Avionics News October 2013 - 49

company in 2002. “There were two listed in
Trade-A-Plane, and this was very much more
appealing than the other one,” he said.
Soon afterward, he and his team began
a multistep, multiyear upgrade program to
transform this 1953-era beauty into a totally
modern airplane, fully capable of demonstrating both new avionics and Heath Aviation’s
obvious talents as a custom panel creator.
So what have customers said about his
thoroughly modern classic? “Customers love
her,” Heath said. “I love her. We fly and work
out of her. She really helps us sell.”
1982 PIPER PA-32R-300
Tech Aero’s demo panel currently includes: Garmin GTN 750, GMA 35, GTX 330,
Sarasota Avionics International,
SL 30 and a JPI EDM 700 with fuel ﬂow.
Sarasota, Fla.
“The airplane was owned by one of our
customers, and he upgraded to a TBM 800,” explained Kirk Fryer,
president of Sarasota Avionics. “So he gave us a great deal on it. I
had flown it many times in the past, and he knew I loved the airplane
and would take care of it.”
Besides having a panel big enough for everything, Fryar said the
Piper’s large back door and comfortable cabin is ideal for showcasing
what Sarasota Avionics can do beyond the cabin. “We have a DVD
player in the panel and two video screens in the cabin,” he said.
As for customer reaction?
“Almost every customer I have flown in the airplane has upgraded
to something they’ve seen in here,” Fryar said. “They love it.”
1970 CESSNA 150 AEROBAT
Tech Aero Avionics LLC, Denton, Texas
“It’s got the 150 horsepower upgrade, and I bought it back in 2005
to get my license and use for demo flights,” explained Tech Aero’s
owner, Trevor Smith. “I added a Garmin 430 and 300 that someone
traded. I flew with it until the GTN units came out. I was going to put
in a GTN 650, but with all the panel room, I went with the 750 and a
remote-mounted audio panel.”
Smith said that while the classic 150 has served his company well
as its airborne demonstrator, the need to showcase glass displays
motivated him to step up to a 1958 V35 Bonanza as Tech Aero’s new
flying showroom.
“It currently has the original old-style panel in it, but not for long,”
Smith said. “I have a Garmin G500 going in, and I’m going to move
the GTN 750 to the Bonanza, too.”
As for how his customers respond to the aerobatic 150?
“It’s unique,” Smith said. “When people see it, it’s just much more
memorable to see a 150 Aerobat with all the new stuff. It sticks in
their minds, for sure.”

Continued on following page

When completed, Paciﬁc Coast Avionics’ RV-7’s panel will include:
Advanced Flight Systems’ two-screen EFIS with engine monitoring;
Advanced/TruTrak autopilot; Garmin GTN 750, GNC 225A, GMA
35, GTX 33, GDL 39; Vertical Power VP-X Pro; and more.

When its current upgrade is completed, Nolan Avionics’ demo
panel will include: Ultra Electronics AuRACLE CRM2100 engine
monitor; PS Engineering PMA8000 audio panel; dual Aspen EFD
1000 PFDs, Aspen EFD 500 MFD, dual Garmin GTN 650s, GTX
327; Century Triden autopilot; and more.
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Avionics News October 2013

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