BVD
Well Known Member
It's been about 9 years since I've been here. I built an -8A in 2002 and sold it in 2009, and just got busy with life...you know how it is. But I just picked up another -8A and will be stating a two phase panel upgrade, along with an in-depth condition inspection, next month. I hope to have a builder/flying log up in the next week or so to document the process, but it's not quite ready.
The "Ghost" is a 2006 RV-8A quickbuild with a 200HP IO360 and Hartzell C/S. The panel is VFR and pretty well done with vacuum AI and DG, Navaid autopilot, RMI VSI, VM1000, GTX327, 250XL, SL40, and a 496. It's also got a Propriety Software Systems AOA. Not bad, but if you know me, then you know i'm gonna upgrade it...LOL
Phase one will be quick and dirty (so I can fly while building phase 2 on the bench) and will include removing the vacuum system, AI, DG, Navaid, RMI, and 250XL (if you need any of these items please let me know), and the installation of a Garmin G5 with autopilot and GMC507 controller. I'll replace the AI with the G5, put the 496 in place of the DG to drive the autopilot for now. The autopilot controller will go in place of the 250XL, and I'll add an iPad Mini 4 running ForeFlight on a ram mount. The parts are on order and I'm estimating the cost of phase one to be around $5K..considering I still have plenty of "stuff" from when I was building panels to take care of all the harnesses and etc. And, perhaps I can recoup some of the cost by selling some of the removed equipment.
Phase 2 will be a new center panel I'll cut on the Panel Pro and will include the removal of just about all of the remaining original equipment and the installation of the 10.4" GRT Horizon HXr Touch with their Safe-Fly GPS and IFR Approach Option. I'll also add the GRT remote EIS package, a VAL remote NAV, and PSE remote audio panel. I may also add a Garmin Navigator of some kind, if I can find a deal (the pic has a 430W), but i'm in no hurry there. I'm also going to need the Garmin GAD29 AIRINC unit, and am planning on the GRT Echo combined with the Safe-Fly for ADS-B out, but will wait a bit to pull the trigger on that since things are still changing. I'm sure I've missed a couple things here, but I am still working out the details and the final design. I really want to put a map box of some kind in the empty space on the panel and have some ideas for that.
Please let me know what you think! All questions, comments, and concerns are welcome!! I'm excited to have an RV again and excited to be part of the community again after far too long.
The "Ghost" is a 2006 RV-8A quickbuild with a 200HP IO360 and Hartzell C/S. The panel is VFR and pretty well done with vacuum AI and DG, Navaid autopilot, RMI VSI, VM1000, GTX327, 250XL, SL40, and a 496. It's also got a Propriety Software Systems AOA. Not bad, but if you know me, then you know i'm gonna upgrade it...LOL
Phase one will be quick and dirty (so I can fly while building phase 2 on the bench) and will include removing the vacuum system, AI, DG, Navaid, RMI, and 250XL (if you need any of these items please let me know), and the installation of a Garmin G5 with autopilot and GMC507 controller. I'll replace the AI with the G5, put the 496 in place of the DG to drive the autopilot for now. The autopilot controller will go in place of the 250XL, and I'll add an iPad Mini 4 running ForeFlight on a ram mount. The parts are on order and I'm estimating the cost of phase one to be around $5K..considering I still have plenty of "stuff" from when I was building panels to take care of all the harnesses and etc. And, perhaps I can recoup some of the cost by selling some of the removed equipment.
Phase 2 will be a new center panel I'll cut on the Panel Pro and will include the removal of just about all of the remaining original equipment and the installation of the 10.4" GRT Horizon HXr Touch with their Safe-Fly GPS and IFR Approach Option. I'll also add the GRT remote EIS package, a VAL remote NAV, and PSE remote audio panel. I may also add a Garmin Navigator of some kind, if I can find a deal (the pic has a 430W), but i'm in no hurry there. I'm also going to need the Garmin GAD29 AIRINC unit, and am planning on the GRT Echo combined with the Safe-Fly for ADS-B out, but will wait a bit to pull the trigger on that since things are still changing. I'm sure I've missed a couple things here, but I am still working out the details and the final design. I really want to put a map box of some kind in the empty space on the panel and have some ideas for that.
Please let me know what you think! All questions, comments, and concerns are welcome!! I'm excited to have an RV again and excited to be part of the community again after far too long.
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