I would say a long trip would be in the 300 - 500 nm range. I'm in
the east, and your point about 150nm is well taken.

With regard to exact configurations, that's really tough to say at
this point. Baggage, passengers, and other specifics haven't garnered
a lot of consideration. I may have a passenger or 2 on some of the
long trips, but I'm not banking on it. I'm not buying to use the
plane as a weekend hauler, just something that I can use for pleasure
or to take a family member or friend with me for company. I vacation
in VT a couple times a year, so I would be taking some baggage with
me, and perhaps one or two passengers, but thats about it.

I hope that helps with configuration!

As for on-board, I suppose I could get over that. I agree that
yoke-mount would be OK. There's an avionics shop nearby and I've seen
Garmin 430's for $3750 there, which didn't seem like a bank-breaker
for a panel mounted GPS/COM upgrade. Installation, I understand, is
not included... what that would cost has yet to be determined.
Anyone?

On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 07:42:32 -0700, "Tom Sixkiller"
wrote:


"Jerry Napoliano" wrote in message
.. .

Thanks for the comments. I will be using it IFR, and for traveling.
Long trips might only be once or twice a year, no more. Speed is
nice, I agree, but comes at a price that I'm just not able to justify
at this point.

What do you consider a "long" trip? Time or miles? Out west, a long trip can
easily be 500NM; back east 150nm can take hours with the holds, indirect
routing...

I'd like to hear more about why you think I should pass on this one.
Its not the first I've looked at, and I've been doing a lot of
research over the last 6 months. From an avionics standpoint, its
fine - I'd just like to have an on-board GPS. From an
airframe/interior/exterior perspective, its excellent. For a 172 its
very clean inside and out.

Why on-board? Just my own addled opinion, but a yoke mounted, handheld GPS
in a 172 should be adequate.

(See? Lots of tough questions!! :~)