Avionics West completed this custom installation in Febuary
2000. The aircraft
is a 1976 Cessna 182. But wait, how can that be! The manifold pressure gage
shows fuel flow also and the tachometer ARC's don't match the 182 book. This is
Ken Foster's Cessna 182. This machine has a fire breathing 300HP Continental
Engine under the bonnet. Does it go? Heck yes. Ken flew me around while we
were checking out the avionics. This is one machine that you start pulling the
power back as soon as you lift off. The climb on this buff 182 is beyond
words. Ken's aircraft also supports a fairly new paint job and the interior is
really nice. Mr. Foster lives near Truckee CA. so the extra power can come in
handy at those altitudes in the summertime.
When Ken delivered the 182 to Avionics West the instrument
panel was the normal plastic Cessna %$#*!@ and the radios were TKM
slide-in replacements. Ken, Tom Knoll, Dave Bost and myself worked for several
months via e-mail to design the perfect panel for him and decide which equipment
best suited his needs. Ken's thoughts were, "Let's plan everything out before
starting". I couldn't have been more supportive of his way of thinking.
Finally, a plan was decided, Ken dropped off the flying machine and work
started. Most of the equipment was at our shop before the aircraft arrived,
thus down-time was at a minimum. The boys installed a stereo/CD player (FAA/PMA
Approved), PS-Engineering audio panel, Garmin GNS 430, King KX-155, King KN-64
DME, RYAN TCAD, Strikefinder, Sandel HSI, King gyros, JPI instrument monitoring,
several Davtron gagets, S-Tec System 30 and a host of other goodies too many to
mention. The instrument panel lay-out was much as Ken desired. We added
special annunciator lamps at the top of the radio stack At the bottom of the
radio stack are switchs for items such as DME channeling, recognition lamps and
sorts. All the new circuit breakers were the pullable type. Just about any
switch that could be is on the yokes such as the S-Tec System 30 control
switches. Ken made a special trip to Santa Maria, via his friend Steve Swaggard
just to pick out the instrument panel color. The only real headaches we've run into is getting
the cell-phone to work through the audio panel (on the ground only, of course).
Ken has made a trip to the south and several other
cross-countries and is loving the new panel more every day. Ken does have some
alternator noise but we will slay that monster when we get the machine later.
What did it cost? Not as much as you would think. Ken planned the job wisely.
Some of the equipment such as the KN-64 DME he purchased used and saved a bundle
by doing so. The complete job was planned out well in advance of receiving the
aircraft, thus few changes occured during the installation and that kept the
cost down. This is without doubt the nicest Cessna 182 I've ever seen. The
only thing wrong with this aircraft is that is isn't mine. What's Ken next
gaget going to be? My guess he will slow down on getting goodies for the 182
for awhile and kiss up to his wife for all the money he spent:-)
The aircraft
is a 1976 Cessna 182. But wait, how can that be! The manifold pressure gage
shows fuel flow also and the tachometer ARC's don't match the 182 book. This is
Ken Foster's Cessna 182. This machine has a fire breathing 300HP Continental
Engine under the bonnet. Does it go? Heck yes. Ken flew me around while we
were checking out the avionics. This is one machine that you start pulling the
power back as soon as you lift off. The climb on this buff 182 is beyond
words. Ken's aircraft also supports a fairly new paint job and the interior is
really nice. Mr. Foster lives near Truckee CA. so the extra power can come in
handy at those altitudes in the summertime. 
The only real headaches we've run into is getting
the cell-phone to work through the audio panel (on the ground only, of course).