Hangar Flying

An electronic ignition box needs to be mounted in a cool, accessible place and should NEVER be mounted on the hot side of the firewall. Also, the FlyEFII (highly recommended) and the LightSpeed ignition systems both use ignition coils, which are typically mounted where the magneto was, or on the top spine of the crankcase. Either way, the plug wires ONLY go from the ignition coils to the plugs, and are all located within the engine compartment. On the LSE system, you'll have to high-voltage coax cables, and the crank sensor wire penetrating the firewall.

Systems installations and avionics/electrical installations in our airplanes is not something to be taken lightly. Whatever you do, take care to do it right.

Chris

Hi Stan,

The previous posters are absolutely correct. DO NOT compromise the structural integrity of the instrument panel as a bulkhead. That being said, there are quite a few different ways you can go about maintaining that, or removing and restoring it in a different form factor. Just depends on how deep you want to get into things. Rearranging a panel is a challenging (and fun) exercise in problem solving. It's like a puzzle.. and your factors are how much you want to spend, what kind of capability you need, and how much space you have to work with. I've done quite a bit of custom instrument panel and avionics work on EZs. Let me know if you need any more help.

Chris Randall
N8882E KWHP, CA
x24thepilot@hotmail.com

Contact me off list at x24thepilot@hotmail.com. Have lots of planes and can hook you up with a ride and lots of tire kicking at CNO, SNA, or WHP.

Chris, Berk-EZ N8882E at WHP

Gentlemen,
I have some equipment for sale that was removed for a glass panel upgrade. All items were working when removed:

Piper Vacuum DG  $250
Beech Attitude Indicator/Flight Director $950 (Pricey because this is an FD/ADI.. out of a Baron, and probably better for those guys, but.. posted just in case)
Westach tachometer (left to right needle style) $25
Westach EGT/CHT combo (gauge only) $25
Westach Oil Temp $25
Piper turn coordinator (electric) $150
Terra TN-200 Nav Radio (this is the older push-button tuning) $450
Terra Tri-Nav digital Nav Indicator $250

I also have an S-Tec System-30 autopilot with GPSS, ARINC Module, and pitch/roll servos. All of the components are in good shape and were working when removed from a Berkut. The control head/turn coordinator has been recently overhauled and factory bench checked. Wiring & installation will need to be worked out, and is not simple. If anyone is interested, make me an offer. This system sells for about $15K new.

Serious inquiries can email me for further info.

Chris Randall
x24thepilot@hotmail.com

I'm curious about what weights we are talking about. I don't think it's anything like asking a woman how heavy she is! :-) I fly an IO-320 Berk-EZ and am about 1040 lbs empty. Sure, that's very heavy for a 1980's vintage Long with an O-235 on it, but these airplanes have evolved quite a bit since then, with necessary structural appointments to handle larger engines, etc. I'm a 240 lb pilot so with 30 gallons of fuel and no baggage or passengers that has me flying around 1450 lbs. all the time. At that weight, my plane flies like a bat out of hell and handles great. I'm sure it would have a touch of extra zip an crisp if I were able to build it 150 pounds lighter, but I was a first timer, incorporating Berkut mods (larger canopy, long nose, steel roll bar, el. nosegear, etc.) and ended up with some heavy finish areas on my strake skins. I set my gross weight at 1800 lbs. during my airworthiness inspection/paperwork and have operated the airplane at or near that weight quite a few times. At around 1800 I use about 1000 ft. more in the ground roll and climb performance is reduced, but the airplane is still capable and comfortable to fly. I smacked the shit out of it on landing one night and after a thorough look there was no damage at all. I fly it as I would any other airplane that is loaded to gross or above, and keep the same safety precautions in mind.

Chris

The first concern that comes to my mind is; How well do epoxy resins bond to titanium? A dis-bond between the composite spar structure and the attach fitting parts would be a bad, bad thing. I kicked the idea around of building a simple, bare-bones (the way it was designed to be flown) Vari-Eze after I finished my Berk-EZ. If it were me, I'd do away with the attach fittings all together and do a one-peice wing with a carry-through spar.

Chris

x24thepilot@hotmail.com