Used Avionics: Is It Worth It?
You find the avionics you want, compare the price of new equipment with a used option, and notice a substantial difference. Then comes the question: Is buying used worth the risk?
At Skyman Avionics, we believe it often is, as long as you understand what you’re buying, who you’re buying it from and what support comes with the purchase.
Used avionics can make an upgrade more affordable, keep a familiar panel working, and leave more money in your budget for installation, maintenance, and flying. But there are risks, and we think buyers deserve an honest conversation about both sides.
Why Buy Used Instead of New?
Your budget can go further. The biggest attraction is the price. Depending on the equipment and its condition, buying used can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars compared with buying new. Those savings can help you afford equipment that would otherwise be out of reach or cover other parts of your aircraft project.
You may not need the newest technology. A newer model may offer features you want but a dependable radio, transponder, audio panel or navigator doesn’t become useless simply because something newer exists. The right choice is equipment that meets your needs and works with your aircraft.
The BIG one: Installation time is often overlooked. When an existing unit fails, a compatible used replacement may help you avoid a larger upgrade. Aircraft owners are often caught offguard after creating their list of desired upgrades or replacements for their plane. They may have a cart at Aircraft Spruce totalling several thousands of dollars and think that they are within their budget but after receiving the quote for installing it are shocked that the cost to install an item can equal or double the cost of the unit itself. As an avionics tech, I can attest that it takes a lot of time to plan out integration with exisiting systems, fabricate a wire harness, gain access behind your panel, under seats, in the tail or wings of a plane, ensure that the harness is safely secured, install the new unit, put it all back together, ops check and then do the paperwork. It's not an easy job and can often create more issues as decades old wires are pulled and moved around. Remember that your installation quote and timeline is strictly an estimate.
Pro Tip: If you are upgrading to a new or different unit, I suggest doing multiple items at a time to save on installation costs. For an avionics tech, it's often easier to build an entirely new harness than try to salvage one that's decades old and typically doesn't have any documentation to tell you what's what. There are also several hours involved in disassembling the aircraft to gain access. That time is the same whether you install one item or ten. Put those hours towards a new feature, instead.
You can find equipment that is no longer sold new. Used inventory can be especially valuable when you want to maintain a familiar setup. Have your installer confirm the fit, wiring, configuration and installation requirements before purchasing; similar-looking equipment isn’t always interchangeable. New avionics have benefits, too: the latest features, a fresh service life, and typically a longer manufacturer warranty. For some owners, those advantages justify the added expense. For others, used equipment offers a better fit for their budget and mission.
Bendix King KX 155 NAV/COM retails around $1500. Garmin GNC 215 NAV/COM retails $4975.
The units in the images above both offer the same functionality. However, the difference between replacing your existing KX 155 unit with another used one and upgrading to the latest offering from Garmin is significant. Buying a used replacement that will slide into your existing tray is as simple as buying the part (typically around $1500), sliding it into your tray, having your A&P ops check and sign it off in the logbook. The time involved in replacing it is typically less than an hour. With the new upgrade, not only does the unit itself cost 230% more than the used replacement but you now need an avionics shop to completely rewire the new radio which doesn't use the same connectors or tray. The average installation time for a new NAV/COM is around 20hrs. While you don't gain the attractive look of the new Garmin radio or the two year manufacturer warranty, you save at least $5000 going the used route plus your plane is only down for an hour or so. This scenario doesn't apply to all used avionics but it's a good example as to why many choose to go this route.
Let’s Be Honest About the Risk
Used avionics have a history. Equipment may have years of service behind it and even a unit that works during testing can develop an intermittent issue later. Older equipment may also have limited repair options and an inexpensive purchase can become expensive if you overlook compatibility or installation costs.
Buying new doesn’t eliminate every possible problem, either. Electronics can fail, and installation issues can happen with equipment of any age. The question is how much uncertainty you’re comfortable accepting and what happens if something goes wrong.
No Reward Without Risk
If you’ve reached a point in life where you can afford to own or fly an airplane, there’s a good chance you’ve already taken some meaningful risks.
Maybe you started a business without knowing whether it would succeed. Maybe you invested years in school, training or a long career before seeing the payoff. Maybe you took a new job, moved your family or committed to a goal with no guarantee of success.
Those decisions involved uncertainty but they also created opportunities. There’s no reward without risk and the most useful approach is to understand the risk and decide whether the potential reward makes sense.
Buying used avionics follows that same principle. You accept some uncertainty in exchange for potential savings. Checking the equipment’s condition, confirming compatibility and choosing a seller who stands behind the sale can help you manage that uncertainty.
A Warranty Gives You Backup
Here’s a meaningful difference between buying from Skyman Avionics and taking a chance on an unsupported private sale: our equipment sold as working comes with a warranty.
If something doesn’t perform as expected, you have a warranty and a business to contact for help. That support matters when you’re deciding whether the savings are worth the risk.
The warranty does have a time limit. Plan to have your equipment checked promptly after it arrives and report any issues within the 30-day warranty period. Buying a unit and leaving it on the shelf for months can put you outside that coverage before you discover a problem.
Items clearly sold as unknown condition or as-is are different and do not carry our working-equipment warranty. Always read the listing and ask questions before purchasing.
So, Is Used Avionics Worth It?
For many aircraft owners, absolutely. The savings can be substantial, the equipment can meet their needs and buying from a seller with warranty support makes the decision a no-brainer.
The best purchase starts with a clear understanding of the equipment, the total installation cost and the support available after the sale.
Considering used avionics for your next upgrade or replacement? Contact Skyman Avionics. We’ll help you understand the options, the condition and the warranty so you can make a confident decision.
Email: info@skymanavionics.com
Call: 541-604-9573
Comments