I did decide to keep the Cessna 385 so actually I will have a 2nd
nav/com (localizer only, of course). This is going to cost me an
additional $700 only, including the 2nd comm antenna I need. I think
that's a pretty decent tradeoff for a 2nd nav/com.

That's all the money I'm sticking into this aircraft avionics-wise,
anyway. I'm done.

Still wish I didn't have to wait 5 weeks to get everything installed.
Oh well.

~Paul

Michael wrote:

Paul Folbrecht wrote

If anybody thinks it's really silly for me to do IFR training with only
1 comm and 1 nav I'd guess I'd like to hear that.


It's not silly at all. I think you made the right decision. It's how
I trained, and it's how I'm training a student now. Start by reading
everything Richard Kaplan has said on the subject - it's 100% dead on.
Then consider this:

The most important skill in flying single pilot IFR is maintaining
situational awareness. There are lots of gadgets (your 295 is one of
them) that can help, but true situational awareness is in your head.
Having to fly with a single VOR head will develop that situational
awareness - you will learn to use time and heading to estimate your
position, and use the VOR as a crosscheck because it will not be
possible to constantly crosscheck with only a single VOR.

Even a partial panel intersection hold or VOR/LOC approach where the
FAF is defined by a cross-radial will become no big deal once you have
developed the necessary skills. All else being equal, I suppose it
might add a few hours to your training. Consider it an investment in
your future as an instrument pilot, and insurance against the day
things go really, really wrong.

Michael