Where to buy HSI for Cessna 172?

[Juvat]

I just bought a new Cessna 172SP...I'm picking it up from the factory next month. My only regret is that I didn't choose to have an HSI installed in place of the DG. Now I want to get one.

Question: can anyone please tell me where I can find an inexpensive after-market vendor to sell/install an HSI? I tried checking around my local area, and the prices were truly outrageous.

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[sky37d]

There is no such thing an inexpensive HSI.


Try www.avionix.com for best prices, but hang on to your shorts when they quote install.
For my plane, install was quoted at $5K, or 50% more than the instrument.

 

[Juvat]

There is no such thing an inexpensive HSI.

That's for sure! Hey, thanks for the tip on that website.

 

[User546]

If you want a used one, I just ran across one on eBay. Still have to pay someone to install it, but hey atleast the initial $100 beats $2,500 somewhere else!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26436&item=2490974733

Just thought I'd share that with you....

 

[Juvat]

Thanks

Hey, User997: that's a great find. Thanks for passing it along!

 

[Propsfullfwd]

Tomilson avionics is Pine Bluff, AR can do the work. Ask for Jerry. They also have places in TX and FL (i think). Call them and ask for a price on it. 1 800 515 3280. They are great they worked on a fleet of 13 172SP's and R's.

 

[Juvat]

Tomilson avionics is Pine Bluff, AR can do the work. Ask for Jerry. They also have places in TX and FL (i think). Call them and ask for a price on it. 1 800 515 3280. They are great they worked on a fleet of 13 172SP's and R's.

I'll give him a call tomorrow morning. Thanks for the lead!

 

[sky37d]

Not to hijack your thread, but one of our customers is L3 (www.l3com.com). They are located around the corner from us, and I was talking to one of their folks yesterday. I asked if they make an HSI, and they don't but they do make 'smartdeck'. It's in the news releases. big deal. well, it turns out BIG DEAL!!! they have, or are, shipping prototypes to Cirrus. They have an order for 400 panels from Cirrus. can you say goodbye, Avidyne??

 

[flyifrvfr]

I know this messsage is too late because you already bought the 172. Very shortly, the new 172's will be coming off the line with the Garmin G1000.

 

[Juvat]

I know this messsage is too late because you already bought the 172. Very shortly, the new 172's will be coming off the line with the Garmin G1000.

Thanks, I was aware of that too. I live in Arizona where it's 99% flying in VMC. I wouldn't get much value added from the glass cockpit. It sure is a nice toy though! Maybe I'll get one in the future...

 

[Juvat]

Not to hijack your thread, but one of our customers is L3 (www.l3com.com). They are located around the corner from us, and I was talking to one of their folks yesterday. I asked if they make an HSI, and they don't but they do make 'smartdeck'. It's in the news releases. big deal. well, it turns out BIG DEAL!!! they have, or are, shipping prototypes to Cirrus. They have an order for 400 panels from Cirrus. can you say goodbye, Avidyne??

Smartdeck...hmmm....I'll have to look it up. Thanks for asking about the HSI too!

 

[Juvat]

How about EHSI?

Anyone out there used EHSI in a single engine prop? I've had a few people tell me the EHSI is better for reliability (fewer moving parts), and thus pays for itself over time because you don't have to repair it as often as "regular" HSIs.

Any thoughts / stories on this one? Thanks!

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

I've flown a few planes with the Sandel EHSI...

Awesome. I mean, it costs the same as a traditional HSI, but can display stuff in better ways. I was totally imprssed with the unit.

The only downside I saw in them was that they were hard to read from the other side of the plane. If you are planning on doing any instruction, I might avoid the Sandel. Otherwise, go for it. Coupled with that KLN-94 and a decent autopilot, you'll never have to work less

But I don't know anything about reliability. The ones I flew were all brand new avionics installs. I also don't know anything about the other EHSIs out there (like the King unit).

Dan

 

[sky37d]

I had heard the same thing about the Sandel, that you can't see it unless you are right in front of it. It uses the remote gyro from the king, and someone I know who has the Sandel said if he had it to do over, he would have gotten the King HSI.

 

[Juvat]

Good advice!

Thanks guys for the heads up on the Sandel HSI. I hadn't even thought about that. I am actually planning on teaching my kids how to fly in the plane, and I'll probably take the oldest through to his instrument rating before he goes to college. Having cross-cockpit readibility issues would be a real let down.