glenmthompson
Well Known Member
To those who have hashed it out with me, in this forum during our EXTREMELY difficult RV10 E-1 installation, and others concerning throwing thousands of dollars at BMA, please note the following:
This unit is installed in RV 10 number 15 to fly. I did 95% of the install for my friend, and the archives will show all our tribulations from no jumpers, to inop boards, to horribly misleading and incorrect and information missing manual, to accusations from BMA. Here are my notes after 13 hrs of flight testing:
**** The previously forum discussed "jittering" is worse inflight. The numbers in the heading compass jump around continuosly, and heading "jitters" +/- 1 deg while holding constant heading.
****The Tach is unusable below 1200 RPM. Calibrations can not fix, even though we calibrated with handheld down to 500 RPM.
**** When HSI, attitude display (without 3D terrain enabled I might add) and terrain is displayed, the heading updates about 4 times per second as well as the terrain display. This equates to a VERY "steppy" heading, attitude and map display. Also on the map page, the terrain displays, ie. airport names and towers for example, jump around continuously. Some have defended BMA saying that this is a high demand display setting, but is this not what everybody would like to see in a $19,000 set up while flying?
****Still unable to get any axis of the autopilot to engage. We got the typical BMA response so far to change the gain and check the wires. Wireing today checked good and gain change offers no help so far. BMA has promised, as they always do actually, to "get us up and running".
****Ammeter is unreliable and gives constant alarms with the great variation in readings.
**** CHT only reads above 230 deg.
**** Oil pressure will occasionally jump around during radio transmit.
****BMA has suggested that we sheild affected wires, even though the harnesses supplied by them (very expensive) were not delivered shielded.
Now PLEASE, those who I have now just enraged who think I am trying to hammer BMA, please note that overall I am very impressed with this unit. I am horribly disillusioned though, with the manual, INITIAL factory support, and their misinformation giving order dept. Those who own BMA or read this forum know her name.
I am merely giving my observations and perceptions of a VERY expensive, high tech, and actually very impressive unit. I am trying to, in my own way to inform those considering buying this unit, on the less than flattering aspects of BMA and specifically the E-1. BMA supporters and the company itself would never bring the above into a public forum. I have, and sincerely hope that each and every one of the above items can be corrected in this and every future BMA unit.
BMA recommends the extremely knowledgable "Bob" to install their untis for $1500 plus airfare. Listen folks, unless you do this stuff every day, this is worth every penny. I am not a novice around avionics, and had a horrific time. I can now probably do another in half the time, due to my experience, even with the horrible, manuals.
As a final note, the owner of this plane is extremely impressed with the way his panel looks and the displays, and overall with the E-1. He says I am being too "anal". He is in 100% agreement with me though, of how horrible the installation went. (As a reminder, I received a refund for my lite after waiting 3 months after the promised delivery date, while others received theirs while ordering theirs well after me, ...another story) My friend says I am being too "anal", perhaps, but for anybody considereing buying this unit, I will be more than happy to speak with them or even send them video of some of the above inflight.
I am also extremely open to objective comments and sincerely hope this forum is helpfull to every one of us.
Glen
561-670-6095
This unit is installed in RV 10 number 15 to fly. I did 95% of the install for my friend, and the archives will show all our tribulations from no jumpers, to inop boards, to horribly misleading and incorrect and information missing manual, to accusations from BMA. Here are my notes after 13 hrs of flight testing:
**** The previously forum discussed "jittering" is worse inflight. The numbers in the heading compass jump around continuosly, and heading "jitters" +/- 1 deg while holding constant heading.
****The Tach is unusable below 1200 RPM. Calibrations can not fix, even though we calibrated with handheld down to 500 RPM.
**** When HSI, attitude display (without 3D terrain enabled I might add) and terrain is displayed, the heading updates about 4 times per second as well as the terrain display. This equates to a VERY "steppy" heading, attitude and map display. Also on the map page, the terrain displays, ie. airport names and towers for example, jump around continuously. Some have defended BMA saying that this is a high demand display setting, but is this not what everybody would like to see in a $19,000 set up while flying?
****Still unable to get any axis of the autopilot to engage. We got the typical BMA response so far to change the gain and check the wires. Wireing today checked good and gain change offers no help so far. BMA has promised, as they always do actually, to "get us up and running".
****Ammeter is unreliable and gives constant alarms with the great variation in readings.
**** CHT only reads above 230 deg.
**** Oil pressure will occasionally jump around during radio transmit.
****BMA has suggested that we sheild affected wires, even though the harnesses supplied by them (very expensive) were not delivered shielded.
Now PLEASE, those who I have now just enraged who think I am trying to hammer BMA, please note that overall I am very impressed with this unit. I am horribly disillusioned though, with the manual, INITIAL factory support, and their misinformation giving order dept. Those who own BMA or read this forum know her name.
I am merely giving my observations and perceptions of a VERY expensive, high tech, and actually very impressive unit. I am trying to, in my own way to inform those considering buying this unit, on the less than flattering aspects of BMA and specifically the E-1. BMA supporters and the company itself would never bring the above into a public forum. I have, and sincerely hope that each and every one of the above items can be corrected in this and every future BMA unit.
BMA recommends the extremely knowledgable "Bob" to install their untis for $1500 plus airfare. Listen folks, unless you do this stuff every day, this is worth every penny. I am not a novice around avionics, and had a horrific time. I can now probably do another in half the time, due to my experience, even with the horrible, manuals.
As a final note, the owner of this plane is extremely impressed with the way his panel looks and the displays, and overall with the E-1. He says I am being too "anal". He is in 100% agreement with me though, of how horrible the installation went. (As a reminder, I received a refund for my lite after waiting 3 months after the promised delivery date, while others received theirs while ordering theirs well after me, ...another story) My friend says I am being too "anal", perhaps, but for anybody considereing buying this unit, I will be more than happy to speak with them or even send them video of some of the above inflight.
I am also extremely open to objective comments and sincerely hope this forum is helpfull to every one of us.
Glen
561-670-6095
Last edited: