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Hej !
Having a deiced PA30 with a GTN750 flying all around the year in northern Europe a stormscope should really be useful as we in Europe still not have affordable and reliable weather info by datalink. A weather radar is no (economical) alternative. Does someone have experience with the WX-500 in a Pa30/39 ?
Kolja Gilli
SE-EOK
Västerås, Sweden
A stormscope can he helpful, but it shows only lightening. It doesn't show rain and cloud, so the benefit is limited and the drag of the antenna must cost some speed.
You could choose XM Weather, but the delay in pixel download can mean that the weather has moved by the time you reach it.
You might contemplate having your Garmin 750 synch with bluetooth to a mini IPad. I reviewed a PA30 last week that had a panel docking station and with Foreflight the aircraft showed weather, moving map, the magenta line ......... it was an inexpensive and really good multifunction flight display. With bluetooth you can do a flight plan on your IPad with Foreflight and take it to the plane and load it and, in flight, use it for the flight display.
Pat Barry
Hej Pat !
Thanks for your answer and theoretically absolute a good idea - unfortunately the coverage with actual weather-information in flight by Ipad, mobile phone or even Garmins weather function in the GTN750 is somewhere between poor and not existing in Scandinavia (yet) so even if this works in the US and in some parts of central Europe its still waste of money in Scandinavia (yet); until now and probably for some more years you have to relay on either weather radar or strike finder onboard if you want more information than "fifty shades of grey" when flying in clouds in Northern Europe.
/Kolja Gilli
Hej !
Having a deiced PA30 with a GTN750 flying all around the year in northern Europe a stormscope should really be useful as we in Europe still not have affordable and reliable weather info by datalink. A weather radar is no (economical) alternative. Does someone have experience with the WX-500 in a Pa30/39 ?
Kolja Gilli
SE-EOK
Västerås, Sweden
Hi,
I'm using ADL Golze weather data.
If you are passionate about deicing your Twin Comanche there is a talented man named Paul Phillips in Delaware who has the parts for a deice system, but I expect it would be in the $45,000 range. You could inquire of Paul if you are serious about it, but since you mentioned affordability then it may not be for you. If you wish to contact him his email is phlair747@aol.com
I have a Wx-500 in a PA30C (installed 20 years ago), it works very well and keeps me out of serious trouble. The data is displayed on an Avidyne IFD440 and iPad, could also be connected to my Aspen PFD.
I wish the 777 I flew had a stormscope overlay on the weather radar picture.
I have attached a screen shot from my iPad, showing a mid summer active cold front mid English channel.
@chrisburrough Hej & thanks a lot for the answer ! I found a used WX-500 the last days for really okey price and even with EASA Form One; it will be installed the next service at my workshop !
If you should have the paperwork left from your installation I would like to ask if it is possible to get a copy ? As we so don't have to do the work with the minor mod if there already as a Pa30 with a similar installation in EASA / FAA.
And De-ice is already installed in my Twinkie, Boots, electrical windshield and the original alcohol-system on the propellers - works really well even in the scandinavian winter !
/Kolja
