Recommended G1000 and GTN650 for IFR Proficiency?

[Noe_Flightrisk 1]

To maintain IFR proficiency, I'd like to fly a not-too-slow single engine light aircraft in P3D with a G1000 (or G3X Touch) and a GTN-650 Touch in the panel.  Not having found any planes with both, I guess the solution is to buy a plane with the G1000 and add the 650, or vice versa.

Carendo has a Malibu with the G1000, as well as a 172.  Are there other vendors worthy of consideration for this purpose? 

For the GTN-650, all I've seen for P3D is the one by Reality XP.  How smoothly would it integrate?

Your thoughts?  Thanks!!

[ryanbatc 12,820]

I haven't seen any plane in the real world with that combo.  The Cirrus jet sort of has a sideways GTN like comm setup but it has the g3000

[eslader 1,779]

G1000-specific, you don't want Carenado if you want it to work right. Their planes are beautiful, but the systems are... Just bad.

The best G1000 out there that I've found is in the Vertx DA62, which is an all-around awesome plane. It's a twin, not a single, but it's a piston twin with FADEC so you don't really need to worry about managing 2 engines and can concentrate on the G1000 if you wish.

Were I in your shoes, I'd definitely go for the good G1000 in a twin over a bad G1000 in a single.

 

[vgbaron 3,508]

You might want to consider the Quest Kodiak by Lionheart Creations. You could add the 650 in that.

Vic

[Noe_Flightrisk 1]

All- It's so nice to be able to talk with people who have been there before!  Glad I asked you about my plans.  Thanks!

Ryan - I agree it may be unusual, but I just built the second real-world Carbon Cub to fly with G3X and GTN-650, and based on recent demand CubCrafters seem to have plans to add this as a standard option in their factory-assisted build program.  I haven't seen any G3X sims out there (even Garmin doesn't publish a "trainer" for it), so I chose the G1000 as a close substitute for my PFD.  Hmmm, a Cirrus jet is appealing, but it's pretty far from what I actually fly.

eslader - Thanks for the warning!  I'll steer clear of Carendo, especially given my goals.  I agree entirely: I'd rather a good twin than a bad single.  Will definitely look into the Vertx DA62

vgbaron - Appreciate the tip about the Lionheart Quest Kodiak.  Plus, I like that it is STOL.

[PurdueKev 159]

I will add a second vote for the Vertx DA62.  Probably the best P3D G1000 implementation I have come across thus far.  Airspeeds, performance and aircraft handling for the DA62 are similar to any high-performance GA single, and as eslader noted the FADEC means you can concentrate on navigation and flying and not worry so much about managing the engines.  One of the developers was a part of the highly regarded RealAir team, so you can be confident everything works as it should and performance in the sim is quite good.

Also, I am very happy with the GTN 650 from Flight1 and have added it (or the 750) to pretty much every GA P3D aircraft I have.

And yes, the Carenado G1000 is mediocre both in terms of sim performance and functionality. Stay very far away.

Edited February 16, 2019 by PurdueKev

[ryanbatc 12,820]

The Vertx DA62 is excellent.

If you're ok with another sim, consider the ASDG super cub with Reality XP GTN 650.  (It's for x plane 11) While it's not glass it might be a little more of what you're looking for.

[Noe_Flightrisk 1]

THE GOOD NEWS

I ended up getting the Vertx DA62, and find the FADEC dirt simple to use and the G1000 realistic.  I have added on the Reality XP GTN 650, since I read their nav databases are more up-to-date than Flight1's.  Indeed, the GTN turns out to be completely realistic since it actually wraps around Garmin's own GTN trainer, which is good.

 

THE GLITCH

However, neither the DA62 autopilot nor the G1000 HSI seem to receive course guidance from the GTN.   Any suggestions on how to get them listening to it?

[ryanbatc 12,820]

Have you configured the 650 at all?  You'll have to adjust a few variables in the rxp ini file.  You can also do this in the sim by right clicking the top of the 650 popup gauge.

[AndiKunzi 62]

A G1000 is a fully integrated avionics solution. It has ist own GPS, AHRS and so on. It won't talk to other FMS or GPS in real world and you won't find a RW aircraft having a G1000 + a GTN.

[Noe_Flightrisk 1]

@ryanbatcund - Thanks, I had tried, but wasn't able to find anything that helped.

@AndiKuzi - Good point.   So, perhaps you can help with my real objective here.  My goal is to use P3D to maintain IFR proficiency with an EFIS (G1000, G20000, G500, or whatever), autopilot, and a GTN, since my RW aircraft has both G3X (with AHRS, etc) and G5 EFIS and a GTN-650.  However,  I don't really care if the corresponding RW components have ARINC or RS232 exchange of position data and waypoint crossfill, I just want them to successfully interface in P3D.  If the stumbling block is the G1000, I'd be happy to switch to another EFIS, preferably Garmin.  Since you seem well informed, could you (or anybody reading) recommend any SELs with, say, G500-based panels for P3D?  They do talk with GTNs in the RW for sure.  

 

[Noe_Flightrisk 1]

@AndyKunzi - Sorry for mis-spelling your screen name

[Noe_Flightrisk 1]

For example, would the F1 GTN Complete plus G500 be realistic and, if so, what aircraft would it integrate well with? A consideration (but not a hard limitation)  is that I already have the Vertx DA62 and Lionheart Quest Kodiak for aircraft, and the RealityXP GTN-650.

[ryanbatc 12,820]

I think the Alabeo Seminole and Navajo can use the G500 and GTN750

Nothing that I know in the FS world has the specific combo you're looking for

[Bert Pieke 7,584]

Indeed, the Seminole might well meet your requirements.. a light twin trainer with a GTN 750 avionics system interfacing with a G500 PFD.

If you really want a GTN 650, I would ask if you can use steam gauges for your PFD, in which case an a2a C182 or Cherokee or Bonanza might do the trick..

Edited February 27, 2019 by Bert Pieke