More Panel Mockups

corey    RV Project    

Here are two other panel mockups done on epanelbuilder.com. This is one that uses conventional gauges:


Since all of my intruments have to be electric (instead of electric and vacuum) these basic instruments can get very pricey. Since I’d be spending about $6k on the basic instruments in the above image, I figured I might as well spend $8k on the 2 display GRT EFIS in a layout like this:


This is more along the lines of what I’m thinking of currently. So you know what they all are, we have: electronic fuel gauge (probably an EI Fuel Gauge ); chronometer (note that the description says it doesn’t make coffee – I’ll have to look around to see if I can find one that does); GRT Primary Flight Display ; Autopilot below the screen, though I will probably get a round one like the EZ-Pilot or the new ADI AP ; next to the PFD we have an Angle of Attack indicator, which helps you find best-glide and gives stall warnings in any flight profile; next to that is the companion display from GRT which is coupled to their engine monitor (directly below), however it can also show map and info pages; next to the MFD is the hand-held Garmin GPS 396 which will be mounted into the panel (but removable); below that we have the radio stack with either a PMA8000 or Garmin 340 audio panel, a Garmin SL30 Nav/Comm radio, and a Garmin GTX327 transponder (or similar – depends on what I can find cheaper).

I think that’s the major bits. Also on the panel is the stand alone compass (above the glove box), the special electronic prop control (see next to the throttle in the little hang-off panel area), and to the far right is an ELT status indicator. The other switches and buttons are there just for the visual as I’m not sure how many or what exactly I’ll need for those. Now if only all these components didn’t cost $20k altogether, we’d be set!

When you talk about airplane systems you always must consider redundancy. One of the reasons I’m leaning towards getting an ADI AutoPilot from TruTrak is because it has it’s own internal GPS and power supply. If worse comes to worse and I lose my electrical system I can always use the autopilot to fly myself out of bad weather. Since it is also an attitude indicator, it is a backup to the PFD’s attitude display. The Garmin GPS 396 also has it’s own battery backup (because it’s a hand held) so I will always have a map display along with altitude information and terrain avoidance warnings. More than likely I will couple the ADI AutoPilot’s GPS with the GRT EFIS system or buy GRT’s internal GPS option – giving me a total of 3 GPS devices, two of which can run on battery power and provide most (but not all) flight information. The only redundancy missing is an airspeed indicator, and while the AOA indicator will always tell me if we are approaching a stall (if it has battery power) it won’t let me know if we’re nearing an overspeed. So I’m not sure what to do about that yet, though this airplane will be mainly VFR with the ability to go IFR if required: I plan on staying out of IFR conditions unless it’s something simple like a low bank of begnin clouds.

The other instrument not covered by any other instrument is the navigation radio equipment. The GRT EFIS can couple with the navigation radio and display tracks to VOR stations as well as the localizer approach to runways. If the EFIS were to go out (it should be noted that if the screen dies, I can always switch to the other screen and have the same information available) I do not have a backup navigation instrument – however, that instrument is not needed for VFR - especially with GPS information available.

I figured that one of these days I will eventually pony up for a certified aircraft with a full blown IFR panel complete with multipule redundancy – until then, I want to save a few pennies and enjoy flying VFR!

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