Replacing LONG instrument panel

[Stanford Zinger]

Hellllllllllllllllllllllllllllo Guys

I would like to replace my Long instrument panel...My panel is very very old.(Has Loran???)
I don't want to go to a glass panel however, I do want to have a GPS built in.
I will replacing my panel with a 1/8" 2024 T3 aluminum. I will leave a 1" ledge and will be able to screw the new panel in and out.
Can some of you nice folks please send me some photos of some panels and help me figure out  what goes where.

Any Ideas?

Thanks and BGest Regards
Stan

[av-mech]

Stan,

What goes where is totally up to you.  My panel has the following:

Ifly 700 gps touch screen
Flightline FL-760 comm radio
KT76 transponder
XM radio receiver
Grand Rapids EIS 4000
Dynon D-6 with encoder for transponder

Total investment was about 3K or so

This combo has been far more than I needed and although it would be classified a glass panel, it weighs less than comparable steam gauges and the amp consumption is very low.  I do not use an alternator and I have an 18 amp/hr 12V battery, this will last me 4 hours between charges.  Since I only do a really long x-country once in a great while, this combo works good for me.  I have attached a photo below, pay no attention to the fact that I had the Dynon in a little crooked, its been straightend since the photo.

[srothert]

Stan,
Just remember that the instrument panel is a structural bulkhead of the fuselage.  Leave enough of structure around the perimeter (sides and top) to maintain the integrity.  I have heard of some "renovations" where the whole original instrument panel was removed, the fuselage sides moved in slightly, and the canopy/canopy frame would no longer fit.

Fly safe.

Steve Rothert
Long-Ez N49SR
Albuquerque, NM

[av-mech]

I agree with Steve, the picture of my panel was taken a few weeks before I actuallyh flew the airplane for the first time and there was still some work to do.  Look closely at the machine screws (and empty holes for screws) around the perimeter of my aluminum panel and that will give you an idea of how much of the composite structure I left in place.  Although I did mention that I try to find things to take out.......structure is not one of them!

[EZPILOT742X]

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