2024T3 vs 606T3 for home made instrument panel?

[wirejock]

Maybe Scott will chime in but I asked that very question because I wanted to try something. Answer was yes. It is a structural element.

[Raymo]

If I recall, 6061-T4 / T6 would be too brittle to bend vs 2024-T3. The bend at the bottom adds rigidity to the panel.

[Steve Crewdog]

Originally Posted by Mike S

Steve, welcome to VAF.

Lots of members are building non Vans aircraft, myself included.

When you get that SeaRey, try on an RV for size------you might like it.

Mike (and all), thanks for the kind words and welcome. I've flown an RV and loved it, but it's not the kind of flying I was looking for. OTOH, the first time I flew a SeaRey I fell in love.

The panel will be mounted overhead, and I'm actually on the second iteration. The first one was made out of fiberglass layup, and I messed up and put the compass right next to the radio. (oopsss...) Around that time a gent stopped by who had done avionics work in the USN for 23 years and started pointing out small things that could be improved on, soooo....... We're redoing the whole shebang, making it better, stronger, and faster for repairing.





I realize this is a VAF forum, and sure don't want to step on any toes, but perhaps a "And now for something completely different" section could be set up for paying members who are building non-Vans aircraft who would like to tap into the wealth of knowledge here. And it would also give Vans builders a look outside the world of bucking rivets.

[sblack]

Originally Posted by Raymo

If I recall, 6061-T4 / T6 would be too brittle to bend vs 2024-T3. The bend at the bottom adds rigidity to the panel.

No problem bending either alloy across the grain provided the min. bend radius is respected.

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by maniago

Rarely if ever is the instrument panel relied on as a load bearing piece, because you punch so many holes in it - its just an item to mount things in.

Even with holes in it, it is part of the structure and will pick up loads. Take the panel out and push on the sides of the fuselage where the panel was you took out. The fuselage will flex more than when it was in. The instrument panel ties to the side of fuselage longerons which provides laterally stability. When longerons are in compression they need things to keep them from buckling or crippling... With the panel (which has an angle at the bottom and is stiff) the fuselage will have more stiffness overall. Is it critical? Not really, but without doing analysis you don?t know what it contributes.

[Steve Crewdog]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

Even with holes in it, it is part of the structure and will pick up loads. Take the panel out and push on the sides of the fuselage where the panel was you took out. The fuselage will flex more than when it was in. The instrument panel ties to the side of fuselage longerons which provides laterally stability. When longerons are in compression they need things to keep them from buckling or crippling... With the panel (which has an angle at the bottom and is stiff) the fuselage will have more stiffness overall. Is it critical? Not really, but without doing analysis you don?t know what it contributes.

In the case of the SeaRey, it's attached to and hangs from the nosedeck. The way we do it, however, is being changed in the MkII panel we're now building.


Sometime, you have to take a step back to move forward, and keep from having to take twenty steps back at a later date.