New Instrument Panel

[lawrence mueller]

I was wondering if one of our members happens to have an .igs or .dxf file of our basic instrument panel. It would save me in layout time for my new panel, I'm mostly after the outside shape. I can copy mine but would have to take mine apart first which of course leads to more down time.

Larry

[N3322G]

Larry, several folks have posted on their panels and you may have missed them - try searching on the website in this Forum and the Chat Forum for leads on what you need.

[David Pyle]

Suggest you contact John VanBladeren (Ron & John's). I am not permitted to give you his phone number but it is in his Comanche FLYER ad and the PATHFINDER at the ICS Web site. I'm sure he can send you what you want and advise you on you plans. Not only a panel/avionics expert, but good guy and former ICS president.

[Michael Bryant]

I downloaded a free trial copy of Xpanel. You can make changes quickly to get an idea of what the panel would look like, how things fit, change panel colors, etc. The drawback to the free copy is that you cannot save your panel. I think the cost to buy the program was $79.95. I decided not to buy but did play with it a bit.

My avionics shop uses different software so I don't know if it would have helped anyway, but I was a able to check everything and see the layout as I discussed things with the shop.

I did do a print screen to show people what it would look like. See the attachment.

Michael

[N3322G]

You might consider whether to move the engine monitor to the second from the top right of the pilot side panel area - just to the left of the radio stack. We put ours there and really like it for easy scan purposes. Our avionics shop had suggested it.

If you fly a lot of instruments, we also added a second attitude indicator - with a suction flag above the engine monitor for back up reasons. It sits just to the left of the radio stack in the top position, above the engine monitor.

[lawrence mueller]

Michael I downloaded the xpanel program only to find that they don't allow you to access the dxf file (only for their shops that make the panels) so it does me no good. I have the equipment to make the panel and actually to draw it. I don't really need the layout but more the profile of the panel to save time. Once removed I can actually digitally input my panel.
I did search this on here but got no results so that is why I posted.

[Michael Bryant]

@ Larry,

Sorry it didn't work out. I knew a shop was doing mine and they already had the outline in their system. I was only working on placement.

@ Pat,

We gave that some thought, but wanted to keep the engine related instruments together. I appreciate the input, but it's too late to reconsider. The panel is already cut and the installation process has begun.

Michael

[lawrence mueller]

Hey Michael,
Thanks anyway, I was excited when I first downloaded the xpanel program, oh well. I really like your layout. I want to do something similar only I will be installing the Garmin 796 . It may end up being a winter project, I've already been down since October for an engine overhaul and it has gone on way too long and now it's time to do some flying, panel later!

Larry

[Michael Bryant]

Larry,

Best of luck with your panel. One other note, I found someone mention here or on another Comanche forum the Ron and Jon will sell their STC and you can cut your own panel (seems the number was around $500, but don't quote me). You could check to see if they have the file you need. If they do, they might be able to provide it along with the STC. Could also save some paperwork on the FAA side.

Glad you like the panel layout. We just bought the aircraft in January with the old shotgun panel. We didn't want to break the bank with bells and whistles and then not be able to afford basic maintenance, so we largely built it around the Garmin GNC-300XL it came with. VFR installation we changed to an IFR legal one and then added the radios. Much discussion on where things should go. Hopefully we will find we chose wisely! I am on the road now, but I think I will be able to pick the aircraft up when I get home later in the month. I post photos then.

Our has been in the shop since February, so I feel your pain.

Michael

[Jay]

I'm late to this party, but call John Van Bladeren (Ron & John's). He know's more about Comanche panels than any other human alive, including the ins and outs of what will fit (clearance) behind the panel.

Jay

[Michael Bryant]

The "what will fit where" is very important. There are what I think are two tensioned cables that cross behind the lower panel. When our panel was designed, we had the radio stack opening cut to the lowest point which could fit radios. A paint matched blank will sit at the bottom of our stack, but we can easily measure what will be able to fit.

One other thing to keep in mind when planning your layout, is the need to reroute or extend/shorten the length the tach cable, pitot static, vacuum, oil and fuel pressure lines if you move the gauges.

Michael