Synthetic Vision (SVT) upgrade for older G1000

[Rick]

I know the guy who owns the DA40 I'm flying now wants to add SVT, but has been putting it off for a almost a year now - mostly because of the cost, I think. I suspect he would jump at a chance to add it for a more reasonable charge if such an opportunity came along...

[BRS]

I've been wanting to do the SVT upgrade as well but $10,000 is way too much. $5,000 would be more like it.

For 10K I'd be more likely to install active traffic than SVT, though ADS-B has muddied the waters for adding traffic.

[Tim]

I am interested.

[Gary]

The issue is that Diamond owns the software upgrades not Garmin. Garmin will not talk to us. Diamond doesn't want to sell it to us because that is one of the only real upgrades to the XLS. They would rather you bought a new airplane.

But we should try to put a group of committed buyers together and see if we can get anywhere with them.

I can spearhead this if there is enough interest.

This illustrates one advantage of converting a steam gauge DA40 to Garmin G500 rather than get a G1000. All software upgrades for the G500 are from Garmin and SVT retails for $5,000 although I think I got it for less.

[Lance Murray]

Gary,

I just picked up a DA40XL. Although I do like the G-1000 with the Garmin autopilot I really do think that a steam gage airplane with all the upgrades is a better airplane. The only real downside to the steam gage plane is the engine monitor, and that could be changed.

Also I am not convinced that the newer XL is any faster than my 2002 without power flow or slicker wheel fairings. I just flew it across the country and never saw any speeds greater than 140kts at 8,000' My 2002 will do that just fine.

[Tim]

Congratulations on your new ride, Lance.
I would think that is a sweet autopilot.
Does it lean at cruise any differently from your 2002?
Tim

[Brichards]

At 2.5 to 3 K, adding SVT would be a no brainier for me. 10K is rediculous.

[Lance Murray]

The engine monitor is sure a lot nicer but it leans the same. The VMS monitor is just very slow response so you have to spend 3 times the amount of time looking at it. The G-1000 makes it really easy to understand and easy to find the LAST cylinder to peak. The VMS only shows the FIRST cylinder to peak so you have to watch it closely.

Congratulations on your new ride, Lance.
I would think that is a sweet autopilot.
Does it lean at cruise any differently from your 2002?
Tim

[Tim]

The engine monitor is sure a lot nicer but it leans the same. The VMS monitor is just very slow response so you have to spend 3 times the amount of time looking at it. The G-1000 makes it really easy to understand and easy to find the LAST cylinder to peak. The VMS only shows the FIRST cylinder to peak so you have to watch it closely.

So no difference in LOP performance from your '02 to your '07?

In my '04, hard to get more than 10-15° LOP before it starts to sound rough. I'd heard that the Powerflow engines ran smoother and leaner than non powerflow.

[Cschobel]

I would prefer to spend $10,000 on the Garmin Active Traffic. But Alas, Diamond has not approved it. It would be a great safety addition