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Budget VFR Panel...

I’m re-building a 6A. The original panel was analog with cast-off, but functional equipment. Items from Piper, Cessna, Terra, etc. were used in the spirit of simplicity and low costs. I don’t think anything was purchased new for the original panel. I’ve tried to keep that theme going from the original builder.

A friend was able to scrounge a big piece of .063” 2024 from a dumpster. A friend put a nice 90* bend on it with his brake. After a few hours in & out of the -6, I had the basic blank. I added .75” extra to the lower portion. Still high enough to clear occupants’ knees. The only new item on the panel is the GTR200. It’s just too good of a value on a single COMM / VFR aircraft to pass up. Even the air vents were scrounged from the dumpster. I’m amazed at what people will throw away.

I’m currently working on wiring the panel, at home. 115*F is too hot to be working in the hangar.

This is what I had to start...
 

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Current progress

This is what I’ve been able to get done...
 

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Here is my panel evolution. Original, 1st upgrade from last year and the newly finished panel.
 

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Day VFR to full Glass conversion

Not 100% done with electronics, but my dash is new and cut and powder coated.
 

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RV6 Panel

Here's my old school panel. 180 hp// fixed pitch .Super light.I love it. (.....because I was inverted ....;)
 

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Here is a picture of my Panel. Had it made for me Carbon Fiber.
 

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RV-6 panel

My RV-6 panel installed 2014. 2021 upgraded to Dynon HDX and Aero 660.
RV6panel.jpg
 
New RV-6A

Day VFR RV-6A trying to keep it light and simple. Trial fit before priming and topcoat paint. Final installation will be after the windscreen has been fitted.
 

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IFR Panel (Dynon with a Garmin 175) to powder coat to tomorrow.

Going to look and work good.

Panel design (removable middle section) has been a good learning experience. AFS support is great.
 

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SNIP

Panel design (removable middle section) has been a good learning experience.

You will never regret taking the time now to end years of pain from a panel that you have to crawl under to do anything.

Of note - I’m working a panel for an RV-6A builder (Dual SkyView, GPS-175 and Garmin NAV/Comm). On this panel we made a bottom apron (like the stock RV-10 panel) to mount all the stuff that stays in the plane when removing the panel (switches, cabin heat, engine control cables and such). Once the top portion of the panel is out you have full access to all this stuff. When installed, panel plus apron height remained the same as the stock RV-6 panel.

Carl
Never on your back with your head under the panel…..
 
New RV-6 panel

Here's a new panel we just completed for an RV-6 in our hangar. From mid 90s VFR to modern IFR for a local airline captain.
 

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I've had my 6.9i since 1 December 2018... quite a few hours of avionics yoga were spent under the riveted panel, wedged between the manual flap handle and the throttle quadrant... from a pure VFR yellow panel into today's latest iteration :)

PS
The right side of the panel is usually covered by the iPad mini in a Xnaut cooling case on a RAM mount running the very popular (on the old continent) SkyDemon app.
 

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From 1990's VFR to modern Garmin! RV-6A
 

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I've had my 6.9i since 1 December 2018... quite a few hours of avionics yoga were spent under the riveted panel, wedged between the manual flap handle and the throttle quadrant... from a pure VFR yellow panel into today's latest iteration :)

PS
The right side of the panel is usually covered by the iPad mini in a Xnaut cooling case on a RAM mount running the very popular (on the old continent) SkyDemon app.
What's on your firewall ?
 
Aaaah... no clue since I'm not the builder. But it is some kind of sound isolation alu foil covered mat about 5mm thick, and knowing the pro builder, must be fireproof too.
 
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