Deciding how to layout the  panel...

I signed up for an account with www.epanelbuilder.com, so I could start sketching out what my panel might look like. This is proving to be one of the more difficult decisions on my RV project. I want to put as many useful items in my panel as I possibly can, but with each new component, the price tag keeps rising. So it comes down to making trade offs for the things I just can’t live without based on how much money is in the budget (seems like the budget keeps rising as I continue my panel research).

I am planning a panel based on flying cross country VFR. I only have about 100  hours of flight time, and my IFR ticket is probably not going to come until several years after the completion of my RV9. With that in mind, I don’t want a full IFR panel now, as I am sure the technologies will continue to improve over time. As I continue to refine my thoughts on what my panel will look like, I will post updates to this part of the web site.

Current thoughts on what’s important to me... 3/5/2007

Version#1 of my panel has the Grand Rapids Technologies EFIS Horizon Series 1 as the  primary source of flight data. I am leaning this direction based on a couple of factors. First, I really like their ‘Highway-in-the-sky’ technology. Seeing a path to fly that guides you down to the end of the runway is not an option on any of the other EFIS systems. Second is their ability to display the traffic information (TIS) coming from the Garmin GTX330 transponder. I live in southern California. We have lots of planes in the air down here! I feel the TIS information is a must have. Of course that also helped push me in the direction of the more expensive transponder that can display Mode S communication links from ATC. My third reason is the integration of the GPS moving map display. Having this built into the system and the ability for that to drive the auto pilot is appealing to me. My last reason is the ability to display a VOR signal. I have been planning on GPS being my primary means of navigation. I plan to use the internal WAAS enabled GPS options from GRT ($450). So why bother with VOR? Good question, and one that I really haven’t fully decided on. If the GPS goes out, it kind of makes sense to back it up with a different technology. That’s where the VOR signal comes in. But to get VOR, I had to upgrade the comm stack to include a Nav/Comm system. Maybe I should just skip VOR, and replace the Nav/Comm with a second GPS mounted in the panel. I was looking at the Garmin GPS Map 496 in an AirGizmo panel dock as an option for the back up GPS. But I have not decided on that path yet. So here we are with a very nice dual screen glass cockpit. The problem with all of this great stuff is the cost. At $10k (with options) for a dual display with a single AHRS computer, it is quite expensive. Buying the EFIS from either Dynon or Advanced Flight Systems would be less money... but I don’t think they have as many features that I am looking for.

Enough about the EFIS, lets think about the Auto Pilot. I have been planning on a lateral control auto pilot from the very beginning of this project. After reading several posting from builders who have completed other RV’s, I am now looking at pitch control as well. In my research I have found a couple of system that look pretty good in the experimental market. My current favorite is the TruTrak ADI Pilot II. I like this based on positive recommendations and the ability for the instrument to act as a back up display for my EFIS. This system has bank angle, pitch and direction indicators, which are the basic back ups to my primary flight avionics. I am also planning on a separate airspeed indicator to back up the EFIS system.

On the communication stack I currently have a Garmin set; SL40 Comm, SL30 Nav/Comm, GMA340 Audio, GTX330 Transponder. This is nice, but it’s also very expensive. I am not sure that I can afford to include the SL30 Nav/Comm. By adding the second comm device, I am spending money on both that and the audio switching box. If I decide to go with a complete GPS system, I might drop the SL30 and the GMA340 and put in the GPS Map496. Choices, choices, choices...

At this point who knows what the panel will look like in the end. I seem to change my mind on what avionics need to be included on a daily basis... stay tuned as this will be refined over time.

As always, any input would be appreciated. If you have an idea or suggestion on how the panel should be assembled, send me and email.

Pete’s RV-9A Panel Version #1 

Panel layouts sketched with  www.epanelbuilder.com

Pete’s RV-9A Panel Version #6

Lift Reserve Indicator (LRI)