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1. 09:05 AM - EFIS (Jorgen Nielsen)
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There were a couple questions re my EFIS install in the L29.
Herewith some rationale and install details:
Rationale:
I chose the MGL Voyager after quite a bit of deliberation. What I liked was
it seemed a very complete package (bearing in mind one must add sensors
etc), this unit can link to radios for auto frequency selection, drive an
autopilot with the addition of servos only, and is highly configurable, with
the ability to design all your own screens. One can add traffic overlays,
ILS etc.
The system is also installed and worked well in some recent high profile
flights - Chalkie Stobbart recently broke a 70 year old record flying from
Cape Town to London and back. Large parts of this flight took place in
actual IMC and at night - he used the MGL unit. Some other guys from SA also
recently flew around the world in a homebuilt, stopping at Oshkosh - also
behind the MGL system, in sometimes adverse weather conditions.
Bits and pieces:
My config is the Voyager EFIS proper, the SP2 compass, and the SP5 aerobatic
remote mount heading and attitude reference system. This is state of the
art with laser ring gyros.
I am not installing autopilot (maybe later)
I am not using any engine monitoring whatsoever (wanted to minimise the
impact of the install and not introduce any reliability issues) The existing
standard L29 engine monitoring is for me perfectly adequate. Keep in mind
the issue of wiring etc. through the various pressure bulkheads, removing
the tail for service etc.
Mounting:
The SP5 is mounted hidden away where the ADF control box was mounted. The
SP2 compass sensor is mounted in the nose. We had to cut a new panel as the
fittings on the old interfered with the Voyager (its a tight fit).
Redundancy:
I also wanted backup in case the unit goes FUBAR, so removed the machmeter
from the panel and mounted it hidden away, to retain proper operation of
hydraulics / flap retraction etc. Out of interest my L29 in unique having
undergone Czech AF "modernisation" with fancy ASI, with built in TAS & Mach
needles, and extra electronic sensors for auto flaps/gear. I also fly my
L29 in km/h and have not converted to Knots. This is a bit of a pain as ATC
always ask for speeds and distances in knots and NM. More on this later.
So, we moved the ASI to the machmeter position. Removed the AI and DI,
radio altimeter and clock. Moved the altimeter to bottom left, kept the
turn and bank, and moved VSI to bottom right. So if the Voyager went FUBAR,
I can still fly the aircraft, even partial panel in IMC.
I have completely redesigned all the screens. It has taken me hours, and I
am not finished, but I think I am almost there. For example, I now have on
one of the main flying screens, airspeeds in km/h, but GS and distance to
waypoints shown in NM and kts. This should reduce cockpit workload and
alleviate the need to do mental arithmetic when flying and giving estimates
etc to ATC.
I have created a bunch of abbreviated checklists in the units checklist
format, for preflight, run up, take off etc.
Also created an "info page" which I can call up with a button press for
emergency procedures, which displays in the screens bottom 1/3, for partial
engine failure, gear fail etc.
I even have (drum roll) created a "aerobatics main screen", with g meter
prominently displayed next to airspeed, entry speeds displayed on bottom,
height AGL in BIG letters next to normal altimeter height.
The system comes with all the design tools, a simulator etc. One can even
run Microsoft flight simulator and connect the actual instrument to your PC
via USB, or use a simulated instrument.
Negatives:
I have really stressed tested the design suite and found some bugs. These
have been forwarded to MGL Avionics together with some feature requests and
I am sure rectified soon. I did manage to work around the issues I found.
Some of the documentation is a bit out of date and could be improved.
Again, I have discussed this with MGL and they are working on revising this.
The proof will be in the pudding, it has not flown yet. A local avionics
company is doing the install, they should be finished Monday (tomorrow).
Then my engineer has to reinstall the seats etc, and I will test fly.
When I get my L29 back, I will take some pics and post.
Other:
As an aside, I am working on a 3 step aircon efficiency upgrade:
1. By removing about 100kg of old avionics, I have also removed many of
watts of heat being generated by inverters, etc.
2. I have tinted my canopies with the film used by the car people, to reduce
solar heat build up. This film is very effective - have not gone too dark
in case of night flying. This was a really lousy job, and the canopies are
double curvatures, so it is not as neat as I would have liked.
3. I have redesigned the air con's air path routing (on paper only) and
discussed this with my engineer, in order to maximise this and blow air onto
me and pax. Not actually built it yet. Also in design allowed for putting
fan in, to boost airflow if not cooling.
Jorgen
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