panel layout
Hi guys, here's the panel I designed for the RV-7A I am building. The concept on this entire aircraft is minimal and almost utilitarian, no moldings or leather in this cockpit! The popular choice of a flat silver sprayed interior with simple two tone fabric seats, arm rests and matched floor mats. The panel is quite sophisticated I think but simple and uncluttered. Intended for dual flying and instruction a complete dual functionality was foremost but to keep it clean and simple was a close second. The complicated theories and electronic design relating to redundancy and backup are something I can discuss later but to say that everything we did in that regard was based on or inspired by the popular Bob Nuckolls school of thought.
This is more about the layout and functionality of the panel and chosen equipment. To start off we are quite enthusiastic supporters of the award-winning MGL range, their tried and tested 'Voyager' EFIS is really impressive and being based a short hop from where we are sealed the deal really.
The panel is divided into three 'faces' two identical left and right, and a central interchangeable face.
To achieve the dual functionality we have installed on either side the 8" Voyager EFIS unit and system independently which uses up most of the real estate on the left and right panel. In solo flying both systems can be utilized and split for pfd, nav, gps and engine but on dual flying the functions can be duplicated or shared.
To get the EFIS units in I had to modify the left and right F-745 ribs by cutting them at the subpanel and then moving and fixing the cutoff parts outwards just outside of the EFIS units. This left a rather large part of the panel unbraced and so I designed a 'rack' frame of sorts to reinforce the panel in the center and creates a box for the two central installation options. I made up two interchangeable 'faces' which attach to the panel here:
The first to which the modified map box is fixed and includes the the MGL VHF and Microair T2000 units,
The second option is a face that is cut to house a Garmin audio stack which will be fitted to the 'rack' .
All the primary and secondary switches and breakers are located on removable faces too and can be serviced, replaced and installed on these faces that screw on to the panel with no effect on the panel itself. They are arranged accordingly with dual flying in mind and primary flying from the left. There is a tiny bit of space to either side of the EFIS units which is available to any additional small installations like a Hobbs meter - iPod installation etc.
For the first few months in the life of this airplane only the left EFIS will be installed, during this time the right hand EFIS space will be used up by an iPad configured for basic flying functionality, housed in a custom fabricated housing designed to fit in that space and allowing quick release of the iPad.
Here can be seen the installed panel, cut for the units and faces, also behind are the two ribs moved outwards and the custom control knob bracket installed on the panel. All primed and ready for the final coat of flat silver 2k....