AK-450 ELT from Ameri-King

[smittysrv]

I'm ready to order my ELT. Some guys on the other forum are talking about how $$$ the ELTs are. This one is not expensive at all. What's the deal? Is this one OK to install?

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... 450elt.php

[lancef53]

That one is the standard 121.5, the expensive ones are the 406 models with GPS interface.

Ameri-King 451 is the 406 model, your link is for the 450 121.5.

I have a 450 in my 8, it tests out just fine. I am still waiting for the ACK 406 model, that was going to be on sale last summer. It still hasn't gone on sale

[Bob Barrett]

I am still waiting also! I think the 406 models won't go on sale until just before they become obselte!

[Spike]

There are tons of planes out there without the new transponders. I don't see a market reason for them to go on sale. It might be a while if you are waiting.

-- Spike

[hydroguy2]

There are tons of planes out there without the new transponders. ....
-- Spike

lots of folks using the old ELT's, too.

[lancef53]

We didn't mean a 20% off sale, We just meant he was waiting for them to start shipping them. They(ACK) are waiting for paperwork, so they can sell them. God bless the FAA!!
http://www.ackavionics.com/406%20Page.html

[RVNewsletter]

This is one of those topics I simply don't get. People prime the crap out of their airplanes because someday -- a hundred years from now -- corrosion might present a problem. They spend thousands on redundant electrical systems because of a slight chance one might fail. They stick dual Cheltons in a panel. They buy traffic alert systems and integrated GPS and drop $11k for a synthetic vision EFIS, all for safety.... but they balk at $900 for a piece of equipment which will increase chances of being found should they go down, and then -- in the case of many RVers -- install the antenna in a place where it's unlikely to work because they don't want to ruin the sleek look of their RVs by putting an antenna outside.

I didn't particularly enjoy spending $900 for a newfangled ELT, but it seemed illogical to me to make that the area where I'd cut corners.

[hydroguy2]

You're right Bob. But then there are plenty of us that have to cut the budget at every possible place. If not A plane would not be possible at all.

Sign me: No primer, used engine, cheap panel, But got a plane Brian

[lancef53]

I agree, to an extent. The ack 406 includes a GPS interface for a grand total of $600, when it hits the market. Compare that to $1500-2000 for the same thing from other suppliers.

Right now, I am in phase one with a dynon 180 that took a dump during backup, and waiting on the ground for Dynon to fix it for me. Until I get out of phase one, I really don't need a fancy elt for a 25 mile radius of my home. The 121.5 will work for me until I get out of Phase one, and maybe the ACK will be available by then.

Sign me cheap, secondhand wing and tail kit, used engine and prop, used interior, and mostly used panel.

Ironic that the one new thing in my airplane (Dynon 180) is keeping me on the ground, while the old crap is waiting for it to be fixed

[RVNewsletter]

You're right Bob. But then there are plenty of us that have to cut the budget at every possible place. If not A plane would not be possible at all.

Sign me: No primer, used engine, cheap panel, But got a plane Brian

Oh, believe me, I know. I didn't use fancy primer. I don't have a nav/com (just a comm). No 7k EFIS etc. etc.

My comments aren't necessarily directed to the working class.

[hydroguy2]

no harm, no foul. I was just counter pointing your point

my plane might be different if I had the bank account of others. On the ELT note, I'm not certain it is an effective means of calling for help. True the new 406hz ones have better location, but same trigger mechanism and antenna. I like the PLB's or Spot.

[Spike]

I get the "limited bank account." Ultimately I would say that the limited bank account has been good for the RV because it has kept my project moving. Had I had a thick wallet I'd be flying today with something else.

Oh well

Spike

[Lycosaurus]

I primed (etch, alodine, 2 part epoxy ..... forgive me, for I have sinned), but my panel is modest with no nav (except for handheld gps which I panel mounted), and one lowly Icom-A200.

I have a 121.5MHz ELT, and have been flying for the last 15 months. I am not about to upgrade to the 406MHz for several reasons. I did, however, buy a PLB (which is 406MHz) for additional 'protection'.

This combined solution offers me some cost savings ($125 per year for 406MHz ELT certification here in Canada, as opposed to $40 for the 121.5MHz). PLB battery is good for 5 years, and no certification costs or other yearly operating costs.

Operationally, I have the PLB if I should go down in the drink.... and manage to survive. The plane with its ELT will probably not float for too long.

Going down on land, the ELT will hopefully manage to summon help if I were not in a capacity to activate the PLB. I had a friend crash not too long ago, and we never heard his ELT (yes it was a 121.5MHz). We were right on top of his location searching for him. His externally mounted (as per the TSO) antenna was sheared when the aircraft fell in a wooded area. Don't think the 406MHz unit would have done any better.

All a matter of priorities and personal risk levels. I feel comfortable with my choice for now. Once the dust settles on the 406MHz front, I will have a better selection of products to upgrade my ELT with. I will re-asses the situation in the next few years.

In summary:

My level of risk is not your level of risk. Do what feels comfortable for you.

There are many different areas in your craft as well as piloting techniques, routes, use of flight following, that contribute or mitigate that risk. Choose appropriately.

The safest would be to not fly ..... Not an option I would consider.

[Frank Jackson]

I just purchased and installed the AK-451 w/406 capability. Any suggestions on the best location for the antenna?

[RVNewsletter]

A lot of RVers put it behind their roll bar, anchoring it on the gusset plate and then wrapping it around the roll bar with clamps. That's mostly just to comply with having an ELT in the plane; the chances of it actually work there aren't particularly good.

I've stuck mine out in the breeze -- in fact I was just working on it yesterday. I have a tip up so I have room behind the "rear window" in the RV7a for an antenna. I bought an Artex and they're pretty insistent that the antenna go outside.

Others will point out -- accurately -- then when you ditch, you'll probably flip over and schmoosh the antenna. In my case, I decided I want the option to activate the ELT before the plane flips (using the remote switch on the panel), as soon as I know I have an emergency.

You'll get a wealth of different answers on this subject.

[bullojm1]

I decided to put my ELT antenna underneath of the fiberglass empannage fairing. I know the instructions indicate it should be installed in a vertical position, but like Bob said, there is a high chance of the antenna breaking off. I would rather have a mediocre antenna than no antenna at all.

I also have both the ELT and antenna aft of the baggage bulkhead. I have seen a couple of RV's in accidents and the bad accidents seem to split the RV's right where the aft and forward fuselage skins attach. If the antenna and ELT are on different sides of the split, there is a chance the wire could be severed.