G BIFY Radios

[Turnip Pilot]

I am the successful buyer of G BIFY today. The radios are missing. Does any one know what they were so I can buy some to fit or where they might be please?:ok:

[London Flyer]

Type "G-BIFY" into Google and click on "images" - there's a shot of the panel there, which shows some COM device fitted.

[mad_jock]

Looks like a pair of NARCO's in the hole for an old collins clunk click radio.



If you are going to be keeping it for a while it might be worth getting a mode S and a modern flipflop as airpolice has shown you.

You might want to get a radio GPS combo.

Better to have a think about it and what your going to use the plane for before finding anyold crap to stick in.

[Turnip Pilot]

I am very grateful to you for your reply and help. I will use a TKM 170 Plug-in as a replacement for King KX170 series.

[mad_jock]

Just did a search on the old king and was suprised how much they are worth.

For me personally it is more use as a door stop than a radio these days.

[Rod1]

A word of caution;

I think you will not be allowed to fit a new mode c transponder – you will have to fit Mode S.

In the next 4 or 5 years you will need an 8.33 radio so you may want to do that now rather than pay twice.

Rod1

[A and C]

As Rod says above you will need 8.33 soon and mode S is already with us so I would bite the bullet ans look at some new equipment, I would start with Trig or Garmin for your aircraft.

The TMK170 was a notoriously poor radio with frequent failures, I know of at least three people who spent more money getting these things fixed than buying them. No doubt someone here has the only trouble free TKM170 and loves the thing, but on the whole the lack of them within the industry tells a story.

[mad_jock]

As a matter of interest what would you put in AnC?

[Turnip Pilot]

Garmin stack

[mad_jock]

You see I wouldn't be putting in a 430 or like if it was a VFR only machine.

Also if its a single radio machine I wouldn't want to be powering up a Gx30 with all the time it takes just to get the ATIS and then the drain on the battery if I had an alt failure.

Also is a high priced bit of kit in a relatively easy to get into cockpit.

Never mind the garmins updates cost a fortune.

I would though have a garmin basic flip flop with the standby monitoring. Is it a SL30? Is it even EASA approved?

There mode S is nice with the punch numbers onlong the bottom. Better than the turn and fiddle with the two knob transponders.

The GPS I would have a yoke or fixed mount with aircraft power so I could remove it home to do updates and or upload routes/ keep it safe and only take it when I wanted it.

[goldeneaglepilot]

I see that G-BIFY is one of the EX Bonus Aviation aircraft. How much work have you got to do to comply with the latest Cessna blurb?

The cost of that work might temper the amount of money to spend on the radios - perhaps keep it simple and the cost down, it's a high hours aircraft and likely to fall under the requirements of some of the latest AD's.

How many hours has the engine got left and if you are going to use it for anything other than private flying? Where is it in its 12 year life cycle? I guess the potential cost of all of these factors will influence how much money you may wish to invest in the replacement of the radios.

If it was mine I would be thinking would fitting £3000 of radios into the aircraft increase the value £3000 above what you paid for the aircraft?

I see Bennet Avionics have a MX170B for $1295, if you take into account the shipping cost, and import tax costs to get it into the UK then I doubt you would have much change out of £1500. If you budget about the same for a second hand AT165 transponder then its going to be about the same again.

[Turnip Pilot]

Mad Jock that is all sensible good advice that I have taken on board.
I'll be working out the best solution with the Avionics guy at Airtime next week so I'll let you know the end result.
Thank you.
TP

[mad_jock]

Just remember that anyone to do with avionics is a professional bull****ter of the first order.

Half of it is that every installation is different and the other half is that there are so many variables. And its usually easier to baffle a pilot with BS than it is to dazzel them with brillance. You can charge the same it takes a fraction of the time and ensures repeat buisness.

You will need to go to more than one place to get a quote and also get more than one opinion.

I would imagine A and C has pretty much seen every variation you can get in a Cessna 150/152.

[Ultranomad]

I see Bennet Avionics have a MX170B for $1295, if you take into account the shipping cost, and import tax costs to get it into the UK then I doubt you would have much change out of £1500. If you budget about the same for a second hand AT165 transponder then its going to be about the same again.
Bennett Avionics have a less-than-stellar reputation, so I would think twice before buying from them. Their web site is good as reference material, though.
Mendelssohn Pilot Supplies (http://www.gps.co.uk) have MX170C for £1295+VAT.

[Sir George Cayley]

Had a look on G-INFO. Nice picture of the plane with a couple of great looking birds ;)

I've fond memories of this type of 150 - good choice, hope you and BIFY have loads of adventures :ok:

SGC

[Rod1]

Two ideas for you;

Funkwerk ATR833 Transceiver List price £1070 ex vat
Trig TT21 Mode S Transponder List price £1350 ex vat

Avoid the Garmin 328 Transponder – it is the only one which will not do ES for ADS-B which could cause you to have to replace it in the medium term.

Rod1

[mad_jock]

It looked to me as if he has some nav gear that needs a feed so needs a navcom.

Although it only looks to be a VOR might be worth putting a VOR/ILS display in.

[jollyrog]

You are very lucky to be near Brian Cook of Bournemouth Avionics, he's done loads of work on my Shareoplane, all of which we're very happy with. If you would like his contact details, please let me know.

He's a straight talking avionics installer!

[A and C]

The instalation would depend on the mission but as most people who are pure VFR pilots have a hand held GPS I would recomend the Trig Mode S transponder and the new Trig 8.33 transceiver ( and making sure the cigar lighter socket works well for powering the GPS). This fit would make it a future proof VFR aircraft fr the near future as the Trig mode S can take ADSB if required.

There is such a wide range of options if you want some sort of IFR fit I could go on for a week or two, but let's remember we could without any effort triple the value of an aging Cessna 150.

I have done business with Bennet Avionics and had no problems with them but there is a very good reason for the MX radio being so cheap.............no one wants them !

[wigglyamp]

Mad Jock. Your statement "Just remember that anyone to do with avionics is a professional bull****ter of the first order" is a bit of a blanket endictment of a whole section of industry! Don't you trust ANY avionic person to give impartial advice?

[mad_jock]

Not really to be honest.

The B2's I have had dealings with apart from the odd one or two have always had a tendency to lie through thier teeth to get the aircraft out the door.

Most arn't truely independant and are tied to a service center for a brand.

And to be honest the service that I have seen with GA avionics in my neck of the woods is to be quite honest shocking. With usually more problems occuring after being tinkered with than before.

I would listen to an A&P with a pilots license but would always go and check with other pilots/owners before going with an avionics shop recommendation.

Don't worry its pretty common with instrumentation as a whole, boats are the same, and also A/D data acquisition in industry.

[Turnip Pilot]

I am sorry to have to ask this of you but Please Do not use my my innocent enquiry for help to vent your spleen on others. Thank you TP

[Turnip Pilot]

In case any of the avionics guys see this I have to say that. Nigel, Clive and Brian have always given me a good deal and value for money. Thank you guys. I'll be over to see you with Beefy soon. RB

[mad_jock]

I was just answering someone's question, no spleen venting inprogress.

[md 600 driver]

Why not buy a working second hand king or what ever it was and just plug it in
the tray no big bills works immediately

[Turnip Pilot]

Md 600 Driver. That is an excellent idea and certainly the cheapest option. Thanks. TP

[Bob Upanddown]

Turnip

I would second MD600 Driver. You can easy get overhauled units from the USA which match the ones that were in there and just slide them in.

Otherwise your logic escapes me. Why buy an aircraft (I guess from an auction of the Bonus aircraft) which you should have paid bu##er all for, pay some avionics numpty to rip you off with all sorts of extras and things they didn't see when they quoted, and then end up with a 150 which is STILL worth bu##er all.

Bob

[mad_jock]

Leave him alone. Its his baby.

Just like classic cars and boats logic doesn't come into.

If the additions provide an increase in enjoyment and experience of flying the machine and are considered "worth it" to the owner I see no problem investing even if its not going to recuperate the value. He can always transfer them to another plane later if he gets another one. This mode S stuff and 8.33 won't go away.

If it was a buisness buy then I would take a different few but to a private owner its not a problem.

Hell I have a 350 quid hand crafted model of an aircraft I used to fly sitting in my house. Value on ebay 20 quid. For me worth every penny.

[Rod1]

As has been said it is Turnip Pilot’s toy to do with as he wishes. If he wants a quick fix and get it airborne then replacing the old radios will work, but it will be more expensive in the medium term. Regarding avionic engineers and light aircraft engineers in general – the industry does not have a good reputation but that does not mean all are bad. Like most things in aviation, it is what you know that will dictate what you pay. The ill-informed and his money are easily parted.

Rod1

[Turnip Pilot]

Thanks Jock, I like your style and I like Edinburgh but I find Aberdeen where I believe you are to be a bit grey. I am over 60 and have given up a lot of things following a bad fall off a horse that rolled on me and nearly killed me two years ago.
I bought the old 150 out of nostalgia as I learnt to fly in one a lifetime ago. I have a Bonanza, a Baron and a massive RIB I hardly use, I have two horses I can't ride any more, I sold my Fireblade then had a Supercharged 420 HP Jag XKR that frightened the sh1t out of me so I sold it too, I have a wife that makes me do the washing up and I have a dog that won't bark so I thought a cheap 150 would complete my lifestyle package!
I didn't expect to start a war or be insulted when I asked about some cheap boxes for a cheap old banger.
G BIFY by the way is much loved by all sorts of people who have contacted me asking what my intentions are with the old girl. So I had better take good care of her for the next owner.
I'm off to prune the roses.
Turnip Head
:ok:

[Bob Upanddown]

Mad Jock.
I agree with your sentiments.
If I bought an aircraft to keep for many years, then I don't see any problem spending money to make it more suited to my use.
But (as mentioned earlier in the thread) with all the 100 series SIDs, high hours, ex-flying school, an odd choice of aircraft to pour money into when something with a 430 can be picked up for reasonable money. Certainly less than a 150 plus the cost of installing new Mode S, 430, etc.
Thats all.

[mad_jock]

It wasn't a war far from it.

I suspect wigglieamps from his posts on here is an old school avionics engineer or trained under one, that can actually read a circuit diagram and takes pride in his work. Takes a snag as a challenge not as an interuption to drinking tea.

Unfortuantly the good guys are getting pulled down and tarnished by the other complete berks that are plying the same trade. I still hold out that in general my statement was true.

As said the mode S won't go away neither will the 8.33 and not having flipflops is a pain in the arse to be honest. But a 430 etc is just over kill if its your VFR buggy.

And a C150 is a perfect machine if you just want kick the tyres and get airborne to watch the sunset.

Its well worth getting some covers for it if your going to keep it outside and get new carpets for it afterward; after getting someone to scrub internals down with anti-fugal/bacterial wash. It will stop it smelling like a pub toilets.

Pilot DAR on here has had one for over twenty years and asures us all it is still as sweet smelling as the day he took it into his care.

[cats_five]

<snip>
I have a wife that makes me do the washing up
<snip>

Surely you can afford a washing up machine?

[Curved Wing]

Turnip Pilot

Great to see G-BIFY is doing so well and looking great, I used to fuel, clean, de-ice, tie down etc and did my PPL training/1st solo in her when a teenager (in my 40's now, going grey) whilst working my very first job as a general dogs body at Phoenix Aviation, Cranfield back in the late 80's (Bonus were still based at leavesden).

I've always held a hope I could afford to buy her myself one day (bank manager laughing at that thought currently).

I hope you enjoy looking after her as much as I did, happy flapping.

[Turnip Pilot]

GBIFY IS IN GREAT FORM AND JUST GOES ON GIVING pleasure to all who fly her. I had a superb flight From Bournemouth to Perranporth and back last week. I went down at FL 60 on top in the clear. Returning at 1,000 agl. The evening air was still and calm and it was a memorable flight in a great little machine. Mr Cessna got it just right with his high wing and wonderful controls. All so balanced and harmonised. She is a veritable joy. If you would like to take her for a trip just let me know. BIFY likes to go flying with her friends. :-)

[A and C]

What avionics have you decided to fit ?

[Curved Wing]

Your description of your trip to Perranporth triggered a few happy memories of similar flights I had in BIFY
Thanks for your kind offer, I will defiantly be in touch with you in the future, cheers Turnip Pilot.

[captain_flynn]

I did my training at Perranporth and then flew BIFY when I moved to MK and flew from Cranfield. I am glad that BIFY is serving you well and the photos on facebook of her in her new livery look good too :)