As described in another entry in this builders log, we cut out the aluminum sheet provided with our Jump Start Sportsman kit. Then we used correctly sized paper prints of all the major avionics we had decided to use which we placed on the panel printed from software called Panel Planner.

We chose not to wire our instrument panel, so we engaged a professional panel builder with an excellent reputation, John Starke of Columbus, Georgia. What a shop! He has been in business for 30 years as of 2020 and is amazingly price competitive for both experimental and certified avionics.

We decided on these major items for our panel: dual Grand Rapids EFIS HXs with synthetic vision and with dual AHARS and dual magnetometers for super reliability, a Garmin GNS430W, a Garmin SL-40 #2 COMM, a GRT EIS engine monitor, a PS Engineering PS8000BT audio panel with Bluetooth, the original Vertical VP-200 system which had both a large touch screen and a switch panel below. Also, we selected a second, non-WAAS GPS unit from Grand Rapids as a back up, and a Garmin GTX 330 transponder, which we upgraded to ADS-B much later. Dee was so impressed by the new Trio Pro Pilot digital autopilot with "smart" servos after seeing a demonstration at AirVenture 2008 by Chuck Busch of Trio, he had to include it in the avionics suite. Later we ended up adding even more electronics as well as selling the Garmin GNS430W and installing a Garmin GTN650 with touch screen.

A huge thank you is due our partner, Doug Hanson, because even though John Starke cut out, installed and wired our basic package of avionics, there was a huge amount of wiring left after the panel was carefully mounted in the cockpit. At this time we installed an Eggenfellner 3.6L Subaru engine with Quinti-Sensenich 4-blade electric constant speed propeller, which required much wiring. Thank you Doug!