"Dave Butler" wrote in message
...
Please excuse the hijacking of this religious/political forum to raise a
question about flying.

My partners and I are faced with a decision. What would you do?

We plan to update our outdated panel with a GNS480. The CDIs currently
installed are not compatible with the GNS480, so one of them will be
replaced.

We could replace the existing CDI with a compatible one for $2000.

We could install a non-slaved NSD360 HSI instead for $3500.

If we install the HSI, the no-longer-used CDI hole can be used for the
electric AI that's been waaaay over on the other side of the panel.

I think I know what we will do (go for the HSI), but I'm collecting
opinions.

Is the NSD360 likely to become a maintenance headache?

In the electronic age, does it make sense to install an electromechanical
aid to situational awareness?

Thanks,

Dave

Great question! Although I can't imagine flying without an HSI (all my
flying since my private checkride has been behind an HSI), it seems that
there will be a breakthrough soon. With some experemental PFDs selling for
under $2000 with AHARS, it seems that someone must be cooking up a
self-contained EHSI with internal gyro. I don't actually know of anyone
working on this but it seems unlikely that it is not being persued

Mike
MU-2