Avionics and Upgrades: What Adds Real Value?

Avionics and Upgrades: What Adds Real Value?

Author: Casey Aviation March 20, 2026 Duration: 25:54

Is it time to upgrade your aircraft’s panel, or should you leave it as-is? In this episode, Joe Casey sits down with Eric Earl to share practical advice on avionics upgrades for PA-46s. They discuss key considerations every owner faces:

  • Should you upgrade for resale value or personal functionality?
  • Which avionics make the most sense for your airplane?
  • How much can you realistically recoup when selling?
  • Why a fully Garminized panel isn’t just a luxury—it can make you a safer, more precise pilot.

Plus, Joe draws a fascinating analogy from competition shooting to show why training with your new panel is just as important as installing it. From practical advice on choosing the right shop to the pitfalls of rushing a panel upgrade, this episode is packed with insight for buyers, sellers, and pilots wanting to get the most out of their aircraft.

Whether you’re upgrading now or planning for the future, this is your go-to guide for making smart avionics decisions.

M-Class Spring 2026 is approaching, and spots are filling up quickly. Reserve your seat now! https://flycasey.com/m-class/

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- Aircraft Sales & Brokerage: https://flycasey.com
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Hosted by Casey Aviation, The Malibu Guru is a conversation for a specific corner of the sky, centered entirely on the world of the PA46 aircraft, like the Malibu and Mirage. It’s less a formal broadcast and more like hanging around the hangar, listening in as seasoned owners and pilots share what they’ve learned the hard way. You’ll hear unvarnished discussions about the realities of buying one of these complex machines, the nuances of training, and the ongoing puzzle of maintenance and ownership. The focus here is on practical wisdom, drawn directly from the community that flies these planes every day. This podcast thrives on those real-world stories-the unexpected cross-country adventure, the troubleshooting tip that saved the day, the personal insights that manuals never provide. It’s for anyone with a hands-on interest, whether you’re actively searching for your own PA46, you’re already logging hours in the left seat, or you simply appreciate deep dives into aviation’s more niche passions. The dialogue is grounded, specific, and driven by the people who know these aircraft inside and out, making it a unique resource within aviation media.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 244

The Malibu Guru
Podcast Episodes
Meridian vs. TBM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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We get asked all the time by clients and tire-kickers what the differences are between the Meridian and the TBM. Joe and Ben sat down to talk about the two different airplanes from both a cost and performance standpoint.
Twilight career: What more can 35,000 hour pilot accomplish? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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JC has over 35,000 hours in his logbook. He's recently retired from the airlines, but can't be done with flying. So now he's gone back to instructing, and sat down with Joe to talk about the twilight of his career, the M…
JetPROP Conversion and Partnership Discussion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:38
Joe Provenza and Cliff Coffman co-own Mirage that they converted to a JetPROP, and they've trained with Casey Aviation for many years. Joe discusses the benefits to owning a plane with a partner as well as the experience…
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Duration: 18:22
The turbine Duke is a fascinating conversion done by Rocket Engineering, similar to a JetPROP. Joe sits down with a Turbine Duke pilot to talk about the differences and similarities, along with other cool aviation stuff.
What's the big deal with starting a turbine engine? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:41
We get this question frequently from people who are just dipping their toes into the turbine world. The stakes are high when you start a turbine engine, but that shouldn't stop you from jumping right in.
The Right Way to Perform a Go-Around [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:24
The go-around (or going missed) procedure is one of the most misunderstood aspects of aviation, and one of the most critical parts of any flight. We'll try to set the record straight.
Moving the spinny thing from the top to the front [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:15
Joe sits down with Darwin Haines, who was in the same unit in the Army as Joe for quite a few years as a helicopter pilot and has recently bought a 1989 Mirage. They talk about old Army stories as well as why and how the…
Shooting an Approach to Minimums [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:56
We got a question from a listener asking what Joe's advice would be on whether or not to make configuration changes once you pop out of the clouds when shooting an approach to near-minimums. Well, here's the answer!
The Freedom of Flying a PA46 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:31
Larry Oeth is a now four-year owner of the PA46 airframe, upgrading from a Malibu to a JetPROP after two years. We talk to him about how the PA46 offers so much flexibility and freedom that most people simply don't get t…
Making Major Upgrades to a JetPROP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:22
Keith bought a JetPROP and immediately made some major upgrades and changes. It was quite a project, and we sit down to discuss how the job turned out and whether he'd recommend others to do the same.