The Cockpit

As normal in aircraft of this type the cockpit is rather limiting in placing all the instruments and controls one wants to have available and at the same time can be accessed without major contortions. Being used to an elaborate panel I tried to use the space available to it's max.  At that time the complex Multi Function Displays were just appearing on the market and since I was not sure about the compatibility of interfacing with the sensors supplied  by NSI I turned to the old standard displays which in our view go well with this type of aircraft. 

The front shows the impressive panel with the information necessary for navigation and engine control.

The center console holds some of the less vital controls, such as trim, flap and main fuel shut off lever.

The top of the control sticks have buttons to control the electrical trim servo and the pitch of the propeller.

The area behind the seat is holding the fuel header tank (for about 20min of flight), the two batteries and the input for external power.

Over the head are the individual fuel selector valves for each wing tank.

There is still some room left for a storage bag behind the seat in order to free up the cockpit from little used equipment like tie down ropes etc.

Primary Instruments:

Air speed  (Kts)

Altimeter (ft)

Vertical speed  (ft/min)

Attitude indicator

Directional Gyro

Magnetic Compass

Vacuum pump

Avionics:

Intercom    PMA 6000 (output: pilot + co-pilot)

GPS / COM     Bendix King KLX 135A

VOR / COM     Bendix King KX 125 TSO

Transponder   Bendix King KT 76C TSO

Engine Instruments:

• Engine Tachometer

• Manifold pressure

• EGT  left + right

• Water temperature

• Engine Oil Temperature & Pressure

• Gear Oil Temperature

• Electrical Propeller pitch control

Fuel:

• Fuel pump (electrical)

• Fuel pressure gauge

• Fuel flow meter

• Primer Valve (electrical)

• Low Fuel warning

The engine is a modified Subaru engine equipped with an automotive type ignition system. This requires battery / alternator power supply. Should for some reason the primary battery fail then the alternator does not supply power anymore. In this case an alternate power supply from a small standby battery will supply the ignition system for about 20 minutes with power to keep the engine running.

The ignition is dual, however, working to only one spark plug. Normally both ignitions are run in parallel but can be switched on/off individually.

Electrical:

Battery Voltage

Low Voltage Light

Over Voltage system

Ignition backup battery system

Instrument lights

Landing lights

Position lights

Strobe lights

Fuel pump

Trim Servo (vertical only)

ELT Monitor

Heater Fans