" As regards my original post in this thread, I have now got to the
bottom of this. Someone told me that it is illegal to fly with an
"IFR" placarded GPS unless the database is current. I am now certain
this is rubbish.

However, in the process of digging into this area, I discovered that
the FAA approved flight manual supplement I had prohibited the GPS to
be used for anything whatsoever, unless the pilot had manually
verified each waypoint's coordinates (which is silly). The aircraft
manufacturer (Socata in France) never certified the KLN94 installation
for IFR usage. Their U.S. outlet does this extra bit for their
customers, using the standard procedure which involves a flight test
and the local FSDO approves the flight manual supplement. I now have
to get this done. Another lesson learnt.

GPS for IFR is only just coming into Europe and I think that France recently
published the first GPS approach.

This is one of the problems the Cirrus has in Europe. Most approaches here
require ADF and or DME and distances off a GPS are not allowed. Cirrus'
solution is a botch job which spoils the pretty panel and they are brassing
off a few customers in the process.

So here even an up-to-date database is worth squat in the IFR environment.