I spent part of the holiday break working on a design for a new panel for my RV-6A. I'm getting close to having a first cut of my home-grown avionics suite working and its time to bite the bullet and start "eating my own dog food" as they say. Please take a look and let me know what you think.
Here's a pic:
(Here's a link to an "actual size" image.)
So that's three iPads: two of the new 11" Pro models and one of the slightly older 12.9" Pros. Behind the scenes, those tie into two independent but synchronized FlightBox EXP systems, each with its own air data computer (ADC). The systems share a single engine monitor but are otherwise redundant.
The switches are Carling rockers from Rockerswitchpros.com. The autopilot is a TruTrak Vizion. The visible radio is a Garmin SL-40. (There will also be a VAL 2KR remote COM.) The audio panel is a PS Engineering PMA8000BTi.
In general I'm happy with everything except for the placement of the radio and audio selector panel. I originally had them above the smaller iPads but found that would not work - conflicted with the hinges and with the brackets that connect the panel to the sub panel. The autopilot is narrow enough and shallow enough that it won't be a problem.
I've left space below the left-seat display for a TTI (Turbulence Tactile Interface - aka "twist-and-click"). I didn't include it in the picture as I'm having to change the design - again - to match the new iPads. It includes two rotary encoders (knobs) and six buttons. The knobs allow you to adjust various values - altimeter, bugs, map zoom, etc. - while the buttons activate / control the six functions labeled across the bottom of the displays.
Is it overkill for a VFR RV-6A? Oh yeah! It's a test bed. It's a demo. It's an obsession...
A big shout-out to Shawn Mack for cleaning up a copy of the sock RV6 DXF file which I used as a starting point. It had to be modified a bit (my 6A doesn't completely match factory specs) but it was absolutely necessary to get things rolling.
Here's a pic:
(Here's a link to an "actual size" image.)
So that's three iPads: two of the new 11" Pro models and one of the slightly older 12.9" Pros. Behind the scenes, those tie into two independent but synchronized FlightBox EXP systems, each with its own air data computer (ADC). The systems share a single engine monitor but are otherwise redundant.
The switches are Carling rockers from Rockerswitchpros.com. The autopilot is a TruTrak Vizion. The visible radio is a Garmin SL-40. (There will also be a VAL 2KR remote COM.) The audio panel is a PS Engineering PMA8000BTi.
In general I'm happy with everything except for the placement of the radio and audio selector panel. I originally had them above the smaller iPads but found that would not work - conflicted with the hinges and with the brackets that connect the panel to the sub panel. The autopilot is narrow enough and shallow enough that it won't be a problem.
I've left space below the left-seat display for a TTI (Turbulence Tactile Interface - aka "twist-and-click"). I didn't include it in the picture as I'm having to change the design - again - to match the new iPads. It includes two rotary encoders (knobs) and six buttons. The knobs allow you to adjust various values - altimeter, bugs, map zoom, etc. - while the buttons activate / control the six functions labeled across the bottom of the displays.
Is it overkill for a VFR RV-6A? Oh yeah! It's a test bed. It's a demo. It's an obsession...
A big shout-out to Shawn Mack for cleaning up a copy of the sock RV6 DXF file which I used as a starting point. It had to be modified a bit (my 6A doesn't completely match factory specs) but it was absolutely necessary to get things rolling.
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