Kelli and I lost out on one too many trips due to the weather. When I told Kelli I was cancelling an upcoming cross country because the forecast was just too iffy, she pronounced a new set of priorities for her airplane and her pilot (me): Get the IFR mod and ticket. Here we go...
I originally built KELLI GIRL with an all-SkyView VFR configuration:
Walt Aranow of EXP Aircraft Service at my home field (NW Regional, 52F) does fantastic panel work, so I hired him for the 2-week job. We moved some switches around, removed the PAR100EX radio/intercom and the SkyView radio, and replaced them with:
Garmin GTN-650 (WAAS GPS, VOR/LOC/ILS, VHF comm radio, GPS source for ADS-B out)
Garmin GTR-200 (VHF comm radio)
Garmin GMA-245 (intercom with BlueTooth phone and music)
Dynon SkyView Autopilot Control Panel (enables all pitch/roll autopilot modes without having to dig around in the sub-menus)
The work begins...
First he removed the 10" SkyView displays (to create work space) and cut a big square section out of the center panel:
He then extended the hole forward into the sub-panel to accommodate the GTN-650's extended length:
Walt worked with Stein at SteinAir to create a cover plate that'll cover the big center hole while accommodating the trays for the GTN, GMA, GTR, and Autopilot control panel:
Almost everything plugged in and working. The Dynon Autopilot control panel was a late arrival, but all else worked. Note also the row of small toggles across the top center: They are for my boost pump and exterior lights. I like using the small toggles, and they're possible thanks to my VPX Vertical Power Pro:
Oh, and Dynon's heated pitot/AOA:
All wired, connected, labeled, holes filled, ready to fly:
...and the panel has already proved itself, as I have now already met the 40+ hours of IFR training under CFII Matthew Hood (Positive Rate LLC).
Note: How can you tell if you have a real hard-a$$ CFII? Foggles...in the cloud!
(Actually, Matt is a fantastic instructor. Knows his stuff, entertaining, has a knack for finding your limits then ratcheting back a notch so LEARNING still occurs. I definitely picked the right guy, and I strongly recommend him for your IFR training).
If I can just get on my examiner's schedule, I'll have the IFR ticket done.
Cheers, hats off, and three Sierra Hotels to:
- Walt Aranow at EXP...you really do great work, my friend.
- Stein, for the perfectly fitting panel plate.
- Matt Hood, for running me through the ringer. The check-ride CAN'T be THAT tough. I'm ready.
I originally built KELLI GIRL with an all-SkyView VFR configuration:
![2017061910440411-IMG_0005-XL.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FIFR-Panel-Upgrade%2Fi-qhwpmhr%2F0%2F104bea06%2FXL%2F2017061910440411-IMG_0005-XL.jpg&hash=06824f73cbfb1add7790e761d29873e3)
![2017061910591734-IMG_3627-XL.png](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FIFR-Panel-Upgrade%2Fi-4zctZ7q%2F0%2Facfaa386%2FXL%2F2017061910591734-IMG_3627-XL.png&hash=f1a6015de3cf2f502df54d4a0e3f9411)
Walt Aranow of EXP Aircraft Service at my home field (NW Regional, 52F) does fantastic panel work, so I hired him for the 2-week job. We moved some switches around, removed the PAR100EX radio/intercom and the SkyView radio, and replaced them with:
Garmin GTN-650 (WAAS GPS, VOR/LOC/ILS, VHF comm radio, GPS source for ADS-B out)
Garmin GTR-200 (VHF comm radio)
Garmin GMA-245 (intercom with BlueTooth phone and music)
Dynon SkyView Autopilot Control Panel (enables all pitch/roll autopilot modes without having to dig around in the sub-menus)
The work begins...
First he removed the 10" SkyView displays (to create work space) and cut a big square section out of the center panel:
![2017061910460859-IMG_4243-XL.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FIFR-Panel-Upgrade%2Fi-m3xwJWM%2F0%2F311085ec%2FXL%2F2017061910460859-IMG_4243-XL.jpg&hash=394f6748cdafe636d2b06ee048d3dbae)
He then extended the hole forward into the sub-panel to accommodate the GTN-650's extended length:
![2017061910460859-EB54918F-943D-439A-88C7-D3A780A91970-XL.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FIFR-Panel-Upgrade%2Fi-rS72hBr%2F0%2Fb6e30c93%2FXL%2F2017061910460859-EB54918F-943D-439A-88C7-D3A780A91970-XL.jpg&hash=bfc8f31d40915595772ef74e46a4cb6b)
Walt worked with Stein at SteinAir to create a cover plate that'll cover the big center hole while accommodating the trays for the GTN, GMA, GTR, and Autopilot control panel:
![2017061910440411-IMG_0058-XL.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FIFR-Panel-Upgrade%2Fi-G7J43PV%2F0%2F2ae3215b%2FXL%2F2017061910440411-IMG_0058-XL.jpg&hash=87b24d1aa8d89cb8c7d8df60feeccd2e)
![2017061910440411-IMG_0040-XL.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FIFR-Panel-Upgrade%2Fi-HqS8fN2%2F0%2F2fc4532b%2FXL%2F2017061910440411-IMG_0040-XL.jpg&hash=7eba4280cdbdf045c50262753f73121d)
Almost everything plugged in and working. The Dynon Autopilot control panel was a late arrival, but all else worked. Note also the row of small toggles across the top center: They are for my boost pump and exterior lights. I like using the small toggles, and they're possible thanks to my VPX Vertical Power Pro:
![2017061910440411-IMG_0066-XL.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FIFR-Panel-Upgrade%2Fi-XWvL2Mx%2F0%2Fc86032cf%2FXL%2F2017061910440411-IMG_0066-XL.jpg&hash=59d7901d3c4b322adb0a67a0a9374b22)
Oh, and Dynon's heated pitot/AOA:
![2017061910440411-IMG_0031-XL.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FIFR-Panel-Upgrade%2Fi-mQD8Fn5%2F0%2Fb6f8e6eb%2FXL%2F2017061910440411-IMG_0031-XL.jpg&hash=069ec00d02de1a53a631df8566454771)
All wired, connected, labeled, holes filled, ready to fly:
![2017061910440411-IMG_0079-XL.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FIFR-Panel-Upgrade%2Fi-3c48Lh2%2F0%2Fbbd9d34e%2FXL%2F2017061910440411-IMG_0079-XL.jpg&hash=fe8baf9e4ab95764ad74a65aac0ec08d)
...and the panel has already proved itself, as I have now already met the 40+ hours of IFR training under CFII Matthew Hood (Positive Rate LLC).
![2017062517085460-10817E86-AB1C-4825-B035-E192089818BC-XL.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FIFR-Panel-Upgrade%2Fi-rTZmwWx%2F0%2Fe7993c2e%2FXL%2F2017062517085460-10817E86-AB1C-4825-B035-E192089818BC-XL.jpg&hash=37f0bb9d3730dfd441a098eaba55b6dc)
Note: How can you tell if you have a real hard-a$$ CFII? Foggles...in the cloud!
(Actually, Matt is a fantastic instructor. Knows his stuff, entertaining, has a knack for finding your limits then ratcheting back a notch so LEARNING still occurs. I definitely picked the right guy, and I strongly recommend him for your IFR training).
If I can just get on my examiner's schedule, I'll have the IFR ticket done.
Cheers, hats off, and three Sierra Hotels to:
- Walt Aranow at EXP...you really do great work, my friend.
- Stein, for the perfectly fitting panel plate.
- Matt Hood, for running me through the ringer. The check-ride CAN'T be THAT tough. I'm ready.
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