I know that it is not possible to retrofit a Garmin G-1000 system to an aircraft not built around it. I e-mailed Garmin and asked them that, and I was told that because of the design of the system it wasn't possible.



Mac McClennan has stated that while it may not be possible, we should eventually see a retrofitable version of it, but maybe not with all the bells and whistles.



I would suspect that if you tried hard enough, you could probably get Avidyne to sell you an Entegra system, and that *should* be retrofitable to older airplanes. This would be easiest to obtain certification on new planes that have it, so I could see that you might retrofit it to the Piper line without too much hassle.



However, there is a system that is certified for hundreds of airplane right now, and can be retrofitted easily, and will fit in most panel. I'm talking about Chelton Flight Systems, and their EFIS system. Made of up of two displays, one for the PFD and one for the MFD, it would easily fit into most GA panels. With a 5 1/2"h by 6"w dimension, you should easily be able to replace it in most panels where you have four 3" gauges wide by 2 high. The certified system includes a remote mounted AHRS, remote mounted 12 channel GPS (thereby eliminating the panel mount GPS), ability to remote tune the SL-30 GarminAT NavComs, and has the most advanced display available. The included terrain database and obstacle clearance right on the PFD as ''Virtual VFR'prevents CFIT. You flight plan on the MFD, and can call up the flight plan on the PFD. The display will give you boxes to fly through, keeping you on course easily. Fly through the boxes, you're on course. Fly an entire flight plan from take off, departure, enroute, arrival and approach and all you do is fly the boxes.



The one drawback of the Chelton system is the price. For the AHRS, GPS, PFD and MFD, you'r price is going to be close to $80,000. Additional MFDs or another AHRS and PFD is going to run you more. In fact, in some aircraft, updating the panel to glass and the avionics to go with it will cost more than the aircraft is worth. That may not be an issue if you love your airplane and don't plan on trading it anytime soon, but it is something to take into consideration.



My ''dream'plane right now, for less than a quarter of a million dollars (and I'm single, so I fly alone) is a Piper Turbo Arrow with a new Victor Black Edition engine, Merlyn Black Magic UpperDeck controller, LoPresti/AirFlow intercooler, Laminar Flow Systems speed mods, the Chelton system, Garmin AT SL-30s and GTX-330 transponder, a Chelton AP-3 autopilot, and an Avidyne EX-500 MFD with MultiLink and ChartView.



Where *did* I put my lottery ticket???



Gary