VFR and the real world
jlfernan said:
Steam gauges and engine instruments probably from Vans.
Why steam? I assume you are not going to consider a Dynon EFIS-D10A and a GRT EIS-4000 engine monitor. Add a Com, transponder and handheld GPS you have a very powerful inexpensive panel. Add a wing leveler auto pilot w/ GPS couple you are in tall cotton.
Sure you could sub just an altimeter, airspeed and wet compass for the Dynon and yes you could sub a handful of inexpensive hand held Van's analog gages, but why? Just a question, not a challenge or disagreement.
Also a few mentioned night VFR and having an AI. As an instructor, even private pilots learn basic attitude instrument work. Why? For good reasons, the FAA found it saved or could save lives. As you are aware every year many VFR only pilots and their passengers die by the epitaph continued VFR into IMC conditions. Granted many of these accident planes had gyros that where not put to proper use, so there is an argument for not putting in a gyro. However I say gyro+training+currency equals increased safety, but I don't know how you plan to fly your RV. Clearly a VFR pilot in a VFR RV has no business flying in IMC, low visibility or with no refrence to the horizon or ground. If you just want a local day VFR only RV than I would leave the Gyro out myself. This would be my panel for this mission:
http://www.pipercubforum.com/cubdash.htm
I find NIGHT, even on clear nights can be as disorientating as flying in low visability. Have you ever taken off on a moonless night over water or over sparsely populated areas? I say if you plan on flying cross country and / or at night consider an attitude indicator (AI).
Some may suggest just adding a T&B or TC as your "instrument" back-up gyro. I say from experience and statistics your chance of survival in IMC or dark no horizon night as a VFR pilot, partial panel (needle, ball and airspeed), is pretty slim in real conditions with the stress of the moment in a slick RV.
This is the bare min FAR 91.205:
http://www.risingup.com/fars/info/part91-205-FAR.shtml
As someone mentioned for an amateur built experimental you don't even need part 91.205. Yep no airspeed, altimeter oil pressure, fuel nothing! That is true, but it's like a trivia answer, since no one in their right mind would fly a RV with NO instruments of any kind. Yes you can do that, but why would you.
I say equip for the mission a RV is designed for. One of those missions is cross country. With that mission you want to have what I call a DELUX VFR panel, not a bare min panel, but if all you want to do is fly day VFR within 10 miles of your home airport, than by all means put in the min steam gages. You can save huge money and weight leaving off the lights for night flight.
I think the utility and value of electronic instruments is worth it, for what you are getting. If you want a gyro than an EFIS is the way to go. To get a vacuum pump is illogical now a days, given the cost of vacuum pumps and their dubious reliability. Electric mechanical gyros are big bucks. Get a Dynon and you get 10 instruments in one. Get a GRT EIS 4000, you not only get the basics you need : OIL TEMP, OIL PRESS, FUEL PRESS, RPM, FUEL LEVEL L&R, you get OAT, VOLTS, CHT and EGT. You have the option to add MANIFOLD PRESS, FUEL FLOW, AMPS to name a few. Not only this you get warning of high or low exceedence of limits you set. How many pilots actually scan their engine instruments constantly or at least consistently? We should but in reality we don't. The electronics do this mundane task better than we could ever do it. This adds safety.
As an instructor I could not fail engine instruments in the actual plane, but in a little simulator I could. I was surprised how long pilots flew with ZERO volts or oil pressure before they noticed.
I was also surprised how long I went before I noticed once. An instrument that monitors all engine parameters and gives you a big RED flashing light when ANYTHING is out of NORMAL is a real cool thing. Nothing wrong with analog. Heck the fancy sports cars and luxury cars all have analog gages. My Rolex watch is analog. Love analog, but the electronics have an edge. Of course the higher end engine monitors add both a digital and analog graphic. Dynon has an engine monitor to match their EFIS. In fact they have a new all in one deal with a big display for not much money (for what you get).
I know analog gages are cool to look at, but they are not necessarily cheaper, especially for high quality ones. Van's gages are lower (lowest) cost inexpensive units. They may cost a little less than the basic EIS4000 (about $1000), but it's like comparing your first bicycle to Lance Armstrong's Tour de France carbon fiber racing bike. They both are cool, especially your first bike as a kid, but do you want to ride that bike today. Same with instruments. These comments represent my opinion only.
