Tom and Dave's Aircraft Factory

Back to the three D’s…

Nov 17

adminFuselage, Instrument Panel No Comments

Drill, Deburr and dimple. Back to the plan. We did the top skin today. Nice!

Top skin in an RV-9A

We also installed the heater control valve, a Fire-wall pass-through, and did some additional painting. Was a nice but rainy day.  Bad day to fly, but good day in the hanger. Actually, I guess any day is a good day in the hanger.

I’m starting to think about the EMS (engine management/monitoring system). I have an EIS 4000 from Grand Rapids Technologies, but I’m also getting a Skyview from Dynon Avionics. I’m also thinking about a EFIS/EMS from MGL (the Xtreme) which would be an EMS AND a backup EFIS for not a lot of extra $$$.  I really do not want to build a plane where the panel costs as much as the rest of the plane.  Simple Avionics, (like VAL radios and Nav) and a nice simple panel that is VFR/IFR Day/Night. Maybe something like:

Dynon Skyview
2 -Val Avionice Comm radios
1- Val INS-429 NAV
King KLN-94 GPS (enroute and approach certified)
Dynon Transponder

Keep the panel under $15K?

More later.

Avionics tray…

Sep 09

adminFuselage, Instrument Panel, Uncategorized No Comments

I had an avionics tray in my Skyhawk, and we had a lot of stuff to put there.  As electronics got more modern, and smaller, the tray was almost empty. Now the pendulum is swinging the other way again with EFIS and Radio avionics going remote.  Add a tray. Pretty light, and leaves more room at the panel.

I have an inspection this week, so I’m trying to be real careful to get the shop clean.  I also got my parking brake valve back so that will go in next week-end.