Hey Joe, is this a weather pod?

[evangilder]

I was out at Camarillo last weekend shooting a variety of airplanes when I spotted this one. It looks similar to a FLIR or ECM pod, but I doubt a 172 would need either of those! Someone suggested it was a weather pod of some sort.

Have you seen one of these, Joe? It's the pod on the starboard wing.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Yes - is a radar weather pod - very pricey. Piper puts them on their upper priced singles.

Piper Aircraft, Inc. - Mirage : Gallery

 

[wilbur1]

Wonder why they would need the extra pod, most electronics nowadays are sufficent enough for civilian planes.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Not the weather radar, antenna, waveguide and all the goodies that goes along with it. It has to have a clear obstructed "view." There's really no other place to put it in a single engine aircraft.

 

[wilbur1]

Oh ok thanks joe it just seemed kinda stange to stick it on the wing, but i guess they coulnt mount it on top

 

[evangilder]

Thanks Joe. I wonder how that effects balance, or is there ballast placed on the other wing to counter the weight?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Thanks Joe. I wonder how that effects balance, or is there ballast placed on the other wing to counter the weight?

Ya know, I'm not sure if there's any ballast added, but I'll find out.

 

[wilbur1]

Thats a good point evan i didnt think of that, does make you wonder about how heavy it is

 

[DBII]

Joe, what does one get in the $63,500 Situational Awarness Package?

dbii

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Joe, what does one get in the $63,500 Situational Awarness Package?

dbii

RDR-4B - Radar - Honeywell Aerospace

 

[Matt308]

Own ship position overlayed on moving map, realtime doppler updates and FIS Broadcast for strategic flight planning. Pretty sophisticated actually.

 

[evangilder]

Beats a lapboard, maps, slide rules and memory anyday.

 

[DBII]

Good stuff, thanks.

dbII

 

[SoD Stitch]

Own ship position overlayed on moving map, realtime doppler updates and FIS Broadcast for strategic flight planning. Pretty sophisticated actually.

What does the display look like? Is it glass? Monochrome? MFD?

 

[Matt308]

Huh? It is likely a TSO-C113 compliant color display with processing to allow near real-time updates of en route inclement wx, NAS status, SUA, NOTAMS, destination airport wx, etc. While I'm not intimately familiar with the equipment, it likely includes TSO-C63c Wx radar capability with moving map and proprietary data link FIS-B (TSO-C149). Maybe I'm stretching the capabilities a bit, but the the potential is there if you are going to spend the money to install a doppler radar and associated cockpit display.

 

[evangilder]

Hmmm...glad I asked. So, who is going to buy one of these wonder-toys and give us a demo?

 

[Matt308]

Too rich for my blood.

You live in Cali. You can afford anything.

 

[DBII]

It is just pocket change. I bet the military pays 1 or 2 million for it. We are getting a great deal here.

DBII

 

[evangilder]

Um, yeah... I'll just take out a second mortgage for it.

 

[DBII]

Come on Evan, it is both cheaper and small than a new lens....