For me, the GRT display would be centred in front of the left pilot. The steam gauges can go below it later if your dad still wants them after trying the GRT. Radio stack would be in the middle above the engine controls. Tablet on a ram mount to the right of the radios. It's a portable (disposable). You want it closer to you so you can tap on it so put it on a medium length arm. You can adjust that later with cheap, easy accessories. You can also replace the bracket every couple years when a new tablet catches your eye with the turn of a wingnut. I take it you and your dad are sharing this machine, but it will only ever have one PIC at a time. Not to be flown by consensus! Pilot not flying can swing the iPad over for entertainment, radio frequencies, and whatever else he's doing to support the pilot flying. Primary, panel mounted instruments are the captains domain. Not to be shared!

I think I remember writing this a while back. My opinion hasn't changed. I may be wrong, but at least you've got a contrary view to help bracket your final choice. Only as final as the panel is non-removable. It's a homebuilt. You can cut a new panel anytime you want. Keep it tidy but leave lots of service loop in the wires to move things around if your circumstances change, or you decide to sell the airplane to someone who may not like your style. Never say never. You may want or need to sell it someday.

Looks good. But I agree with moving the important stuff centered to the pilot. I still really like the PAR200, and it would fit nicely right above the engine controls. Also gives you the option to expand with more radios in the future.
But you know what you like, so I'm not sure I'd listen to all us clowns...

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Battson, I agree about the radio but haven't found a good place for it yet. I've been planning on a GTR200 mounted directly below the EFIS but may end up with the MGL V16 (which is whats pictured). PIC will be left seat and I'm trying to preserve space for a second EFIS directly in front of the pilot which will be added if I decide to do IFR.

Jared, I considered an audio panel but 6-place versions are only available in certified units, $$$$. The intercom I'm installing is an old design unit but has 2 aux inputs, pilot or crew ISO, etc. I have a rear bench like a 5-place Maule.

Pincone, You certainly may have provided your thoughts a while back, thanks for doing it again. Don't think of my GRT EFIS as an EFIS, think of it as an engine monitor because that it how we will be using it...or at least that is the plan. The tablet will be the PFD with all the air data transmitted to it from the EFIS.

The EFIS will display this:


Tablet will look basically like this:


Still, maybe putting the EFIS front and center is a good idea and we can use the tablet as a backup flight display if we need to run the EFIS in engine mode.

A1, I'm not sure I know what I like...I've never flown with anything like this before. The PAR200 is really cool but again 4-place intercom...

A1Skinner wrote:Looks good. But I agree with moving the important stuff centered to the pilot. I still really like the PAR200, and it would fit nicely right above the engine controls. Also gives you the option to expand with more radios in the future.
But you know what you like, so I'm not sure I'd listen to all us clowns...

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I listened to A1 and have the PAR200. Love it. It is a bit finicky to adjust in bouncy conditions but otherwise I have no complaints. Awesome, small, and light.

whee wrote:Battson, I agree about the radio but haven't found a good place for it yet. I've been planning on a GTR200 mounted directly below the EFIS but may end up with the MGL V16 (which is whats pictured). PIC will be left seat and I'm trying to preserve space for a second EFIS directly in front of the pilot which will be added if I decide to do IFR.

Jared, I considered an audio panel but 6-place versions are only available in certified units, $$$$. The intercom I'm installing is an old design unit but has 2 aux inputs, pilot or crew ISO, etc. I have a rear bench like a 5-place Maule.

Pincone, You certainly may have provided your thoughts a while back, thanks for doing it again. Don't think of my GRT EFIS as an EFIS, think of it as an engine monitor because that it how we will be using it...or at least that is the plan. The tablet will be the PFD with all the air data transmitted to it from the EFIS.

The EFIS will display this:


Tablet will look basically like this:


Still, maybe putting the EFIS front and center is a good idea and we can use the tablet as a backup flight display if we need to run the EFIS in engine mode.

A1, I'm not sure I know what I like...I've never flown with anything like this before. The PAR200 is really cool but again 4-place intercom...

If you talk to PS engineering they will add an expansion to make it 6 place. I've been working with them to see if they can make it work for my 206. And they tell me they can...

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Here's another version. I'm really liking this one.


This leaves room for steam gauges if we decide to install them and a path to this for IFR:

A1Skinner wrote:If you talk to PS engineering they will add an expansion to make it 6 place. I've been working with them to see if they can make it work for my 206. And they tell me they can...

Cool, I wonder if Z will take back the intercom I bought from him 3 years ago The reality is there isn't funds left to reverse course and buy a $2600 radio.

EDIT: For those that may be interested. PSE can modify the PAR200A to work with their expansion unit (pn: 11636R); $100 for the mod and $399 for the expansion unit. I think it would be a slick setup for my airplane.

Visual progress has been quite underwhelming but we are inching forward.

I thought we were going to keep the panel simple and not have a ton of wiring but I was wrong. Here’s 300ft of wire installed and we haven’t even started on the runs out to the wings.

300 feet!!!??? Is it predominantly 22g?

whee wrote:Here's another version. I'm really liking this one.


This leaves room for steam gauges if we decide to install them and a path to this for IFR:

What costs more.. the panel or the plane?

Zzz wrote:300 feet!!!??? Is it predominantly 22g?

Crazy how much wire these newfangled gizmos require. I think we went with 20g because it was needed in several places.

SixTwoLeemer wrote:

whee wrote:Here's another version. I'm really liking this one.


This leaves room for steam gauges if we decide to install them and a path to this for IFR:

What costs more.. the panel or the plane?

That IFD440 would have put the panel above the rest of the plane
This is basically what we went with:

I might have been inclined to use an Ipad mini the larger one seem to "overpowering" the panel but it does look sweet. Any idea yet what the total electrical load with be ?

Mapleflt wrote:I might have been inclined to use an Ipad mini the larger one seem to "overpowering" the panel but it does look sweet. Any idea yet what the total electrical load with be ?

The GRT EFIS does not communicate with iOS so what you see is a Samsung Galaxy S2 8" tablet which is the same size as a mini ipad. We haven't nailed down all of the electrical stuff but it will be real close to 30A total load including 10A for the heated seats.

Whee, have you purchased any of your goodies yet? If not, I gotta say, I sure did like the Garmin G3 touch or what ever its called that was in the Carbon Cub 3ex I demo'd a couple months ago. Just a thought.

Kurt

G44, Thanks for the thought. The G3X does look great but we have purchased and installed most of the avionics. Hopefully we will get the light them up today.

whee wrote:G44, Thanks for the thought. The G3X does look great but we have purchased and installed most of the avionics. Hopefully we will get the light them up today.

Those things run on smoke.
Be careful when powering them up, esp for the first time, not to let the smoke out.
They won't work if you do.

You might like to entertain the idea of a larger panel!
Jokes aside, there are not many downsides to extending the panel upwards, unless you have a 5 year old sitting up front.

Battson wrote:You might like to entertain the idea of a larger panel!
Jokes aside, there are not many downsides to extending the panel upwards, unless you have a 5 year old sitting up front.

I increased mine 1/2" along the top arc. It's enough to make it easier to squeeze a G3X in without making too big a panel.

Since I’m not using large screens I don’t have a need to enlarge the panel. I agree that it would be easy and have minimal impact on visibility.

I thought this picture was visually pleasing enough to share.

We are fitting/modifying the Cessna exhaust. Once that is done I’ll finish the engine mount and put the engine on to stay.