G'day Guys,
Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately, she hasn't been flying in Australian skies yet. I have to wait for the FAA to de-register its 'N' number before I can register it here... but I've taxiied her around and done radio checks and so far, so good.
The radio fitout is a requirement for working with the emergency services here and this aircraft will be pursuing that sort of work. Basically, it will be doing FAC work but instead of using napalm to start fires, the aircraft it will be controlling will be using retardant to stop fires.
Mobile (cell) phones are also a requirement for aircraft engaged in this sort of work and I decided on an iPhone because I can log flight plans with ATC or check on the weather or the any satpics without having to fork out for expensive avionics. It's also the in-flight entertainment piping music through the ICS. Of course, it works like a normal phone and acts like a radio.
The radio fit is:
Radio 1 Aviation VHF
Radio 2 Aviation VHF
Radio 3 Emergency Services UHF
Radio 4 Standard VHF and UHF for marine band and emergency services
Radio 5 3G cell phone
There's also a yoke mounted GPS for the emergency services person sitting in the co-pilot's seat so he doesn't need to play with my GNS 430 and can do his own thing. When not, it becomes my back up GPS.
Cheers
Conway
PS Check out my website at
www.ipas.com.au if you like aviation and military art.