Why does the Mooney Bravo not have an NDB?

[CCairns10]

Me and the Mooney Bravo have never got on and its absence of an NDB is making matters worse.

My last two final approaches have been very difficult because of it not having an NDB indicator.

To all trendy kid panel designers who think the NDB is an anachronism you should know this: there are some main airports in the third world and many minor airports in the first world that still rely heavily on the NDB, especially at night.

The Mooney Bravo should still have an NDB!

Chris.

[ladamson]

>Me and the Mooney Bravo have never got on and its absence of
>an NDB is making matters worse.
>
>My last two final approaches have been very difficult because
>of it not having an NDB indicator.
>
>To all trendy kid panel designers who think the NDB is an
>anachronism you should know this: there are some main airports
>in the third world and many minor airports in the first world
>that still rely heavily on the NDB, especially at night.
>
>The Mooney Bravo should still have an NDB!
>

For the $3000.00+ that an ADF for tracking NDB's would cost for the aircraft, pic up a new Garmin 396 hand-held GPS; and get a color moving map, terrain warning, XM weather, and a pictorial data-base of airports & NDB's. You can also pick up XM satellite radio with it, that's much better listening than the ADF's AM only radio. You'll also be "safer" in the long run, by looking at the whole moving map picture, instead of a pointing needle...

Trendy designers (as you call them) know that an ADF is a "waste" these days, as most manufactures no longer include them as standard equipment. It's also the reason that so many NDB's are being decommisioned in the U.S.

Ladamson

[zfehr]

Hi Chris,

Try flying the Mooney from the VC or IFR 2d panel and it has the ADF indicator. You can also modify the panel.cfg to exchange the second Omni with the ADF indicator or the 2 needle RMI in the regular 2d panel.

Hope this helps,
Zane

[ronzie]

If you are outside the US there are quite a few approaches that are NDB. If colocated with an OM it serves as an OM indicator.

In some instances it serves as the start of an outbound leg on a teardrop approach.

When I was taking some instrument lessons at a suburban airport outsidethe KMSP Class B, conveniently located AM broadcast towers allowed us to use them as an NDB for practicing those approaches.

[Wichita]

Sheessh...an ADF gauge is $3,000?!? I know aircraft gauges are expensive ,look at the cost of an Garmin 530 but I had no idea they still got that kind of money out of a ADF gauge.

Wonder if the cost is rising with fewer and fewer made? Like you said,grab a handheld GPS,or grab two and still save thousands.

David

[CCairns10]

Hi Zane,

I never even thought of using the 2d IFR panel for the Mooney Bravo, thanks for the advice. I've long past the stage of fiddling with panel.cfg files though (disadvantages outweighing advantages).

More simmers should should use 2d IFR panels with aircraft they find difficult to fly.

Thanks

Chris

[zfehr]

Hi Chris,

Glad to help out. I have purchased the RealityXP Sandel SN3308 and placed it in the default Baron and Mooney panels which works out pretty neat. You might consider this option since it is a very realistic depiction of the real gauge and a gauge you will find fitted in the real aircraft of those that can afford it.

Zane