As long as I'm doing that...

LettersFromFlyoverCountry · #1 09-12-2016, 03:49 PM

I have a couple of the cruddy black plastic vents in the plane and with winter coming, I considered buying a couple of the nice SteinAir versions and ducting them right into a spot on the corners of the instrument panel.

But then I ran into a case of the "As Long As I'm Doing Thats"

It goes something like this.

As long as I'm going to work on the panel, I might as well put the ADS-B solution in.

As long as I'm doing that, I might as well make the plane IFR capable and put in a nice GPS.

As long as I'm putting in a nice GPS, I might as well pull the D-100 out and put in the new Dynon SkyView.

As long as I'm putting in the new Dynon SkyView, I might as well pull the single axis TruTrak autopilot and go with the Dynon A/P.

As long as I'm going to have to rewire that, I might as well pull the orphaned VP-50 even though it's working perfectly because if it ever goes toes up, I'm in trouble.

Then I got to thinking, "you know... the panel works just fine as it is and you don't have the money, really, for any of this."

So I'm shoving a couple of rags in the vent.

Lemmingman · #2 09-12-2016, 03:58 PM

I am told that winters are long in Minnesota. I'm betting you cave in and do the vents before spring thaw.

RONSIM · #3 09-12-2016, 04:12 PM

Way too much "new panel" stuff in my -6A, and, I still have dreams of more!!

Ron

DaleB · #4 09-12-2016, 04:16 PM

And you have just identified exactly why the panel in my -12 remains as it was the day I bought it. Every time I decide to do something small(ish) scope creep sets in and I end up deciding to just fly the thing.

Vlad · #5 09-12-2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

.....

So I'm shoving a couple of rags in the vent.

Bob,
As you know I fly all year around and this past winter I tried this solution.

Tbone · #6 09-12-2016, 07:59 PM

Bob, please check your PM's

AlexPeterson · #7 09-15-2016, 07:59 PM

I added rubber sheet seals to the "throttle" part. I put aluminum backers on them. These seal very well, no problems with cold air in the winter. I like the large vents, can't imagine only having the smaller ones.

Snowflake · #8 09-16-2016, 09:50 AM

Alex, your photos don't show up.

gasman · #9 09-16-2016, 10:00 AM

To seal your plastic vents for the winter..... Take a business card and cut it in half. Open the vent and slide 1/2 in each side of the flap. Close the vent.

AlexPeterson · #10 09-16-2016, 11:50 AM

Rob, thanks.

It seems to be impossible to post google pictures any more. For years I did on these forums, but they are migrating people away from the old site to the new, and I can't seem to find a method on the new site that works. I also can't seem to get to the old site. I suspect they are shutting people out gradually from it.

UPDATE: I think it may be fixed, if others concur that they can now see the photos, I may have a theory...