Feb 09, 2024     Center Console GTN-650 Mount       Category: Avionics

Ken Markus gave me a nice big sheet of 3/8 in. high density foam so I wanted to start mounting the GTN-650 in the center console. I cut two pieces of the foam 2 1/2 in. x 9 in. and used some flox as an adhesive. I will probably have to add one more layer of foam before I sand it down and cover with glass fabric, to allow fitting of the GTN mounting bracket. I then cut out the hole for the GTN. Since I was working on the center console I wanted to install the Start Enable, Ignition and Fuel Pump switches. I had already cut the panel but needed to drill the switch holes. I then labeled the switches with my label maker. Perhaps at a later date I'll have it laser engraved.

  May 27, 2023     Autopilot Servo Service Bulletin       Category: Avionics

I double checked the Service Bulletin for the GSA 28 Autopilot Servos. The affected Servos are 011-02927-00 serial number 2PG015462 through 2PG016170 and 011-02927-10/11 serial numbers 5G9017349 and 5G9019731 through 5G9021528. Fortunately my servos are not affected. Yay!

  May 12, 2023     GTN-650xi Bracket       Category: Avionics

Planning how to install the GTN-650xi bracket inside the SFSA Throttle Quad Center Console. I'm leaning toward cutting down and sanding some foam then glassing it in. This will give me something along the interior sides to screw the bracket to.

  Apr 30, 2023     Autopilot Servo Wire Bundle       Category: Avionics

The Autopilot Servo Wire Bundle had a 15 pin D-Sub connector attached on the avionics end. This would make it difficult to route the bundle forward to the panel. I removed the pinouts from the connector and labeled them to allow me to run the wires. After I run the wires, I'll re-pin the connector.

  Apr 07, 2023     SteinAir Panel Arrives!       Category: Avionics

The Panel and Avionics from SteinAir arrived today. I really like the box that it came in. The box top is laser engraved with the panel design. I plan to hang it on the hangar wall ! Then I did some preliminary unboxing. In the box was some "bling" (t-shirts, hat, pens and stickers), along with the wiring schematic and a thumb drive with the schematic and other Garmin manuals. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I'm hoping the installation will go smoothly. So much to learn.

  Mar 23, 2023     TO/GA Buttons Pt. 2       Category: Avionics

Finished wiring the TO/GA buttons on the throttle. I fed the wire pairs into the holes on the knobs that I drilled and set a piece of Heat Shrink over the Throttle Lever portion. Then I fed the wires into the heat shrink and along one edge. It was a fairly tight fit but it worked. The wires are hardly noticeable and I think it's a very nice feature.

  Mar 21, 2023     Infinity Stick Grip Wires       Category: Avionics

I spent some time tracing the wires in the Infinity Stick Grip. I made the mistake of taking the grip apart to look inside... Big Mistake. It took quite some time to get it back together without pinching any wires. Once back together I decided to use my multi-meter to find the switch to wire-pairs. There are 16 wires (actually 17, a black wire that is not used) and there does seem to be a somewhat organized system to the wire pairs. I got lucky on the very first two wires I selected and they were on the green "start" button. From there it was just a process of elimination. The black 17th wire is some kind of spare and not used.

  Mar 21, 2023     TO/GA Buttons Pt. 1       Category: Avionics

Started to install the TO/GA Switches on the Throttle. Got the idea from Joe. First I drilled a small hole in each side of the throttle. The button that I'm using is a momentary ON type and has a screw-on clamp terminal, so I used a small molex pin and cut the tip off to make a lug for the wire to tighten the the clamp on. Then I used some heat shrink tube to make chafe protection through the hole I drilled. Finally a quick continuity check to ensure that the connections were good.

  Feb 23, 2023     Panel Planning       Category: Avionics

Got some word from the folks at SteinAir. First was Josh Swensen who is helping design the panel. Using the plan I drew in PowerPoint he developed a final draft of what it would look like. Then Nick Wiedl who is working on the interconnect drawing. He had quite a list of questions like what discrete functions I wanted on the GEA-24 and GAD27. With the help of Joe, I came up with a list that Nick could use as a start. He also came up with the Equipment Layout plan. And just today Danny Jones, who does the Laser Engraving wanted to know what color lettering I was planning. I'm going with a dark brown color panel and I believe that white lettering will look the best. Really looking forward to seeing how it turns out. I must say the folks at SteinAir are tremendous to work with.

  Feb 21, 2023     ELT Antenna       Category: Avionics

Finally got the ELT Antenna installed today. I should have done this much earlier in the build as the location I used was very difficult to reach from the rear deck area. Struggled almost 2 hours but finally got it set.

  May 26, 2021     Static Line Run       Category: Avionics

Got the preliminary run of the static line today. Had to crawl up into the tailcone and over the autopilot servos. I'm running it up the left side as I plan an alternate static port switch on the left side of the instrument panel. The challenge here is trying to decide what ribs or bulkheads I can make additional holes in. I found two in the upper end of the 2 ribs directly over the wing spar. I ran the Static Line through the upper hole in each rib and plan to run the Battery Cable in the lower holes.

  Feb 26, 2021     Pitch and Yaw Autopilot Servos       Category: Avionics

Finally back to work. Got the Pitch and Yaw Autopilot Servos installed. Very straight forward with the Garmin brackets.

  Feb 07, 2021     ELT Power Jack       Category: Avionics

Had to do some soldering. The power and control plug for the ELT needed to be assembled. I found it odd that they would say to solder rather than use a jack that could be crimped and connected with D-Sub pins. It had been awhile since I had done any soldering and I needed lots of practice before I started on the actual parts. I think it turned out pretty well. I ordered some Loctite 59530 RTV Silicone sealant as recommended in the ACK installation manual.

  Jul 08, 2020     Pitch and Roll Servo Bracket       Category: Avionics

Installed the Garmin GSA 28 Pitch and Yaw servo bracket. Had to drill out 4 rivets that were already set and connecting the Bellcrank Ribs to the Fuselage Frame. The bellcrank required a #12 hole to be drilled to accept a small pushrod that connects the servo to the elevator. I don't have the servos yet but the brackets are ready. I chose to go with the Garmin RV-10 Yaw bracket. It's rather expensive but its easy to install. Other builders have used the RV-14 bracket and modified it.