased a I if the opportunity was best. It wasn't and I've been very pleased with my ownership and operating experience overall.[/quote]

I used to use HP calculators before the advent of PC's. I even had a fancier one where you could program a series of button pushes.

New Piaggio porn for the day: FL390, 365 KTAS, 520 pph…

I'm about 850 pph going the same speed. I thought it would be 2X, so not as bad as that.

Why does the G600 show altitude so far off? Does it not have an SSEC table loaded?

Mike C.

A Service and upgrade Center (IJSC) and Garmin only recently got the RVSM tables for the airplane.

IJSC is currently flight testing (as experimental) a Piaggio that has the RVSM tables in the Garmin box, which also allows the Garmin system to drive the Collins autopilot vertically. Currently, the Collins ADC (and preselect) provides vertical guidance en route, while Garmin provides lateral and vertical approach guidance. The hope is that the STC for Garmin RVSM and en route altitude control will come through this year.

Correct, no SSEC. As Ed explained, it’s nearing completion. Piaggio was very proprietary about the SSEC curve data until recently.

Any chance GFC 600?

Keeping around the old boxes is a lot of weight and kludgy wiring.

I have the G700 TXi (basically the same as the G600) with the SPZ 500 AP. If I could get a GFC 600, I'd drop at least 100 lbs and I suspect that would be similar for the Piaggio. And I already don't have the original ADC any more.

Mike C.

There was talk for a while it would be part of the RVSM package, but that appears to have been dropped, at least for the near term. Which is definitely too bad.

The GFC autopilot is the highest on my wish list from Garmin. The EIS is now approved getting rid of the analog gauges now.

You seem to buy planes that are rumored or even said by Garmin to get GFC 600, and then, don't. For example, the MU2.

Sometimes I think Garmin, unintentionally or otherwise, toys with us and perhaps other AP competitors, but when the actual work to do it is upon them they change their minds.

I really wish AP certification wasn't so hard. All this careful effort to make sure it is safe is actually leading to a lot of older less safe APs remaining in service. In other words, the FAA has lost the big picture here.

Mike C.

Well, in fairness… like you, I bought the MU2 well before the GFC600 existed at all. But I suppose my weakness is older “interesting” aircraft in general, which does sometimes lead to having to work with the existing stuff. Character flaw.



Yeah, agreed. Too much of a good thing has turned out to be not so great in a lot of ways.

You seem to buy planes that are rumored or even said by Garmin to get GFC 600, and then, don't. For example, the MU2.

Sometimes I think Garmin, unintentionally or otherwise, toys with us and perhaps other AP competitors, but when the actual work to do it is upon them they change their minds.

I really wish AP certification wasn't so hard. All this careful effort to make sure it is safe is actually leading to a lot of older less safe APs remaining in service. In other words, the FAA has lost the big picture here.

Mike C.

What an outstanding thread!

If any of you folks with an Avanti I is considering selling or know someone who is please send me a private message.

Finally picked up my airplane today....

Gorgeous! Keep me in mind when you are ready for the next project. I might want that one.

LOL it will be a bit. This one wore my ass out!