Martin, great job turning your 16 month update process into a concise 2 minute summary. There’s a lot of planning and work from all parties involved to get this to come together. I hope this helps give people a better understanding to the question of “Why won’t avionics vendor A equipment work with vendor B ?”
Very good point, Andy. Few people understand just how much time, work, money, and sometimes tears go into an approval like this. It's quite a process, and I appreciate the insight I have gotten into how this works over the last year. - Martin
I fly flight sim although many years ago I did take lessons and learn the basics. I also just fly GA on the sim, and have Bonanzas with the Aspen and GTN750. Your videos and the comments they generate are just perfect for plane nuts like me who like to learn to do it right. Thanks for all you do!
Thanks, Jim - I've been enjoying it, with trips to Pella (Jaarsma Bakery) and Madison (Eggs Benedict), and by taking our granddaughter flying - all in the first ten days of having her back. Life is good! 👍 - Martin
I enjoy your videos and gain a lot from them. I must say the direction …no the distraction of all this technology in our airplanes is not good. Considerable time is spent massaging the automation. Aviation 101 is bumping up against these issues and I see glimpses in this last video of over automation challenges. The good thing is you had good discipline and habit patterns developed going into this. Automation turns you into a manager, we as pilots have to make sure it does not manage us. I know this was a monumental 16 months planning and commitment. I don’t think I heard excitement in your narration. I enjoy your channel. Thank you
You bring up some good points. This was only my second time flying with the new system, so I had a lot working against me: no familiarity yet, no muscle memory yet, and a few squawks from the install (some of which I discovered during this flight). This is inevitable when training with a new system, but it's not the end state, of course. The snags will be ironed out, and in a few months I hope to be as familiar with the new setup as I was with the old. Until then, yes, there are some distractions, as you noted. As for the "excitement in my narration"... I can tell you I have a big smile on my face sitting at my desk here just thinking about the new cockpit. I love it! But I'm not the kind of guy who would be screaming from the joy and excitement in the cockpit. Once I really understand what I have and am a little more experienced with it, my plan is to make a video where I talk about how all the new stuff helps and makes my flying easier. Hopefully you'll sense some excitement then. Regards, Martin
This looks incredible, watched just few seconds of the video and couldn’t resist to write my message without waiting until the end. Last night i was watching the video where you brought you plane yo the shop and started understanding that you don’t have it back yet until now. Great job and congratulations Martin. Enjoy it and be safe. Cheers.
Thank you so much. I think the opening montage of this video brings across the craftsmanship which the team at Gardner Lowe applied to make this panel look perfect. Even with everything turned off, this is a thing of beauty. - Martin
@@martinpauly Martin, please don't say that you made the opening montage, please don't.😀 It is incredibly stunning work, i meaan the video. The panel looks stunning, so professionally finished. Hope issue with avionics will be solved quickly. Thanks again for your great work.
@@Maximka1100 Hmm, ok - I'll bite. Why shouldn't I say that I made it? because I did, short of composing and performing the music (that came from epidemicsound.com).
It was a compliment Martin. It came out so great that one will think there 5 people worked on the project. Hats off my friend. Movie making is one of my favorite hobbies. -Armen.
That's quite the timeline. I kind of chuckle because back in the day if you told a CFI or owner that his backup would be another digital instrument, you'd be chased off the airport. Looks really good.
Oh yes. I can hear the FAA screaming "uncertifiable" to something like that, not too long ago. Fortunately they got to their senses, even though change happens at a very slow pace... - Martin
So happy you got your plane back! I hope you are as happy as you anticipated you would be when we talked at ABS. I have to say Karl did a very nice job! Like the layout! My saga continues…….
I am very happy indeed, Mike. Karl and his team did a great job, and I am sure they will work on the few things that aren't working 100% right yet. Regarding the GDL52: I use that both in the Bonanza and in students' airplanes, some of which don't have traffic or weather input. In the Bonanza, it provides XM weather (and music) in addition to FIS-B, with a broader product/data set. Regards, Martin
I'm glad you're back! Wow, what a process!!! I am only a sim pilot, beyond a few lessons years ago I've not flown more than a paraglider. But I can really appreciate how important it is for every pilot to really know and understand their GPS and Autopilot systems completely! And to just as quickly realize when they are not working correctly, because the time it takes a pilot to realize his plane is not doing what it is suppost to be doing could be the difference between life and death! I've always enjoyed your videos and the emphasis you put on safety and showing other pilots or even/especially non-pilots like myself who love aviation and the dreams of flight, but for whatever reason can't do it in real life, thanks for bringing us along for a great seat in your ride along! Very nice landing! Blueskies!!!
Thank you - yes, I'm taking some time with understanding how everything works, but still needs some improvement, and how to make good and safe use of everything. It's a fun process with lots of learning. - Martin
7:25 I see the avionics master is a small toggle switch positioned very close to the autopilot and near where your right hand might rest while adjusting it in turbulence. That, and your headset microphone boom being loose are two additional squawks I might add. Still a total thrill to watch the flight especially since I'm well into my instrument training.
Hey there, this morning I was on a xc between DVN and RFD in N547CA, I was on Rockford approach I am pretty sure I heard you right before you switched to Janesville… I heard you once before in Cedar Rapids in a cirrus, if you remember that.
Hi Martin! Congratulations! So happy to see your plane back in your possession. The new panel looks great and can’t wait to see how quick/long it takes for the final STC approval.
2/5/23. I see the FAA has given certification to the pairing of the Aspen Max and the Garmin GFC-600. Looks like you're finally going to get your autopilot to do what it should do!
@@GaryMCurran I'll certainly report on what I find, Gary. Altitude preselect is the obvious one, and related to that the automatic adjustments when the altimeter setting changes. But I'm sure there's more waiting to discover! - Martin
@@martinpauly A plain fact. Always good thing when you see great things happen to good people 😊 It's been soo long since we've seen one with her in it, but what does Becky?, your wife, think of it? Liked those videos when you jumped here or there for breakfasts or bakerys runs! - Andrew B - ZA
Welcome back, Martin! I’ve been there, panel upgrades can be so frustrating . She was a sweet ride & now it’s space age! Spending the winter in Cocoa Beach flying out of Merritt Island. I’m looking forward to more Martin Pauly, Blue Sky’s ❤
Martin, couple small things: 1) Comms setting: you can omit the 1 - so 121.8 you can type in as 21.8; Saves you a tiny bit of time; Also GTN VTF (Vector to Final) SHOULD activate the leg up to the FAF - not sure why it didn't do this on your 750; perhaps you were laterally already beyond the FAF (which it appears to be) - either way you can activate the leg prior to the FAF by clicking on the FAF, then 'Activate Leg'.
Martin you must be ecstatic with that panel. Amazing. I hope someday Garmin can get a working Autopilot for my Bellanca Super Viking. Great video as always.
I am green with envy! You're probably not happy with all the glitches, but you must be very happy to have 70TB back!! Good luck, and the panel looks wonderful! Rick, Tucson
Martin, it’s a great setup. I like using the GTN for frequency selection. I’ve always been interested in learning more about the Aspen equipment. Enjoy!
Thank you, Steve. Lots more videos coming in the future showing the new system in more detail, including the Aspen - but first I need to learn it myself. 😁 - Martin
Martin I’m ready to do some real IMC weather with you on the very Beautiful upgrades in your long awaited Bonanza and I’m looking forward to seeing more flights
I'll have to do a little more practice in benign conditions before shooting approaches to minimums with the new panel. Practice, practice, practice... Regards, Martin
I’m looking at your panel, did you put the GDL 69 in there as well? But to help you (and I see someone already told you about omitting the 1). If you want you can go push your flight plan and tap your destination. From there you can hit waypoint into and tap all of your frequencies into standby. You’re correct about your right MFD,, it’s off 90 degrees to the right. I also agree with above, use VTF function because it’s what you’re going to get a lot and you can see how it works. It’s pretty slick. Another nice thing you can do is when you initiating a climb start in VS around 750-1000 which gives you a soft climb instead of jerking you up, then once it starts to climb at that rate you can hit IAS and dial it in. Just a softer way to do a step up climb. Lastly once you get your digital interface you can set your VNAV’s in your FLP and then just hit VNAV on the AP. I did full upgrade in my Bonanza with 600 TXI, 750, GFC 500, ect. Expect to find little quirks for a few months while you’re operating it. Last, the Visual Approach Function is a nice tool to have on a VFR day, sets you up nicely. Enjoy.
Martin good to see you back! Awesome panel by the way! I too fly the Aspen 2500 MAX System in my Cherokee Challenger 180 with a IFD540 driving it for navigational purposes and a GNS 530W for backup. I really enjoy flying with my Aspen especially the MAX system. I have flown Aspen since 2007 & really have had no issues with the legacy equipment or the MAX system. There is a lot of capability in the Aspen system you will enjoy learning & using as you fly into the future. I look forward to more videos showing the new capabilities of your panel & hopefully soon! 🙂Don/NE Ohio
Thank you, Don. Yes, I do like the Aspen system. The screen is smaller, but the real estate is utilized very efficiently. I find the display very readable (more so from the pilot's seat than from the co-pilot's seat when I'm instructing in other Aspen-equipped planes). And the redundancy is great - I would hate for a screen to die, but at least I could keep flying while waiting for a replacement. Try that with any of the large-screen PFDs! - Martin
The panel is absolutely beautiful. Gardner Lowe did a great job. So glad to see you with those beautiful 750s. Also Love that you're using Garmin Pilot. I prefer it to Foreflight generally and they support Android.
Down for 11 months. That's a very long time. A few questions. Why 2 GTN 750's, vs 1 750 and 1 650?. Why the Aspens vs Garmin G500 Txi or G3X? There are a lot of screens on the panel, for me, maybe even too many. Enjoy the plane and we look forward to more videos. Really enjoy your channel.
Two 750s: that has a lot to do with my experience from the IFD550 and IFD440 which I used to have. I never really used the 440, except as a second radio. The large screen makes everything much, much easier. So my choices were (1) two 750s or (2) one 750 and a plain NAV/COM. I went with the former. I like the Aspen display. It's a great product, offering more redundancy than any other system. If my PFD ever fails, I won't be stuck on the ground until I get it replaced. Regards, Martin
Hi Martin......I was in the same situation as you with my avionics upgrade. I finally got my Cherokee Six back after 13 months and it has taken about 12-15 hours to get everything working and configured to my liking. This is not a process that I would endure in the future. If I change aircraft, I'm going to purchase one with the panel already upgraded. BTW, your panel looks incredible and I'm sure after a few tweaks, you will have many years of enjoyment. Keep these great videos coming. Best, Cary
That's a smart idea, Cary. Buy the plane that already has the equipment you want. That is, if you can find it. It'll save a lot of time and money. - Martin
Thanks, Kevin - yes, I remember our exchange. Sorry you can't see just how beautiful the metal work of the new panel is. But you'll appreciate the new radios and audio panel, I'm sure. - Martin
Martin, IF you have the Seattle Avionics plates, you can load the approach on both the left and right units, Zoom the left Aspen to the vertical profile view and the right Aspen to the plan view. This will allow you to track the approach in your primary view, with the PFD in the middle -- works great.
Superb panel -- hope ths STC comes through sooner than later and you get to unlock the full potential of the setup. its sort of weird to see LOC / green needles when flying an RNAV approach.
Thanks, Ricardo. Yes, fingers crossed for a speedy approval. The "green needles" is an Aspen thing, but the GFC600 annunciation for sure should say "GPS", not "LOC" or "VOR". That will get fixed when the digital interface is reinstated. - Martin
Nice panel, Martin. Lots of brain retraining in your future, but it will soon become automatic. Congrats on a relatively small squawk list. All the preplanning time is paying dividends. Thanks for sharing.
Martin, glad to see you're flying again. Like you, I use the partial synthetic vision for approaches (full for cruise) on my Aspen. I noticed you have the field of view on wide. You might want to try narrow for approaches. The synthetic vision is more aligned with the actual view and the attitude indictor increments are more detailed.
My Avidyne units are in good hands. One of these days you'll make it to a Third Thursday, right? Then you can see them again. All the best, Mike! - Martin
I know you probably already know this, but when you are putting in the frequencies on those 750s, you can leave off the 1, it puts it in automatically, so if it is 122.8, just type 2-2-8-enter. Panel looks amazing...
1. The Bonanza doesn't have rudder trim. 2. Even if it did, I would not trim the rudder for a possible go-around - that would unnecessarily complicate the landing. And it's not really hard to push the rudder as I advance power and pitch up should a go-around be needed.
I loved the video. I’m not as current as you and it’s taken me a bit of time to get used to pushing all the right buttons in the right sequence on my GTN 650Xi. I noticed you typed in all the frequencies. I assume you realize that if you push the airport in the 750 flight plan and go to Waypoint Info/Frequencies you can select a freq like Tower, ATIS or Ground and store it directly into the Active or Standby. I find this is easier and also eliminates typing the freq wrong, especially in turbulence. I can’t wait till you have the final approval and then watch it in action in real IMC.
Thanks, Martin. What you point out is just one of many examples of what I still have to learn about the new equipment. I feel like I can do everything I need, but not in an efficient manner yet. - Martin
Martin, your videos are first rate and your new panel is beautiful. I made the identical choices in my B55 a while back and my functionality is identical to yours (However I kept some round gauges). I read a lot of second guessing in the comments ("why choose Aspen??") but for me Aspen was the best choice balancing panel layout, cost, and ease of use. The digital interface will come soon enough. And...maybe geezerhood approaches but big screen TV in my airplane is not my cup of tea.
Martin, now that you have had some time with your new panel can you tell us how you like the GTN’s as compared to the Avidyne IFD,s. I fly with the Avidyne 440 and would not want to switch at this point. I have gotten to believe in the Avidyne technology and think that it is superior to what else is out there. Your opinion would be much welcomed. Ralph Benjamin
Martin - I’ve owned my Aspens since 2012 and have had a good overall experience with them. I actually had more issues with my Garmin 650. Like you said, in all avionic installations you will find some bugs that will need to be worked out. I believe there is a calibration step that the installer missed on your right MFD. I would also make sure the heading synch is correct on your left MFD. I saw on your Aspens the holding pattern and your location on the hold matches what the Garmin is showing. I may need to look into whether my firmware is up to date since my holding patterns don’t match the Garmin’s exactly. Thanks for sharing. Really want to see how the digital interface works and if they have plans on adding the GFC 500 to this STC.
Thanks for the suggestions - something good to look into. Once Aspen receives STC approval, I'll be back in Karl's shop to reinstate the digital interface, and I will be able to offer a detailed comparison (before/after) of the solutions then. I do look forward to having things like altitude preselect, but honestly the system is already much better than what I had before, and it's a joy to fly with the new panel. To my knowledge, there is no plan to create an interface between Aspen and the GFC500. - Martin
@@martinpauly That’s a shame to hear that there are no plans for the GFC 500 to be integrated. There are a sizable number of Aspens in aircraft with legacy autopilots that the Aspens support. Many owners like me won’t drop in a GFC 500 if we are forced to install a G5 or 275 to run it. When I installed my Aspens/Garmin in 2012, I had flown my plane over 20 years with analog gauges. It was quite a learning curve but once you see the capabilities of the new avionics, you wonder how you lived without it. Looking forward to the next video.
@@Marauder92V Don't get me wrong - I would love to see this with the GFC500 as well. Maybe it'll happen one day. But the fact remains that the GFC500 is just a control panel and servos - it needs a Garmin display to serve as the "brains" of the autopilot. So even if the companies work together on making the interfaces compatible, you's still need a Garmin G5 or GI-275 to run the autopilot logic (and it could become your standby/backup attitude indicator). - Martin
I have watched Martin make his equipment selection for his avionics upgrade from a VERY educated approach. But, I have also watched the follies that Aspen has pulled off, mainly concerning their analog autopilot adapter the EA100, and I now see what Martin is having to use to get their equipment to even function and I am betting that he has had some second thoughts about his equipment selection. Will Aspen ever correct their issues? Probably not is my guess, I mean how many years have they had the EA100 problem, and what have they done to correct that? I am betting that Avidyne will come out with an STC for a PFD before Aspen resolves this problem, and probably neither will happen in my lifetime. Long story short, if you have a memory like an elephant and can go nine levels deep into the sub menus on the GTN and have 20/10 vision so you can see all of the info packed on those little tiny Aspen screens then maybe it will work. They remind me a lot of the old Sandel HSI / EFIS units from 20 years ago, cute as a button when setting on the ground … but when you really need them … just not very functional. I have to wonder if keeping the IFD’s that he removed, buying a Dynon Skyview system with two 10 in screens and a Dynon certified auto pilot which could have utilized his existing Century AP servos doesn’t look appealing now, looking back. Hindsight is 20/20 …. But there again who could stand to look at that ugly Dynon EFIS-D6 ever time they got in their airplane. I think that there is an obvious reason why GARMIN has the glass panel market all sewed up at this time. Even if it was all free, it wasn’t a good deal in my opinion.
I can't talk about the EA100 because my setup doesn't have one (nor will it ever need one). And while there were some configuration issues with the setup (and not just on the Aspen side, by the way), we are going to iron those out until the system is rock solid. My cockpit is already far superior to what it was before the upgrade, and it'll just keep getting better. The Dynon PFD is indeed quite nice, but their autopilot simply is no match for the GFC600 (though admittedly it is cheaper to buy). - Martin
Nice panel. Strange that you’re having the squawk for traffic on right Aspen after all that time in testing? I like my Garmin 275sx3. A/I, HSI engine analyzer and Garmin 375. I could fly IFR, but in WyomingIFR means icing or TRW.
Great video and photography. Now you need to get an aviation paint & body shop to sponsor your video "in kind" and get those hail dents out of the engine cowling and make that look as nice as your panel! All seriousness, I really enjoy your stuff - grew up in Newton flying occasionally out of KTNU, went to school at Iowa, know eastern Iowa from the ground level (and some from the air) like the back of my hand. If you ever need someone as ballast from Chicago back to Iowa, give me a shout, I'd love to meet you.
Well, if you have a paint shop who wants some public attention, please send them my way 😁 Seriously, though - I think the interior will be the next project. The panel is beautiful, but the seats, carpets and headliner are a far cry from it. - Martin
Congratulations! Finally! Seems like operating the new systems is both pure "geek" fun, and will take a while to become "second nature" i.e., proficient. I'm curious as to why you chose not to go full Garmin. I hope the Aspen compass issue, and and the odd sound on the radio receiver are resolved shortly..Please keep the videos coming. They are great!
Thank you. I actually like the Aspen displays, and I also like the fact that Garmin jumped across their own shadow a little bit and created compatibility with a 3rd-party product. I can see the GFC600 as an excellent addition to many cockpits which may already have an Aspen. - Martin
Not quite the same, but I work at a flight school with Cirrus SR22s. We found a nose gear cracked in late February… we waited till early November of this year to get a replacement. Having an airplane out of commission for 9 months is a huge headache
Hi Martin great video and congratulations on getting your Bonanza back. Why do these jobs always take twice as long as anybody forecasts…?! Your panel looks fantastic, and combined with the recent new engine must make you very happy, that’s a very special Bonanza! How do you like the Aspens, and do you have the Charts subscription? I notice you’re using a tablet for your approach charts. I have recently fitted a dual screen Aspen set up to my Comanche, and overall like the outcome but, I have to say there is a lot of info on a fairly small PFD and HSI screen, which leads to a bit of clutter. For my day job, not in a Comanche, I’m looking at much bigger screens with less information displayed. It actually makes life easier, but more familiarity with the Aspens will help. Also with the Aspens, find the keys / buttons / knobs a bit fiddly, especially in any degree of turbulence. The GPSS is a great function when coupled to the autopilot, even if it seems a bit odd to engage it via the Heading mode. To me it seems more of a GPS Nav mode. Anyway, enjoy the new layout, and keep those videos coming!
Thank you - I am very pleased so far! Regarding the charts: I believe the iPad is hard to beat for those. The size of even an iPad Mini and the great pixel density make charts a lot more readable than on the Aspens. And as you said, there is a lot of info on the Aspens already the way it is, so maybe that's not the best place for charts. I may try using the GTN for charts since its screen also has a very good resolution. We'll see - lots of things still to figure out and experiment with. Regards, Martin
Nice panel, Martin, but I can't believe you went with Aspen icw the GTN; IMO you should have gone all Garmin, and the STC would not have been an issue at all.
You are welcome to put all Garmin in your panel, Robert, and that would not be a bad solution. But I actually like the Aspen system and the redundancy it provides, and I also like the fact that Garmin is opening themselves at least a little bit to working with 3rd parties like Aspen. - Martin
@@martinpauly Of course - totally your decision :) I went all Garmin (in a 182) and love the interoperability, but I understand your perspective. Enjoy my friend, and safe flights.
Great to see you back! Please post the solution for the com squeal, when listening on one and talking on the other com, there is an annoying squeal/feedback. I have a similar problem. Antennae too close maybe, both your com antennas on top?
excellent Martin.. Just a thought maybe you can clarify.. With so many panels & information inside the cockpit, does it effect your scanning outside the A/c.. generally , 80% + time, eyes outside is advised.. whats your guidance.. thank you..
I think it goes both ways. Certainly there is more to look at inside, so it's natural to assume we won't spend as much time looking outside. But if you think about how the information available inside helps us accomplish some tasks, it can also be a tool to make more time available to look outside. An example would be looking for information on a paper chart (digging through the flight bag to find the right chart, unfolding the giant paper chart, looking for the right area - all that takes time and is distracting). Another example is looking for traffic, where a traffic display does not replace looking outside but it can often help guide my view to more quickly spot nearby traffic. So I think it goes both ways, and it ultimately depends on the pilot to make sure adequate time is spent looking outside the window. Regards, Martin
Martin, great job on the upgrades and the video! Question, why did you change from Avidyne IFD to the Garmin GPS, particularly since you kept the PDF? I enjoyed your prior videos about the Avidyne boxes. Thanks.
Hi from Germany! Got a question about the Autopilot: Since the Bonanza does not have rudder trim, is the Yaw Damper of the GFC600 strong enough for „foot off“ operations in climb/cruise or do you still have to put in a bit of rudder? Thanks!
Yes, the yaw damper in the GFC 600 in my A36 is sufficiently strong to handle the rudder in climb, even on a go-around. With the TOGA button, transitioning to a missed approach is really a non-event with this autopilot. And it certainly does its job in cruise (before the GFC 600 I used to have to rest my left foot on the rudder pedal in cruise). Viele Grüsse aus Atlanta! - Martin
Panel quality looks great, just too many moving parts for my liking. Our S35 still has late model Collins Microline, PN101 HSI, RMI, GPS 175 and Stec 60-2 with F/D Y/D and Alt V/S Preselect all installed by myself when I was in the business long ago. I like knobs for tuning. Your Com 2 and Aspen MFD problems should have been caught and fixed before the plane was handed back to you. I'm an old geezer and like my steam gauges. Keep up the great work on the videos.
The Collins Microline was great back in the day. Today there is much nicer equipment available. The GTNs can be configured to use knobs for radio tuning, by the way - so I never see people do that. I'll have to experiment A LOT with different ways of using the new equipment before I can zero in on how I will use them. - Martin
A long wait, but I would almost say it was worth it. Would have been nice if the FAA had been able to approve the STC for the digital interface. You can you talk a little bit more about the differences between the analog and digital interfaces and what it means operationally? Is there any expectation that you'll get a smoother ride/better AP performance when you switch to the digital interface. As to the differences in headings between the two Aspen displays, I am surprised that happened. I would have thought that would have been one of the first things checked. I'm guessing that you'll be adding 'Check Displays/Back Up display' to your checklist in the future. I don't recall if you were using Foreflight before and switched the Garmin Pilot, or if you were always using Garmin Pilot. Can you speak to using that? Obviously, it integrates nicely with the GTNs, but I wondering what you think of the software. Finally, which do you like more, the GTN or the IFDs?
The digital interface will improve operations of the autopilot. Things like automatic level off at a preselected altitude. Or smoothly intercepting a VOR radial or GPS bearing from a heading. For those things, the ride quality will be improved with the digital autopilot interface. For everything else, it'll stay as it is (which is already phenomenal!). Re Garmin Pilot: I like to learn new things, and as a CFI I like to be familiar with the tools my students use. The new cockpit gives me a chance to become an expert with GTNs, Garmin autopilots and Garmin pilot. Doesn't mean I dislike ForeFlight - they are both great products. Regards, Martin
@@martinpauly Thanks for the reply, Martin. You've certainly taken 70TB into the latest generation. I'll be interested to see what you think of it after all the bugs are worked out.
Beautiful panel utilizing both Aspen and Garmin. Very nice. Random question regarding headset. I have been looking at different headsets similar to yours. I noticed the mic seemed to come down on yours some. Can that be adjusted/tightened? Is that annoying or did I just happen to notice the few time you had to adjust it? Just subscribed to your channel and enjoying your videos. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Mark. I'm getting re-acquainted with the Bonanza and everything in it, after ten months without it - including the headset. It sits much better on my head than this video suggests. If you look for my flights in 2021 on UA-cam, you'll see a more routine use of this headset. Regards, Martin
Thanks, Gordon. Garmin Pilot seems to be similar in functionality to ForeFlight. I've been wanting to explore it for a while, if only so I can better help students who use Garmin Pilot. It does integrate a little better with my Garmin panel-mount equipment, so this looked like a good time for me to give it a try. - Martin
Thanks. Re "one off STC" - there is no such thing. You may be thinking about a field approval (Form 337), but the FAA doesn't like field approvals for EFIS and autopilots. So I have to wait for the broader STC. - Martin
I'm getting reacquainted to everything in my plane after 10 months, including the headset. I guess it shows in this video... but yes, I still very much like the in-ear style. I have flown with Bose and LightSpeed headsets in other planes in the meantime, and while those provide very good attenuation, they don't feel as comfortable on long flights to me. - Martin
Amazing update, I guess was about time, love Aspen, love Garmin. I wish you great flights and enjoyment, besides the added safety to your mission. Just a question would it be easier instead of Aspen to install a G500 or a G3X? Or putting it in another way is it more beneficial taking this route?
Thank you! I do like the Aspens - they provide great redundancy, and I don't feel there's anything missing on the displays compared with a G3X or G500. Sure - it's smaller, but if my PFD fails, I'm not stuck on the ground until I can replace it because I have two of them! - Martin
Did you do a video telling us why you selected these things as options? Just wondering, there's a whole lot of stuff there on that panel looks like it might be too much work
Hi William. I had three videos about my panel upgrade leading up to this one, back in the summer. They will give you the history, and the reason why I went this path. Here they are: ua-cam.com/video/-esXjUw20rs/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/Y_8l_GYNbOk/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/EQL0-mEz5o0/v-deo.html
Does garmin provide pulling freqs over from dbase, like avidyne, or do freqs all need to be entered manually, as appears in the video? Any comments between avidlyne / garmin user IO, or is staying mum part of the deal w garmin? I am always amused the no matter what we spend on avionics, Foreflight (and others) remain a primary user interface. Yes in part because iPad mini is “just right.” Difference is one must change at faa speeds, through reluctant faa committee ‘approval’, while FF can quickly make small improvements and corrections. Was the motivation to switch vendors primarily driven by digital autopilot and fancy panel redo?
Yes, Garmin can look up frequencies from the database. I'm just starting to learn all the new things, so what you see from me doesn't (yet) reflect the most efficient way of handling a task. Re Avidyne vs. Garmin: that'll be a good question a year from now, after some time with the new system under my belt. As I mentioned in prior videos, my equipment selection started with the autopilot (GFC600). From there it made sense to also have Garmin GTN units for best compatibility. Btw, the ForeFlight you saw in this video was Garmin Pilot. 😁 Regards, Martin
Yes, I was concerned about that - but the plane was actually flying regularly from mid March (first for development and flight test, then later just to exercise it) so it wasn't sitting around for too long. - Martin
Hi Martin. You got yourself a nice panel what else can they do in the future I guess time will tell. BTW have you met Stevie Triesenberg ? She just flew her older 1952 Bonanza to San Diego to have a new Garmin panel put in. Safe travels
You are welcome to put all Garmin in your panel, and that would not be a bad solution. But I actually like the Aspen system and the redundancy it provides, and I also like the fact that Garmin is opening themselves at least a little bit to working with 3rd parties like Aspen. - Martin
Martin, congratulations on getting 70TB back and it’s good to see you flying in the area again! I worked you outbound to JVL today, would love to check out that beautiful new equipment sometime! Have a great thanksgiving and congrats again! -Jason
Hi Jason - thanks for the comment, and for the always great service at CID approach and local from your whole team. Always happy to give controllers a ride so they can see things from the other side and get a better understanding of the full picture that way. Finding a time to do that is the tricky part - Michael Ruen has my contact info; if you send me yours we'll see what we can work out. Regards, Martin
Thank you for the kind words, Martin. Sometimes about anyone can face delays/sequencing, but we all really try to give you GA guys great service to make the Eastern Iowa area a nice place to fly! And that sounds awesome! I’ll get with Mike and reach out. Have a great holiday season fly safe! Will talk soon. -Jason
It's a lot of new learning, but that's part of the fun for me. Though it's much too early for me to make a real comparison between the IFDs and the GTNs - give me a year or so with the GTNs, and I'll have a better idea. - Martin
I guess most of us are trying to wrap our head around the fact that this is all-garmin panel without garmin efis. Hard to imagine any other rational reason, other that Aspen gave you displays for free. But anyways, love your videos and beautiful panel.
What can I say? I like the Aspen displays. They give all the information I want in an easy-to-read presentation, and in a form factor that allows me to have two redundant PFDs (plus an MFD) so that I am not stuck on the ground should my main display ever have a problem. - Martin
Martin, great job turning your 16 month update process into a concise 2 minute summary. There’s a lot of planning and work from all parties involved to get this to come together. I hope this helps give people a better understanding to the question of “Why won’t avionics vendor A equipment work with vendor B ?”
Very good point, Andy. Few people understand just how much time, work, money, and sometimes tears go into an approval like this. It's quite a process, and I appreciate the insight I have gotten into how this works over the last year.
- Martin
I fly flight sim although many years ago I did take lessons and learn the basics. I also just fly GA on the sim, and have Bonanzas with the Aspen and GTN750. Your videos and the comments they generate are just perfect for plane nuts like me who like to learn to do it right. Thanks for all you do!
You are very welcome, Bill. Enjoy flying the sim!
- Martin
Congrats on getting your bird back, Martin. Glad to see you in 70TB's left seat again.
Thanks, Jim - I've been enjoying it, with trips to Pella (Jaarsma Bakery) and Madison (Eggs Benedict), and by taking our granddaughter flying - all in the first ten days of having her back. Life is good! 👍
- Martin
I enjoy your videos and gain a lot from them. I must say the direction …no the distraction of all this technology in our airplanes is not good. Considerable time is spent massaging the automation. Aviation 101 is bumping up against these issues and I see glimpses in this last video of over automation challenges. The good thing is you had good discipline and habit patterns developed going into this. Automation turns you into a manager, we as pilots have to make sure it does not manage us.
I know this was a monumental 16 months planning and commitment. I don’t think I heard excitement in your narration. I enjoy your channel. Thank you
You bring up some good points. This was only my second time flying with the new system, so I had a lot working against me: no familiarity yet, no muscle memory yet, and a few squawks from the install (some of which I discovered during this flight). This is inevitable when training with a new system, but it's not the end state, of course. The snags will be ironed out, and in a few months I hope to be as familiar with the new setup as I was with the old. Until then, yes, there are some distractions, as you noted.
As for the "excitement in my narration"... I can tell you I have a big smile on my face sitting at my desk here just thinking about the new cockpit. I love it! But I'm not the kind of guy who would be screaming from the joy and excitement in the cockpit. Once I really understand what I have and am a little more experienced with it, my plan is to make a video where I talk about how all the new stuff helps and makes my flying easier. Hopefully you'll sense some excitement then.
Regards,
Martin
Video suggestion: Keep us updated on if/ when the digital interface gets its STC and talk about the differences/ advantages.
Great series, thanks.
That STC approval for the digital autopilot interface was issued a few weeks ago, for the remainder of the aircraft types.
- Martin
Welcome back Martin I missed you.
Thanks, Mark. Then you can imagine how much I missed the Bonanza during this time!
- Martin
This looks incredible, watched just few seconds of the video and couldn’t resist to write my message without waiting until the end. Last night i was watching the video where you brought you plane yo the shop and started understanding that you don’t have it back yet until now. Great job and congratulations Martin. Enjoy it and be safe. Cheers.
Thank you so much. I think the opening montage of this video brings across the craftsmanship which the team at Gardner Lowe applied to make this panel look perfect. Even with everything turned off, this is a thing of beauty.
- Martin
@@martinpauly Martin, please don't say that you made the opening montage, please don't.😀 It is incredibly stunning work, i meaan the video. The panel looks stunning, so professionally finished. Hope issue with avionics will be solved quickly. Thanks again for your great work.
@@Maximka1100 Hmm, ok - I'll bite. Why shouldn't I say that I made it? because I did, short of composing and performing the music (that came from epidemicsound.com).
It was a compliment Martin. It came out so great that one will think there 5 people worked on the project. Hats off my friend. Movie making is one of my favorite hobbies.
-Armen.
@@Maximka1100 Thank you, Armen. That makes my day!
- Martin
Great to see you have 70TB back again. A complex system and certainly need good training to keep up with the autopilot functions. We’ll done Martin.
Thanks, Ken. Lots to learn here for me, which is part of the excitement!
- Martin
That's quite the timeline. I kind of chuckle because back in the day if you told a CFI or owner that his backup would be another digital instrument, you'd be chased off the airport. Looks really good.
Oh yes. I can hear the FAA screaming "uncertifiable" to something like that, not too long ago. Fortunately they got to their senses, even though change happens at a very slow pace...
- Martin
Glad to have you back!!
Thanks - glad to BE back!
- Martin
So happy you got your plane back! I hope you are as happy as you anticipated you would be when we talked at ABS. I have to say Karl did a very nice job! Like the layout! My saga continues…….
By the way what do you have installed for remote transponder(s) and what is providing weather and traffic feed? Is the Garmin GDL52 a backup feed?
I am very happy indeed, Mike. Karl and his team did a great job, and I am sure they will work on the few things that aren't working 100% right yet.
Regarding the GDL52: I use that both in the Bonanza and in students' airplanes, some of which don't have traffic or weather input. In the Bonanza, it provides XM weather (and music) in addition to FIS-B, with a broader product/data set.
Regards,
Martin
Well done M….you will get it all working and are one lucky Pilot. A big WOW on all the glass.
Thank you - and yes, we'll get it all sorted out. Lots of new things to learn for me!
- Martin
Great to see you back in the air again!
Thanks, Matthew!
- Martin
I'm glad you're back! Wow, what a process!!! I am only a sim pilot, beyond a few lessons years ago I've not flown more than a paraglider.
But I can really appreciate how important it is for every pilot to really know and understand their GPS and Autopilot systems completely! And to just as quickly realize when they are not working correctly, because the time it takes a pilot to realize his plane is not doing what it is suppost to be doing could be the difference between life and death!
I've always enjoyed your videos and the emphasis you put on safety and showing other pilots or even/especially non-pilots like myself who love aviation and the dreams of flight, but for whatever reason can't do it in real life, thanks for bringing us along for a great seat in your ride along!
Very nice landing!
Blueskies!!!
Thank you - yes, I'm taking some time with understanding how everything works, but still needs some improvement, and how to make good and safe use of everything. It's a fun process with lots of learning.
- Martin
Martin, it was great meeting you at the KDBQ fbo yesterday. Great video.
Likewise, Doug - have fun flying that beautiful new Diamond!
- Martin
Very nice set up Pauly! Really enjoy seeing what owners decide on! what an autopilot amazing.
Thank you.
- Martin
This has to be the best Bonanza flying, new motor and panel, awesome airplane ✈️
I doubt it's THE best, but it sure is a very nice one. Interior is probably the next project; mine is pretty old and falling apart in places.
- Martin
You have to be proud with the upgrade
I am very happy indeed!
- Martin
Congrats Martin!! Looking forward to more of your outstanding videos!
Thanks, William!
- Martin
Congratulations Martin. Beautiful system!
Thank you, Patrick.
- Martin
panel upgrades are stellar looking. hoping you get all the bugs worked out and the STC approved soon enough. NICE!
Thank you, Al.
- Martin
good to see you back, nice system
Thank you, Bill.
- Martin
So glad you have your plane back! Hopefully the bugs will be worked out quickly. Setup looks amazing.
Thanks - I hope so, too!
- Martin
Beautiful panel! Bet you’re glad to have her back. Even as a non pilot I can understand why you’d want the capability of the new equipment.
You are right - I am very happy to have the Bonanza back!
- Martin
7:25 I see the avionics master is a small toggle switch positioned very close to the autopilot and near where your right hand might rest while adjusting it in turbulence.
That, and your headset microphone boom being loose are two additional squawks I might add.
Still a total thrill to watch the flight especially since I'm well into my instrument training.
Hey there, this morning I was on a xc between DVN and RFD in N547CA, I was on Rockford approach I am pretty sure I heard you right before you switched to Janesville… I heard you once before in Cedar Rapids in a cirrus, if you remember that.
Yes, I was on Rockford Approach that day on my way to Bessie's at Janesville.
- Martin
Hi Martin! Congratulations! So happy to see your plane back in your possession. The new panel looks great and can’t wait to see how quick/long it takes for the final STC approval.
Thank you. Hopefully the STC won't be much longer.
- Martin
2/5/23. I see the FAA has given certification to the pairing of the Aspen Max and the Garmin GFC-600. Looks like you're finally going to get your autopilot to do what it should do!
Yes - I'm excited, and we'll get N70TB fully upgraded to the digital interface later this month.
- Martin
@@martinpauly looking forward to the report on if it flies any 'better' with the digital interface.
@@GaryMCurran I'll certainly report on what I find, Gary. Altitude preselect is the obvious one, and related to that the automatic adjustments when the altimeter setting changes. But I'm sure there's more waiting to discover!
- Martin
Welcome back!!!!
Thank you
That a great clean setup. Welcome back .
Thanks, Tim.
- Martin
Congrats on your new avionics.Looks great! Great vid as always -
Thank you 😁
- Martin
SOO HAPPY FOR YOU MARTIN! Been waiting for this one. If anyone deserves this its you brother! 👏
Oh, thank you so much. That makes me happy!
- Martin
@@martinpauly A plain fact. Always good thing when you see great things happen to good people 😊 It's been soo long since we've seen one with her in it, but what does Becky?, your wife, think of it? Liked those videos when you jumped here or there for breakfasts or bakerys runs! - Andrew B - ZA
Welcome back, Martin!
I’ve been there, panel upgrades can be so frustrating .
She was a sweet ride & now it’s space age!
Spending the winter in Cocoa Beach flying out of Merritt Island.
I’m looking forward to more Martin Pauly, Blue Sky’s ❤
Thanks, Christine. Yes, space age - or at least 21st century.
Enjoy Florida!
- Martin
Glad your are back. Awesome panel. 👍✈️
Thank you, John.
- Martin
Martin, couple small things: 1) Comms setting: you can omit the 1 - so 121.8 you can type in as 21.8; Saves you a tiny bit of time; Also GTN VTF (Vector to Final) SHOULD activate the leg up to the FAF - not sure why it didn't do this on your 750; perhaps you were laterally already beyond the FAF (which it appears to be) - either way you can activate the leg prior to the FAF by clicking on the FAF, then 'Activate Leg'.
Thank you Robert - I appreciate those pointers!
- Martin
Martin you must be ecstatic with that panel. Amazing. I hope someday Garmin can get a working Autopilot for my Bellanca Super Viking. Great video as always.
Hi Scotty - yes, I am very pleased with the new setup, and of course to have my airplane back after such a long time. Feels great!
- Martin
I am green with envy! You're probably not happy with all the glitches, but you must be very happy to have 70TB back!! Good luck, and the panel looks wonderful! Rick, Tucson
I am *extremely* happy, Rick. (And all that time I thought your name was Charlie 😁)
- Martin
Martin, it’s a great setup. I like using the GTN for frequency selection. I’ve always been interested in learning more about the Aspen equipment. Enjoy!
Thank you, Steve. Lots more videos coming in the future showing the new system in more detail, including the Aspen - but first I need to learn it myself. 😁
- Martin
Very nice looking panel. Thanks for the tutorial on the autopilot.
Thank you, William!
- Martin
Great graphics, I love the instruments on top of the flying video
Thanks - I'll probably utilize that kind of setup/montage in future videos some more.
- Martin
Graphics , Larson & Turbo
Looks great Martin!
Thank you, Sir!
- Martin
Beautiful, Sir!
Thank you, Chris.
- Martin
Martin I’m ready to do some real IMC weather with you on the very Beautiful upgrades in your long awaited Bonanza and I’m looking forward to seeing more flights
I'll have to do a little more practice in benign conditions before shooting approaches to minimums with the new panel. Practice, practice, practice...
Regards,
Martin
I’m looking at your panel, did you put the GDL 69 in there as well? But to help you (and I see someone already told you about omitting the 1). If you want you can go push your flight plan and tap your destination. From there you can hit waypoint into and tap all of your frequencies into standby. You’re correct about your right MFD,, it’s off 90 degrees to the right. I also agree with above, use VTF function because it’s what you’re going to get a lot and you can see how it works. It’s pretty slick. Another nice thing you can do is when you initiating a climb start in VS around 750-1000 which gives you a soft climb instead of jerking you up, then once it starts to climb at that rate you can hit IAS and dial it in. Just a softer way to do a step up climb. Lastly once you get your digital interface you can set your VNAV’s in your FLP and then just hit VNAV on the AP. I did full upgrade in my Bonanza with 600 TXI, 750, GFC 500, ect. Expect to find little quirks for a few months while you’re operating it. Last, the Visual Approach Function is a nice tool to have on a VFR day, sets you up nicely. Enjoy.
Thanks for the feedback and pointers, Brian!
- Martin
Thanks Martin! Great walk through.
Thank you, Andy!
- Martin
Very nice panel Martin but I have to admit my favorite is how nice the Yoke looks now.
The yoke looks and feels fantastic - I am so happy with how that turned out!
- Martin
Martin good to see you back! Awesome panel by the way! I too fly the Aspen 2500 MAX System in my Cherokee Challenger 180 with a IFD540 driving it for navigational purposes and a GNS 530W for backup. I really enjoy flying with my Aspen especially the MAX system. I have flown Aspen since 2007 & really have had no issues with the legacy equipment or the MAX system. There is a lot of capability in the Aspen system you will enjoy learning & using as you fly into the future. I look forward to more videos showing the new capabilities of your panel & hopefully soon! 🙂Don/NE Ohio
Thank you, Don. Yes, I do like the Aspen system. The screen is smaller, but the real estate is utilized very efficiently. I find the display very readable (more so from the pilot's seat than from the co-pilot's seat when I'm instructing in other Aspen-equipped planes). And the redundancy is great - I would hate for a screen to die, but at least I could keep flying while waiting for a replacement. Try that with any of the large-screen PFDs!
- Martin
The panel is absolutely beautiful. Gardner Lowe did a great job. So glad to see you with those beautiful 750s. Also Love that you're using Garmin Pilot. I prefer it to Foreflight generally and they support Android.
Thanks, Alireza. Yes, Gardner Lowe did fantastic work with the panel. All the metal work looks fantastic!
- Martin
Down for 11 months. That's a very long time. A few questions. Why 2 GTN 750's, vs 1 750 and 1 650?. Why the Aspens vs Garmin G500 Txi or G3X? There are a lot of screens on the panel, for me, maybe even too many. Enjoy the plane and we look forward to more videos. Really enjoy your channel.
Two 750s: that has a lot to do with my experience from the IFD550 and IFD440 which I used to have. I never really used the 440, except as a second radio. The large screen makes everything much, much easier. So my choices were (1) two 750s or (2) one 750 and a plain NAV/COM. I went with the former.
I like the Aspen display. It's a great product, offering more redundancy than any other system. If my PFD ever fails, I won't be stuck on the ground until I get it replaced.
Regards,
Martin
@@martinpauly Thank you. Not to beat up of the IFD's, but why the switch to the GTN's?
Congratulations
Thank you, Bernard.
- Martin
Good to see Martin
Hi Martin......I was in the same situation as you with my avionics upgrade. I finally got my Cherokee Six back after 13 months and it has taken about 12-15 hours to get everything working and configured to my liking. This is not a process that I would endure in the future. If I change aircraft, I'm going to purchase one with the panel already upgraded. BTW, your panel looks incredible and I'm sure after a few tweaks, you will have many years of enjoyment. Keep these great videos coming. Best, Cary
That's a smart idea, Cary. Buy the plane that already has the equipment you want. That is, if you can find it. It'll save a lot of time and money.
- Martin
Congratulations - Beautiful.
Thank you 😁
- Martin
Congratulations! As you may or may not remember from havin' some dialog with ya, I can't see it, but sounds like everything's workin' great for you!
Thanks, Kevin - yes, I remember our exchange. Sorry you can't see just how beautiful the metal work of the new panel is. But you'll appreciate the new radios and audio panel, I'm sure.
- Martin
Martin, IF you have the Seattle Avionics plates, you can load the approach on both the left and right units, Zoom the left Aspen to the vertical profile view and the right Aspen to the plan view. This will allow you to track the approach in your primary view, with the PFD in the middle -- works great.
Thanks for the suggestion. Will the ownship position be shown in the vertical profile, or just on the plan view?
- Martin
@@martinpauly plan view
Superb panel -- hope ths STC comes through sooner than later and you get to unlock the full potential of the setup. its sort of weird to see LOC / green needles when flying an RNAV approach.
Thanks, Ricardo. Yes, fingers crossed for a speedy approval. The "green needles" is an Aspen thing, but the GFC600 annunciation for sure should say "GPS", not "LOC" or "VOR". That will get fixed when the digital interface is reinstated.
- Martin
Nice panel, Martin. Lots of brain retraining in your future, but it will soon become automatic.
Congrats on a relatively small squawk list. All the preplanning time is paying dividends.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. You are right - the muscle memory isn't there yet to operate the new equipment, but I'll get there with practice.
- Martin
Martin, glad to see you're flying again. Like you, I use the partial synthetic vision for approaches (full for cruise) on my Aspen. I noticed you have the field of view on wide. You might want to try narrow for approaches. The synthetic vision is more aligned with the actual view and the attitude indictor increments are more detailed.
I'll have to give that a try - thanks for the suggestion!
- Martin
Whew Martin that's some nice upgrading there. Your Avedyne's weren't that old, hope they gave you a good trade in on them.
My Avidyne units are in good hands. One of these days you'll make it to a Third Thursday, right? Then you can see them again.
All the best, Mike!
- Martin
I know you probably already know this, but when you are putting in the frequencies on those 750s, you can leave off the 1, it puts it in automatically, so if it is 122.8, just type 2-2-8-enter. Panel looks amazing...
Thank you - I'll try that.
- Martin
Best part - no more needing to fly a Cirrus all the time ;-)
Ha - well, I'll still instruct in the Cirrus, but you're right - for personal trips I sure prefer the Bonanza! 😎
- Martin
A good landing is a sucessful go-around. With that in mind pre trim the rudder for the go-around...
1. The Bonanza doesn't have rudder trim.
2. Even if it did, I would not trim the rudder for a possible go-around - that would unnecessarily complicate the landing. And it's not really hard to push the rudder as I advance power and pitch up should a go-around be needed.
I loved the video. I’m not as current as you and it’s taken me a bit of time to get used to pushing all the right buttons in the right sequence on my GTN 650Xi.
I noticed you typed in all the frequencies. I assume you realize that if you push the airport in the 750 flight plan and go to Waypoint Info/Frequencies you can select a freq like Tower, ATIS or Ground and store it directly into the Active or Standby.
I find this is easier and also eliminates typing the freq wrong, especially in turbulence.
I can’t wait till you have the final approval and then watch it in action in real IMC.
Thanks, Martin. What you point out is just one of many examples of what I still have to learn about the new equipment. I feel like I can do everything I need, but not in an efficient manner yet.
- Martin
Martin, your videos are first rate and your new panel is beautiful. I made the identical choices in my B55 a while back and my functionality is identical to yours (However I kept some round gauges). I read a lot of second guessing in the comments ("why choose Aspen??") but for me Aspen was the best choice balancing panel layout, cost, and ease of use. The digital interface will come soon enough. And...maybe geezerhood approaches but big screen TV in my airplane is not my cup of tea.
Thanks, Robert. I, too, like the Aspens - they make very efficient use of the space and provide great redundancy.
- Martin
Martin, now that you have had some time with your new panel can you tell us how you like the GTN’s as compared to the Avidyne IFD,s. I fly with the Avidyne 440 and would not want to switch at this point. I have gotten to believe in the Avidyne technology and think that it is superior to what else is out there. Your opinion would be much welcomed. Ralph Benjamin
Martin - I’ve owned my Aspens since 2012 and have had a good overall experience with them. I actually had more issues with my Garmin 650. Like you said, in all avionic installations you will find some bugs that will need to be worked out. I believe there is a calibration step that the installer missed on your right MFD. I would also make sure the heading synch is correct on your left MFD.
I saw on your Aspens the holding pattern and your location on the hold matches what the Garmin is showing. I may need to look into whether my firmware is up to date since my holding patterns don’t match the Garmin’s exactly. Thanks for sharing. Really want to see how the digital interface works and if they have plans on adding the GFC 500 to this STC.
Thanks for the suggestions - something good to look into. Once Aspen receives STC approval, I'll be back in Karl's shop to reinstate the digital interface, and I will be able to offer a detailed comparison (before/after) of the solutions then. I do look forward to having things like altitude preselect, but honestly the system is already much better than what I had before, and it's a joy to fly with the new panel.
To my knowledge, there is no plan to create an interface between Aspen and the GFC500.
- Martin
@@martinpauly That’s a shame to hear that there are no plans for the GFC 500 to be integrated. There are a sizable number of Aspens in aircraft with legacy autopilots that the Aspens support. Many owners like me won’t drop in a GFC 500 if we are forced to install a G5 or 275 to run it.
When I installed my Aspens/Garmin in 2012, I had flown my plane over 20 years with analog gauges. It was quite a learning curve but once you see the capabilities of the new avionics, you wonder how you lived without it. Looking forward to the next video.
@@Marauder92V Don't get me wrong - I would love to see this with the GFC500 as well. Maybe it'll happen one day. But the fact remains that the GFC500 is just a control panel and servos - it needs a Garmin display to serve as the "brains" of the autopilot. So even if the companies work together on making the interfaces compatible, you's still need a Garmin G5 or GI-275 to run the autopilot logic (and it could become your standby/backup attitude indicator).
- Martin
I have watched Martin make his equipment selection for his avionics upgrade from a VERY educated approach. But, I have also watched the follies that Aspen has pulled off, mainly concerning their analog autopilot adapter the EA100, and I now see what Martin is having to use to get their equipment to even function and I am betting that he has had some second thoughts about his equipment selection. Will Aspen ever correct their issues? Probably not is my guess, I mean how many years have they had the EA100 problem, and what have they done to correct that? I am betting that Avidyne will come out with an STC for a PFD before Aspen resolves this problem, and probably neither will happen in my lifetime. Long story short, if you have a memory like an elephant and can go nine levels deep into the sub menus on the GTN and have 20/10 vision so you can see all of the info packed on those little tiny Aspen screens then maybe it will work. They remind me a lot of the old Sandel HSI / EFIS units from 20 years ago, cute as a button when setting on the ground … but when you really need them … just not very functional. I have to wonder if keeping the IFD’s that he removed, buying a Dynon Skyview system with two 10 in screens and a Dynon certified auto pilot which could have utilized his existing Century AP servos doesn’t look appealing now, looking back. Hindsight is 20/20 …. But there again who could stand to look at that ugly Dynon EFIS-D6 ever time they got in their airplane. I think that there is an obvious reason why GARMIN has the glass panel market all sewed up at this time. Even if it was all free, it wasn’t a good deal in my opinion.
I can't talk about the EA100 because my setup doesn't have one (nor will it ever need one). And while there were some configuration issues with the setup (and not just on the Aspen side, by the way), we are going to iron those out until the system is rock solid. My cockpit is already far superior to what it was before the upgrade, and it'll just keep getting better. The Dynon PFD is indeed quite nice, but their autopilot simply is no match for the GFC600 (though admittedly it is cheaper to buy).
- Martin
5:03 Is that what they call the heading bug?
Yes, that is correct.
- Martin
@@martinpauly Thanks for the reply. Hope you get to go full digital soon !
@@martinpauly Thanks for the reply. Hope you get to go full digital soon !
Nice panel. Strange that you’re having the squawk for traffic on right Aspen after all that time in testing? I like my Garmin 275sx3. A/I, HSI engine analyzer and Garmin 375. I could fly IFR, but in WyomingIFR means icing or TRW.
Great video and photography. Now you need to get an aviation paint & body shop to sponsor your video "in kind" and get those hail dents out of the engine cowling and make that look as nice as your panel! All seriousness, I really enjoy your stuff - grew up in Newton flying occasionally out of KTNU, went to school at Iowa, know eastern Iowa from the ground level (and some from the air) like the back of my hand. If you ever need someone as ballast from Chicago back to Iowa, give me a shout, I'd love to meet you.
Well, if you have a paint shop who wants some public attention, please send them my way 😁
Seriously, though - I think the interior will be the next project. The panel is beautiful, but the seats, carpets and headliner are a far cry from it.
- Martin
@@martinpauly The guys that did 310 Pilot's plane did a spectacular job. Shame Kevin sold it.
Congratulations! Finally! Seems like operating the new systems is both pure "geek" fun, and will take a while to become "second nature" i.e., proficient. I'm curious as to why you chose not to go full Garmin. I hope the Aspen compass issue, and and the odd sound on the radio receiver are resolved shortly..Please keep the videos coming. They are great!
Thank you. I actually like the Aspen displays, and I also like the fact that Garmin jumped across their own shadow a little bit and created compatibility with a 3rd-party product. I can see the GFC600 as an excellent addition to many cockpits which may already have an Aspen.
- Martin
Not quite the same, but I work at a flight school with Cirrus SR22s. We found a nose gear cracked in late February… we waited till early November of this year to get a replacement. Having an airplane out of commission for 9 months is a huge headache
Oh yes, you are right. That's a good reason to have two (or more) airplanes, right? 🤣
- Martin
Can't open and play your last U-Tube video "Back at Last!" ? Nice looking Aspen's, how's the Txi & 600 intergrated?
It's a UA-cam premiere at 8:00AM central time today, Dennis. Just a few minutes from now.
- Martin
Nice Video, Great avionics, wonder what caused the traffic problem! Thanks!
Hi Martin great video and congratulations on getting your Bonanza back. Why do these jobs always take twice as long as anybody forecasts…?!
Your panel looks fantastic, and combined with the recent new engine must make you very happy, that’s a very special Bonanza!
How do you like the Aspens, and do you have the Charts subscription? I notice you’re using a tablet for your approach charts.
I have recently fitted a dual screen Aspen set up to my Comanche, and overall like the outcome but, I have to say there is a lot of info on a fairly small PFD and HSI screen, which leads to a bit of clutter. For my day job, not in a Comanche, I’m looking at much bigger screens with less information displayed. It actually makes life easier, but more familiarity with the Aspens will help. Also with the Aspens, find the keys / buttons / knobs a bit fiddly, especially in any degree of turbulence.
The GPSS is a great function when coupled to the autopilot, even if it seems a bit odd to engage it via the Heading mode. To me it seems more of a GPS Nav mode.
Anyway, enjoy the new layout, and keep those videos coming!
Thank you - I am very pleased so far!
Regarding the charts: I believe the iPad is hard to beat for those. The size of even an iPad Mini and the great pixel density make charts a lot more readable than on the Aspens. And as you said, there is a lot of info on the Aspens already the way it is, so maybe that's not the best place for charts. I may try using the GTN for charts since its screen also has a very good resolution. We'll see - lots of things still to figure out and experiment with.
Regards,
Martin
I agree.... the ASPEN's are previous gen in my opinion. A TXI500 would have been excellent for this application.
Nice panel, Martin, but I can't believe you went with Aspen icw the GTN; IMO you should have gone all Garmin, and the STC would not have been an issue at all.
You are welcome to put all Garmin in your panel, Robert, and that would not be a bad solution. But I actually like the Aspen system and the redundancy it provides, and I also like the fact that Garmin is opening themselves at least a little bit to working with 3rd parties like Aspen.
- Martin
@@martinpauly Of course - totally your decision :) I went all Garmin (in a 182) and love the interoperability, but I understand your perspective. Enjoy my friend, and safe flights.
Great to see you back! Please post the solution for the com squeal, when listening on one and talking on the other com, there is an annoying squeal/feedback. I have a similar problem. Antennae too close maybe, both your com antennas on top?
Whatever it is, we'll figure it out.
- Martin
My wife was flying 36Y as you were leaving. That was her instructor's voice.
Small world - I remember flying in 36Y back in the late 90s when I got my instrument rating at PS Air.
- Martin
excellent Martin.. Just a thought maybe you can clarify.. With so many panels & information inside the cockpit, does it effect your scanning outside the A/c.. generally , 80% + time, eyes outside is advised.. whats your guidance.. thank you..
I think it goes both ways. Certainly there is more to look at inside, so it's natural to assume we won't spend as much time looking outside. But if you think about how the information available inside helps us accomplish some tasks, it can also be a tool to make more time available to look outside. An example would be looking for information on a paper chart (digging through the flight bag to find the right chart, unfolding the giant paper chart, looking for the right area - all that takes time and is distracting). Another example is looking for traffic, where a traffic display does not replace looking outside but it can often help guide my view to more quickly spot nearby traffic. So I think it goes both ways, and it ultimately depends on the pilot to make sure adequate time is spent looking outside the window.
Regards,
Martin
@@martinpauly Best Regards. thank you Martin..
Martin, great job on the upgrades and the video! Question, why did you change from Avidyne IFD to the Garmin GPS, particularly since you kept the PDF? I enjoyed your prior videos about the Avidyne boxes. Thanks.
Hi from Germany! Got a question about the Autopilot: Since the Bonanza does not have rudder trim, is the Yaw Damper of the GFC600 strong enough for „foot off“ operations in climb/cruise or do you still have to put in a bit of rudder? Thanks!
Yes, the yaw damper in the GFC 600 in my A36 is sufficiently strong to handle the rudder in climb, even on a go-around. With the TOGA button, transitioning to a missed approach is really a non-event with this autopilot. And it certainly does its job in cruise (before the GFC 600 I used to have to rest my left foot on the rudder pedal in cruise).
Viele Grüsse aus Atlanta!
- Martin
@@martinpauly Thanks so much for your answer, very much appreciated! Viele Grüße aus Köln!
That side tone- try unplugging the ipad charger. My garmin is weird and holds squelch open if I use a certain charger with my ipad.
What iPad charger? There's nothing plugged into my cigarette lighter.
- Martin
Panel quality looks great, just too many moving parts for my liking. Our S35 still has late model Collins Microline, PN101 HSI, RMI, GPS 175 and Stec 60-2 with F/D Y/D and Alt V/S Preselect all installed by myself when I was in the business long ago. I like knobs for tuning. Your Com 2 and Aspen MFD problems should have been caught and fixed before the plane was handed back to you. I'm an old geezer and like my steam gauges. Keep up the great work on the videos.
The Collins Microline was great back in the day. Today there is much nicer equipment available. The GTNs can be configured to use knobs for radio tuning, by the way - so I never see people do that. I'll have to experiment A LOT with different ways of using the new equipment before I can zero in on how I will use them.
- Martin
Very nice!
Thanks, Dave - I'm very happy with it so far!
- Martin
A long wait, but I would almost say it was worth it. Would have been nice if the FAA had been able to approve the STC for the digital interface. You can you talk a little bit more about the differences between the analog and digital interfaces and what it means operationally? Is there any expectation that you'll get a smoother ride/better AP performance when you switch to the digital interface.
As to the differences in headings between the two Aspen displays, I am surprised that happened. I would have thought that would have been one of the first things checked. I'm guessing that you'll be adding 'Check Displays/Back Up display' to your checklist in the future.
I don't recall if you were using Foreflight before and switched the Garmin Pilot, or if you were always using Garmin Pilot. Can you speak to using that? Obviously, it integrates nicely with the GTNs, but I wondering what you think of the software.
Finally, which do you like more, the GTN or the IFDs?
The digital interface will improve operations of the autopilot. Things like automatic level off at a preselected altitude. Or smoothly intercepting a VOR radial or GPS bearing from a heading. For those things, the ride quality will be improved with the digital autopilot interface. For everything else, it'll stay as it is (which is already phenomenal!).
Re Garmin Pilot: I like to learn new things, and as a CFI I like to be familiar with the tools my students use. The new cockpit gives me a chance to become an expert with GTNs, Garmin autopilots and Garmin pilot. Doesn't mean I dislike ForeFlight - they are both great products.
Regards,
Martin
@@martinpauly Thanks for the reply, Martin. You've certainly taken 70TB into the latest generation. I'll be interested to see what you think of it after all the bugs are worked out.
Beautiful panel utilizing both Aspen and Garmin. Very nice. Random question regarding headset. I have been looking at different headsets similar to yours. I noticed the mic seemed to come down on yours some. Can that be adjusted/tightened? Is that annoying or did I just happen to notice the few time you had to adjust it? Just subscribed to your channel and enjoying your videos. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Mark. I'm getting re-acquainted with the Bonanza and everything in it, after ten months without it - including the headset. It sits much better on my head than this video suggests. If you look for my flights in 2021 on UA-cam, you'll see a more routine use of this headset.
Regards,
Martin
Nice panel upgrade. Just curious what drove you to the Aspens over Garmin for your setup?
Excellent! Congrats on the new panel. Hope you get the bugs worked out soon. Question - how do you like Garmin Pilot versus ForeFlight as an EFB?
Thanks, Gordon.
Garmin Pilot seems to be similar in functionality to ForeFlight. I've been wanting to explore it for a while, if only so I can better help students who use Garmin Pilot. It does integrate a little better with my Garmin panel-mount equipment, so this looked like a good time for me to give it a try.
- Martin
Nice panel on 70TB…hope you get the interface STC soon…instead why you do not get a one off STC just for your aircraft
Thanks. Re "one off STC" - there is no such thing. You may be thinking about a field approval (Form 337), but the FAA doesn't like field approvals for EFIS and autopilots. So I have to wait for the broader STC.
- Martin
Super Panel. Congrats - Glückwunsch!! Wie viele Stunden mussten denn Aspen/Garmin testfliegen?
Mit freundlichen Grüßen Patrick SGJ
Hallo Patrick. Garmin hat die Testflüge für Entwicklung und Zulassung gemacht. Ich schätze mal das waren so ca. 20 Stunden.
Grüsse aus Iowa!
- Martin
I’ve flown a 206 with the JPI 930
Those JPI EDM 930s are sweet - I love mine!
- Martin
Noticing your headset requires what appears to be constant mic adjustments; do you still consider that style more preferable than the headset?
I'm getting reacquainted to everything in my plane after 10 months, including the headset. I guess it shows in this video... but yes, I still very much like the in-ear style. I have flown with Bose and LightSpeed headsets in other planes in the meantime, and while those provide very good attenuation, they don't feel as comfortable on long flights to me.
- Martin
Amazing update, I guess was about time, love Aspen, love Garmin. I wish you great flights and enjoyment, besides the added safety to your mission. Just a question would it be easier instead of Aspen to install a G500 or a G3X? Or putting it in another way is it more beneficial taking this route?
Thank you! I do like the Aspens - they provide great redundancy, and I don't feel there's anything missing on the displays compared with a G3X or G500. Sure - it's smaller, but if my PFD fails, I'm not stuck on the ground until I can replace it because I have two of them!
- Martin
Did you do a video telling us why you selected these things as options? Just wondering, there's a whole lot of stuff there on that panel looks like it might be too much work
Hi William. I had three videos about my panel upgrade leading up to this one, back in the summer. They will give you the history, and the reason why I went this path. Here they are:
ua-cam.com/video/-esXjUw20rs/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/Y_8l_GYNbOk/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/EQL0-mEz5o0/v-deo.html
@@martinpauly thank you I will watch those
Does garmin provide pulling freqs over from dbase, like avidyne, or do freqs all need to be entered manually, as appears in the video?
Any comments between avidlyne / garmin user IO, or is staying mum part of the deal w garmin?
I am always amused the no matter what we spend on avionics, Foreflight (and others) remain a primary user interface. Yes in part because iPad mini is “just right.” Difference is one must change at faa speeds, through reluctant faa committee ‘approval’, while FF can quickly make small improvements and corrections.
Was the motivation to switch vendors primarily driven by digital autopilot and fancy panel redo?
Yes, Garmin can look up frequencies from the database. I'm just starting to learn all the new things, so what you see from me doesn't (yet) reflect the most efficient way of handling a task.
Re Avidyne vs. Garmin: that'll be a good question a year from now, after some time with the new system under my belt.
As I mentioned in prior videos, my equipment selection started with the autopilot (GFC600). From there it made sense to also have Garmin GTN units for best compatibility.
Btw, the ForeFlight you saw in this video was Garmin Pilot. 😁
Regards,
Martin
Very nice avionics indeed, Martin! Question - were you concerned with your engine being dormant for ten months?
Yes, I was concerned about that - but the plane was actually flying regularly from mid March (first for development and flight test, then later just to exercise it) so it wasn't sitting around for too long.
- Martin
Hi Martin. You got yourself a nice panel what else can they do in the future I guess time will tell. BTW have you met Stevie Triesenberg ? She just flew her older 1952 Bonanza to San Diego to have a new Garmin panel put in. Safe travels
Thanks, Mike. I have not yet met Stevie, but I have seen her beautiful Bonanza at the Garmin booth in Oshkosh this past summer.
- Martin
@@martinpauly appreciate your reply
😢 Aspen ? Ugh…. I dislike that Aspen uses a green needle for a GPS approach vs a magenta needle. I would have loved to see a Garmin G500 TXi.
You are welcome to put all Garmin in your panel, and that would not be a bad solution. But I actually like the Aspen system and the redundancy it provides, and I also like the fact that Garmin is opening themselves at least a little bit to working with 3rd parties like Aspen.
- Martin
Martin, congratulations on getting 70TB back and it’s good to see you flying in the area again! I worked you outbound to JVL today, would love to check out that beautiful new equipment sometime! Have a great thanksgiving and congrats again! -Jason
Hi Jason - thanks for the comment, and for the always great service at CID approach and local from your whole team. Always happy to give controllers a ride so they can see things from the other side and get a better understanding of the full picture that way. Finding a time to do that is the tricky part - Michael Ruen has my contact info; if you send me yours we'll see what we can work out.
Regards,
Martin
Thank you for the kind words, Martin. Sometimes about anyone can face delays/sequencing, but we all really try to give you GA guys great service to make the Eastern Iowa area a nice place to fly!
And that sounds awesome! I’ll get with Mike and reach out. Have a great holiday season fly safe! Will talk soon. -Jason
Martin,Do you have any regrets with removing the Avidyne equip?
It's a lot of new learning, but that's part of the fun for me. Though it's much too early for me to make a real comparison between the IFDs and the GTNs - give me a year or so with the GTNs, and I'll have a better idea.
- Martin
I guess most of us are trying to wrap our head around the fact that this is all-garmin panel without garmin efis. Hard to imagine any other rational reason, other that Aspen gave you displays for free. But anyways, love your videos and beautiful panel.
What can I say? I like the Aspen displays. They give all the information I want in an easy-to-read presentation, and in a form factor that allows me to have two redundant PFDs (plus an MFD) so that I am not stuck on the ground should my main display ever have a problem.
- Martin