Overhauling Mikey?s Panel

[Louise Hose]

N164MS (a.k.a., 1 RV-6 for Mike Seager or “Mikey”) gestated as the fourth RV-6 kit out of Van’s factory and made his first flight with his Papa Mike at the controls in Spring 1990. When Mike moved onto factory-built planes for his transition training business a couple years later, the second owner made a major overhaul. Mikey became a solid IFR airplane with a brand new engine, C/S prop, and lots of new avionics. That was December 1992 and Mike had put >750 hours on the plane.

Mikey's panel in 2005

When I became the Mikey’s fifth owner in summer 2005, I knew I had purchased a very well-build airframe, a solid engine, an awfully worn interior, and a panel/gyro/dyno system on its last legs. I didn’t have the money or resources to address those issues except on an “as needed”, patchwork basis for the last two-plus years. As the vacuum, T&B, and Nav radio failed, I upgraded and replaced the instruments. Each installation was frustrated by the rat’s nest of wires that had accumulated over the 17 years and my own contributions to the mess. Added into the clutter were a completely defunct Loran and an ADF that can only be properly read in an RV if it’s flown inverted. The stars finally aligned for the upgrade this fall.

Mikey's panel at the start of the weekend

It has been my great fortune to have Paul Dye come into my life about the same time as I gathered the necessary funds for the project. Paul and I discussed and planned the project over the summer and I started ordering the necessary equipment this fall. By Thanksgiving, Paul’s guest bed was covered with a Dynon 180, TruTrak ADI Pilot II, blank panel sheet, z-channel, Paul’s old Icom 200 comm radio, switches, breakers, and assorted project supplies. I had only planned to add the Dynon EFIS/EMS, but Paul donated the second radio and urged that we replace my current ADI with the ADI Pilot II. Since he now has a minority interest in the plane, the autopilot will go in.

We picked the Thanksgiving weekend to move Mikey down to Texas from Virginia. A storm front delayed the flight to Friday, but Mikey and I arrived at Paul’s hanger south of Houston about 2 pm (less than 6.5 hours flight time from D.C. to Houston!). Work began immediately as the hanger was organized and planes shuffled around.

Ironflight is ready for action

The serious work happened later in the weekend. The canopy and cowling came off, the tail was propped up, seats removed, baggage area backwall removed, engine sensors stripped out, the vertical control panel removed, and all of the panel instruments (including control cables) removed. By the end of the long weekend, we had the new engine sensors installed, the outer panel shape cut, the bow and z–channel subpanel drilled and cleco-ed, the Bell tailwheel installed, all pertinent wiring labeled, and some holes drilled on the sub-panel.

Mikey's panel later in the weekend

As forum readers might guess, Paul is the best teacher/mentor that I’ve ever worked with and he has ensured that I am learning every step of the process. What fun this building stuff can be with the right partner! I had to fly off for business in Chicago and have now returned to D.C. Paul will continue working on the project during my absence but promises that there will still be plenty to do when I return for the Christmas holidays. I sure wish I could be there sooner and participate in every step. But, getting the panel DONE is the first priority; teaching and learning new skills is an important, but secondary, goal.

[Ironflight]

Just a few pictures to show the progress in two nights work. First, yes, Louise is going to be doing a piece of every task:



And here is how it looked yesterday....



OK, back to the shop. Tonight I'm cutting out those little "fiddly bits" around instrument knobs, and then I have to reinforce the radio rack hole and start fitting the racks. Man, it's GREAT to be building again!

(We'll keep updating this thread as the work progresses)

Paul

[Mike S]

So, what is with the Dynon stuff??? I thought you were a GRT kinda guy???

[Louise Hose]

Originally Posted by Mike S

So, what is with the Dynon stuff??? I thought you were a GRT kinda guy???

Paul is a minority partner and I made the Dynon decision as the best choice for Mikey and our uses of him. Paul may be the expert on the panel issues, but I'm the PIC when it comes to N164MS.

[Mike S]

Aye Aye, Captain.

Just thought I would harass Paul a little.

[Mel]

By the way, Ann & I had lunch with Paul today. We went down to sign off Rusty Crawford's -7A.

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by Mike S

So, what is with the Dynon stuff??? I thought you were a GRT kinda guy???

Aside from it being Louise's decision....it's always fun to try out different stuff - especially when it's with someone else's money!

Oh, wait.....

Paul

[pierre smith]

........are a real inspiration for so many of us!! Great work, neat writeup.
The cheering session is ongoing

Great!

[AlexPeterson]

Originally Posted by Louise Hose

Mikey's panel later in the weekend

I think a caption contest for this picture is in order.... there seems to be some statement about to come from Paul....

I get to go first, the tune by 10CC: "The Things We Do for Love"

[Mel]

Originally Posted by AlexPeterson

I think a caption contest for this picture is in order.... there seems to be some statement about to come from Paul....

I get to go first, the tune by 10CC: "The Things We Do for Love"

"What do you mean, the instructions don't include English?"