Anyone with experience using this kit? I am thinking of upgrading the entire panel on my Rotax 912 powered plane. Avmap currently has a sale going on for this system and the cost seems good for what it is. I only fly VFR and usually no more than 200 miles from home. This 'system' has an EFIS and engine box included which might be a good addition. The system seems to be a good all around package that should cover most of my needs for basice navigation and engine monitoring.

I am not currently versed on all the available units out there so if anyone knows of something similar for a fair price I am willing to listen.

I have also been thinking of going the tablet route but then I would still need engine guages.

I have been using an AvMap EKP IV for several years and have been satisfied with it. Unfortunately it is getting 'long in the tooth' and the internal battery is no keeping my settings in memory. I see that it is a $125 cost to get it fixed but wonder if I wouldn't be better just upgrading to something newer and keeping this old unit for a spare.


avionics.avmap.it/en/products/avmap-avionics-system/

I don't know much about Avmap. After years of watching the market and talking to folks about it I think I'd be inclined to buy the MGL system.
http://www.mglavionics.com/html/iefis_lite.html

Having said that, I've also never heard anyone complain about the Dynon 180 system.

That MGL looks nice also, only concern I might have is that all that info on one screen can get, an older guy like me, overload! I actually was looking at the MGL units last night and that was the only downside I, personally, was concerned with. Price is not much more than the AvMap system.

For a budget system the route I'd go is: GRT Mini-X, GRT EIS, and a android tablet. All flight/engine info is available on the Mini and EIS but if you want to get fancy then display the engine info on the Mini and the flight info on the tablet. The Mini can send the flight info to the tablet via Bluetooth.

I'll second Whee's Grand Rapids Technologies (GRT) recommendation. Great company, products, and support. Also, look into the cost of database and software upgrades. GRT provides those for free, not sure about the other companies. I've been flying with GRT's EIS and a Sport EFIS for 7 years. All navigation, terrain, obstical, airport info databases are provided without cost plus any system software upgrades.

WW, if I may be so bold:

Our mission is very similar to yours and using Rotax power. We invested in all that glass (not AvMap brand but all the bells and whistles) for the S7 and are now repeating the process with the partners S20 for some reason that still escapes me.

If I were building another panel for myself, I wouldn't bother. For starters, all the functions on that engine monitor make it nothing but a worry meter and frankly I quit looking at it. All you need is a tach, oil pressure and temp, and coolant temp. Unless you're running a Hackman leaner you can't do anything about the mixture. The fuel flow is interesting but the sight gauges in the wings are what you ultimately rely on. The little bar graphs pulsing up and down are amusing, but why do I need to know all that?

With respect to the NAV functions, again, SYNVIS is cool, but not all that necessary in the VFR world. I find myself looking at it way too much, thinking how cool it would be to fly the GPS approach down to the numbers but then I remember exactly what machinery I am flying and why on earth I would want to do that? Can't heat the pitot and windshield defrost...what's that? So I put the damned thing on six pack mode and enjoy the scenery. The GPS NAV use is fairly complicated when compared to Garmin logic which seems to be kind of the gold standard of easy interface.

With respect to updates, it's been my experience that there's a new one every week. Might be NAV related or some sort of software patch. I am not going to keep up with all that BS, being honest. I don't even update my iPhone.

So, my advise, after shelling out $10K or so for a cool looking panel, is don't. I would get basic engine function gauges as required, whisky compass, ASI and altimeter to make the Man happy, some sort of electrically powered attitude indicator so as to make a 180 degree turn back with some level of precision, a good, basic ICOM panel mount COMM, and a Garmin 700-something GPS in a panel dock. Then I would get some big tires from Desser along with some 8" wheels from George at Matco and go flying.

My opinion, which you have not asked for:-)

gb

Edit: oh yeah, and I'd buy some more ammo and something else to feed it to.

The MGL Infinity series are some of the neatest, most affordable instruments I've used.

http://www.mglavionics.com/html/infinity.html

The E3 is one thing I'd spec in a super simple panel. I don't know anything about the Avmap, so sorry for the tangent. I think fondling the system in person is a definite prerequisite for purchasing any instrument.

Wow, thanks alot everyone, greatly appreciated.

I have been flying behind round guages for 30 years and I am sort of set in my ways, but every so a=often I think I need to adapt to the new stuff.

I think gbflyer said exactly what is in my head but don't say. I am a 'look out the window' type of guy with the occassional scan of the engine instruments.
I really don't need any of this stuff. yet I do need to either get a few things repaired or replaced. My turn and bank/ slip indicator has never been accurate, either that or I fly crooked (big possibility). My tach is starting to fluctuate, and one other instrument occassionally falters. My thinking is the costs to repair or replace these might be better spent on a new fangled glass that would be lighter and have more use. I am guessing that the fact that this plane sat unused for 11+ years has a lot to do with the gauge problems.

I would like to have more precise engine monitoring gauges, the other stuff is just a luxury. The only gauges (VDO) now are oil pressure, oil temp, water temp, CHT, Tach and volts.