in GA real heavy IMC IMHO requires a twin with some sort of storm detection...even satellite Wx...otherwise it's gamble...A Cirrus or something like that can do light IMC
Been reading too many mags?
I never knew a 2nd motor provided better weather capability
What is actually needed is
- de-ice
- radar
- high altitude capability to get above organised IMC if possible (FL250+)
- high performance (obviously)
- systems redundancy (2 alternators, 2 buses, 2 batteries, etc)
In most cases, a FL250 ceiling, full TKS, and decent performance will get you into VMC which is the best place to be.
There is no tactically usable satellite wx service in Europe. There is a system operated by Moving Terrain and one operated by Avidyne, both using Iridium, but neither delivering real time wx radar data. One can get Tafs and Metars easily enough (I can get them over my Thuraya satphone) but that's not useful for tactical weather penetration.
A stormscope is a common fit but while a strong indication on it is a definite no-go, a lack of any indication doesn't mean there isn't going to be very nasty turbulence. Weather radar is probably more useful, together with a stormscope even better.
Ultimately if you want to penetrate "heavy IMC" you need to be prepared for a severe shaking-up every once in a while. That's how airlines work it; they have very good high-perf hardware but the bottom line is that the passengers can't complain to the pilots, whereas if you do that in your own plane it may be the last time anybody flies with you