Panel

I have been researching and designing the panel over last few weeks. I like flying in IMC (that is besides Aerobatics) and did want to have IFR capable machine. This is quite a challenge if you are on a budget and want to keep things simple. After going back and forthe several times in past few months, here is what I decided on:

- Garmin 650 (GPS WAAS and VOR). This will be primary NAV source (VOR as a backup) as well as primary COMM
- Dynon skyview system with EMS, Autopilots, Transponder and GPS (GPS will be a back up)
- Trutrak Gemini as secondary EFIS
- SL40 as a secondary COMM
- GMA 240 as Audio Panel
- Dynon will also have backup battery (in case of an electrical failure)

Here is the panel layout that is currently being cut:

Update

Wow.. I have'nt updated this blog in months. I promise to myself to keep this updated as much as possible from now on.

So I ended up moving the project from KRNT to a builder assist facility Axsys Air near Lake Stevens, WA. I had to clean out my hangar and rather than keeping the kit in the storage I decided to bite the bullet and keep on building with full force.

The move to KRNT happened in July and since then I have been trying to get around 10hrs every week in the shop. The progress is slower than what I want but still any step forward is progress. One thing I have been trying to do is that to do all my research, studying and ordering while I am not in the shop ... That way I hit the shop running.


The status of the project so far: Empennage is complete except some minor fiber-glass work, Wings are almost complete. We need to add heated-pitot, taxi and landing lights, and Dynon Autopilot roll servo. And finally rivet the bottom skins. Currently, actively working on fuselage.

Here is the summary to what has been accomplished so far:


Mounted Dynon Autopilot Pitch Servo and Master Contactor (5 hrs):

 

 

Installed Strobe Wiring to the wing and the tail and secured it. Grounded the shield near the strobe power supply (2 hrs):

Mounted ELT in the aft fuselage (2 hrs):

 

 

 

Ran wires through aft fuselage (Dynon AP, Co-ax cables, Pitot and Static Lines) (4 hrs total). Also, examined the rudder cable, they need some sort of chafing protection before we rivet the turtle deck:

 

 

The set of wires are growing exponentially in the forward fuse!

 

 

 

Bolted on the Horizontal Stabalizer and mounted the elevators (hooray!) (1 hr). These things are tricky to handle by yourself. Glenn from Axsys Air has been very helpful in showing how to do things properly here. Its beginning to look like and Airplane!

 

 

 

Mounted the VOR antenna (2 hrs). Made a doubler plate and then riveted it to the bottom. Glenn helped me again. He is pretty efficient at riveting and was great to have him help at this 2 person job.

Built and mounted battery mount in aft fuselage (2 hrs):

Starting Out - Part 2

We moved the entire kit from the sellers home/hangar to our hangar at KRNT. My good friend Nikhil Garg helped me and looks like he'll be interested to come along on this journey. Thanks to my friend we could wrap the whole thing up in an afternoon. We celebrated the move with a nice home cooked meal by Ashima. Nothing better than Indian style chaat with Lassi followed by the Chocolate eruption cake.

Next steps for me is to get some shelving units from home-depot, organize the hangar and start collecting tools!

Finally, I have been reading the RVator and seems that there is a lot of emphasis on building the aircraft light. And its by co-incidence that I found this quote on the daily Aviation eBrief email.

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

--Antoine de Saint-Exupery,
French writer

Our attempt will be to build as light as possible RV-8.

Starting Out - Part 1

There is nothing like 'Diving into boiling oil head first'. That was one of the phrases one of my mentors had used when I was getting into Aerobatic flying. I think it is still apt here.

We have decided to pursue building an RV-8 aircraft. Neither myself, nor my wife have really been that good at handling tools. It's an adventure we always wanted to do, so here it goes ....

Picking up the RV-8 QB kit this weekend. We are going to move all the kits to our hangar at Renton. I suspect it'll be days before we get started on it. We'll have to get tools, supplies, get our bearing straight etc.. We are not in a hurry, it'll be a long journey but will be a memorable one.