rpellicciotti Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 I finally broke down and started the instrument panel upgrade. It killed me to take a wonderfully flying airplane out of service but I think it will be worth it. Now, I just have to get it all done and debugged in time for the AirVenture Cup race. I started a web page to document the process: http://www.rocket-boys.com/panel.htm Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waiter Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 It killed me to take a wonderfully flying airplane out of service but I think it will be worth it. I took mine out of service for the winter, that was THREE YEARS AGO :irked: The list of things I planned on doing is totally different from the list of things getting done. I keep saying to myself, "It'll be worth it";) Good luck with your "retrofit" Waiter Quote F16 performance on a Piper Cub budget LongEZ, 160hp, MT CS Prop, Downdraft cooling, Full retract visit: www.iflyez.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpellicciotti Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 I've been following your project. It is worth it! I have actually been working on this since last October. I got all of the new equipment in, worked out the panel layout, built my wiring harnesses and tested everything on the bench. All of this was done while the airplane was still flyable. Now, it is "just" a matter of installing it in the airplane. I still have a lot of fabrication to do like mounts for the two autopilot servos. I am also going to install new CHT and EGT probes and wiring, a new fuel flow sender and a new manifold pressure sender. This will entail opening the airplane up from nose to engine. I'm taking my wife to Italy next week for 8 days. I am trying to bank up enough "at a boys" to get the work done on the airplane fairly quickly after that. Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
--D-- Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I started a web page to document the process. "Thanks!" from a pondering builder, Rick. Having web resources like this (and Waiter's page, and Wayne's page, and James' page, and Marc's page, and ...) sure makes it easier for the rest of us to avoid the previously discovered sinkholes. Best of luck pulling it all back together. Can't wait to see the "after" pics. D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Morrison Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Looking good Rick, I went through that a few years ago. Have fun in Italy. Jack E Racer 113 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpellicciotti Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 D, Thanks for the encouragement. Like you, I have learned a lot from people like Robert and Valerie Harris at EZ Jets, the various web sites that you mentioned and others. I hope it is helpful. Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpellicciotti Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 Looking good Rick, I went through that a few years ago. Have fun in Italy. Jack E Racer 113 Thanks Jack. Looking forward to seeing you when we get back. Your room reservation at OSH is done. I will email the details on the location and so forth. Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpellicciotti Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 I started a web page to document the process: http://www.rocket-boys.com/panel.htm By the way. There's is lot's of other good information on the Rocket Boys web site. Start at the top and explore the whole site when you have a chance: http://www.rocket-boys.com Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFernandez Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Rick, If you need any help with the GRT setup let me know. The install is looking good. Carlos Quote Carlos Fernandez AeroCanard FG Plans #206 Chp. 13 aerocanard.kal-soft.com Sales & Support GRT Avionics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpellicciotti Posted March 18, 2007 Author Share Posted March 18, 2007 Rick, If you need any help with the GRT setup let me know. The install is looking good. Carlos Carlos, I was really excited to see you on this group and find out that you are a fellow canardian. Great work on the revised GRT manuals that you did. Will you be at AirVenture? If so, I will come by and say, "Hello". My friend Jeff, and I are very impressed with the GRT stuff, the company and its people. Jeff's F1 Rocket is already flying with his dual display Horizon 1 system and now, I am doing mine. We wish Jeff's trutrak autopilot would work as well as the GRT stuff. It looks like he is going to fly his airplane over to Springdale and leave it for Trutrak to figure out his problems. If it is ok, I will probably send you my wire tables for review after I get them more finalized. I have a sortof odd setup because I am using my existing equipment as much as possible and trying to fill in the gaps with new equipment. Regards, Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFernandez Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Great work on the revised GRT manuals that you did. Will you be at AirVenture? If so, I will come by and say, "Hello".Thanks, I only scratched the surface on the manual. I'm planning to be at Sun-n-Fun next month and Airventure in July. Please do stop by. If it is ok, I will probably send you my wire tables for review after I get them more finalized.That would be fine, happy to help. Quote Carlos Fernandez AeroCanard FG Plans #206 Chp. 13 aerocanard.kal-soft.com Sales & Support GRT Avionics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpellicciotti Posted March 27, 2007 Author Share Posted March 27, 2007 Small update on the panel web page: http://www.rocket-boys.com/panel.htm Now that we are back from vacation, look for more frequent updates. Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpellicciotti Posted August 20, 2007 Author Share Posted August 20, 2007 Panel project web page updated through August 19th now: http://www.rocket-boys.com/panel.htm Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpellicciotti Posted October 23, 2007 Author Share Posted October 23, 2007 I haven't updated the panel project page yet (getting ready for the Memphis 100 Air Race) but I finally got my panel done and got the airplane back into the air. First flight with the new panel was last Friday (my birthday!) and I have flown it about 3 hours since then. Everything seems to be working well with a little tweaking required on engine parameters and so forth. Before and after pictures of the panel attached... Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpellicciotti Posted November 9, 2007 Author Share Posted November 9, 2007 Panel project page has been updated through the end of October now: http://www.rocket-boys.com/panel.htm Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozy Girrrl Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 Rick, Really nice panel, great Long-ez as well. How long did it take you to adjust to an all glass panel? Regards, Chrissi Quote CG Products www.CozyGirrrl.com Cozy Mk-IV RG 13B Turbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpellicciotti Posted November 10, 2007 Author Share Posted November 10, 2007 Chrissi, thanks for the comments. To be frank, I am still trying to get used to it. I flew to Nashville last weekend to visit my daughter and that gave me about an hour of "straight and level" each way to fiddle with it and try things out. It does take some getting used to. I looked at all of the different systems out there and I really liked the GRT the best. They have great support too. Perhaps I'll head up your way one day. We are big Cardinals fans. Regards, Quote Rick Pellicciotti Belle Aire Aviation, Inc. http://www.belleaireaviation.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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