Panel

Post by **bullojm1** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:10 pm

CJ and I were yackin' it up tonight (making sure each other is sane....or insane, whatever the case) and he wanted to see my panel idea thus far. Here it is:

Notice how the altimeter adjustment and the EFIS knob are right next to each other. I wanted to make it as easy as possible to change them both.

Initially I won't have the 2" CDI, AP or ADI. In fact the 2" ADI isn't even out. That pic is just a resized 3" ADI. But it is supposed to be out soon-ish. Figuring about $16k for the initial panel. Figuring about $8-10k more when it is all said and done (IFR time).

Switches will be going on the bottom, annunciator lights above the EFIS. Haven't decided on what side of the panel the engine controls will go, so that could affect the positioning of some of the instruments.

I will be putting platenuts on the bottom flange of the panel in order to facilitate a mounting bracket for a 496 handheld for weather below the AF-3400 EFIS. (centerline with the pilot).

Oh, and almost forgot. I am rolling my own AOA black box using the inputs from the Dynon AOA pitot tube. The display will be similar to AFS's sport LED display. That will most likely go above the EFIS.

Good/Bad/Ugly/Unsymmetrical? Input is appreciated!

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:23 pm

It looks pretty good. I see you're building a tip up. Are you going to install the standard canopy release handle? If you are the radio placement is going to be a problem for you. Basically I'm putting mine in the same location center wise but lower. I still had to modify the bracket on the sub panel.

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:50 am

any particular reason you're going with a roll-your-own AOA instead of using the AOA display built into the AFS EFIS?

Post by **bullojm1** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:00 am

tmbg wrote:any particular reason you're going with a roll-your-own AOA instead of using the AOA display built into the AFS EFIS?

Ian-

Two reasons really why I am rolling my own - the first is cost and complexity. If I went the AFS route, I would need to buy their $800 AOA option kit, plus plumb two more tubes from the wingtips to the cockpit, plus a little added weight.

The main reason is I want to truly make this plane an experimental and put something I made myself into it. I work with designing embedded s/w and h/w, so this isn't a great stretch for me to make. Plus, I am going to need something to do with all the free time I will have once this project is over!

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:13 am

fair enough! I'm right there with you, there's a few gadgets I've been considering making. I wouldn't mind building my own digital audio panel that does everything I want.

A digital AOA shouldn't be all that hard to do, in fact I've already designed and built a piece of hardware that'd probably be ALMOST everything necessary to make an AOA indicator, although it would require a software rewrite:

I'm guessing it'd need a second pressure sensor though

Post by **bullojm1** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:17 am

Ian,

Why not just replace the single pressure sensor with a differential sensor (AOA pressure vs Pitot)? Then you got everything you need w/o h/w changes. Sweet design!

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:27 am

very possible, I haven't looked into it!

It was actually designed as a boost gauge for my turbo Z31.