lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Posted on behalf of "Resonance Research" <DR.RESONANCE@next-wave.net>: Aaron May recently had a post regarding electronic panels. I would like to share my panel plan with regarding to inexpensive electronic display panel design. Our aircraft is a Lancair IV-P in its last 10 months of construction (the 99.9% phase). We used a Sony Vaio computer and removed the display from the computer. A simple 7 conductor shielded cable allows 30 inches of separation from the main computer body which we placed in a small fabricated pullout "box" under the right side of the panel. The Vaio screen which is 12 x 14 inches in size is on the right side of the panel and tilts toward the pilot 30 degrees. The small fingertouch pad was also removed and placed just in behind the flight control stick on the left armrest. A pushbutton in this same area allows mouse "clicks" on selected screen programs. We run the Jeppensen (formerly Mentor Graphics) Flightstar program on top of Windows 2000. It gives a huge 12 x 14 inch display and the total system cost (with software and computer) is only $3,600.00. The Vaio receives it's data directly from the Garmin GNS-530 which is in the center section of the panel. Jep also has available complete moving map sectionals on CD's so VFR pilots can fly with a complete FAA sectional map right on their computer screen. We back up the system (both Garmin GNS-530 and our Vaio system) with a simple gel-cell type battery that is constantly trickle charged from a 12 VDC power source. Our plane is 28 VDC so we used a small LM317 electronic regulator in a metal box to drop the voltage to the correct voltage level for the Vaio (10 VDC). Complete sytem backup is provided by a Garmin handheld comm/GPS which is carried in the flightbag. I have used the Jepp/Mentor Graphics Flitestar and Flightmap program for the past 10 years running on a small laptop. I like this program so much I decided I could not do without in in my plane. Flight planning is accomplished on your home computer and the data is transferred to the plane with a 3 1/2 inch floppy diskette. We also added a cell phone antenna into our plane so we could call up our home ISP from anywhere in the country and then check email, stocks, and most importantly, get all the weather charts through Intellicast.com. Intellicast even has "radar loops" which are very helpful in determining storm movement direction. We can do all this on the ground without the engine running because we use the gel cell power source to run the Vaio for this weather data check. Best regards, Dr. D.C. Cox Baraboo, Wisconsin LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.