wrong direction?

I was reading a thread this morning about a glass cockpit, apparently someone has been to Oshkosh and seen the latest wizardry and loved it... The bit that amused me was that it was "only" $4000 approx. and "only" weighed 2.5 kilos!!!! I believe that that is the wrong direction to be going in (that sentence looks wrong somehow?) I like better the

attitude of the guy that runs the Belite website, have a look at what he is doing...... Just because your aeroplane can weigh 600kgs doesn't mean that it should....Geoff

Thanks for that

Just had a look at the website and they look very promising.

Some of the instruments are, I think, too limited in their range eg the altimeter and air speed indicator.

The weight factor is well in their favour.

Peter

Yes, you are right about the ASI and the Altimeter, very limited usefulness. I have, however, ordered the "inclinometer" (which is actually a slip/skid indicator) and the Turn indicator. I'll let the forum know how they turn out.....Geoff

I was thinking about enquiring if they could increase the ranges of those instruments as i believe there is weight to be saved.

The aircraft I'm building isn't a fighter or a passenger liner and we fly vfr, do I need a ubeaut bonzer $$$$$$ glass panel?

I'll see what he says.

Peter

Inclinometer: With 1.75" bezel, ready for panel mounting

$59.95 $59.95

Battery Condition Voltmeter: With 1.75" bezel, ready for panel mounting

$59.95 $59.95

Above Ground Level Altimeter: With 1.75" bezel, ready for panel mounting

$94.95 $94.95

Positive G Meter: With 1.75" bezel, ready for panel mounting

$94.95 $94.95

Air Speed Indicator: With 1.75" bezel, ready for panel mounting

$124.95 $124.95

Turn Rate Indicator: With 1.75" bezel, ready for panel mounting

$114.95 $114.95

Fuel Gauge: With 1.75" bezel, ready for panel mounting

$69.95 $69.95

Fuel Gauge: Fuel Gauge Probe

$99.95 $99.95

Vertical Speed Indicator: With 1.75" bezel, ready for panel mounting

$124.95 $124.95

CHT/EGT Gauge: Ready for panel mounting, rectangular 3.5" x 1.75" panel mount bezel included.

$179.95 $179.95

CHT/EGT Gauge: CHT Probe

$24.95 $24.95

CHT/EGT Gauge: EGT Probe

$39.95

total $1,089.40

All I can see that I need otherwise are communications and Tacho to provide the basics.

The glass panel option I have looked at is the Stratomaster Xtreme.

It is on special on their website

As for weight the only thing I can find out is that it is 'lightweight'.

Stratomaster XTREME MINI-EFIS 1,000.00 1,000.00

RDAC X-B, 12-channel thermocouples 220.00 220.00

Clamp-Type EGT Probes, LARGE 50.00 50.00

CHT Probes, 10mm spark plug 35.00 140.00

Water Temp. Sender 12.00 12.00

SP-2 and SP-4 Sensors (Full AHRS) 1,260.00 1,260.00

VDO Oil Pressure Sender 35.00 35.00

Floscan Fuel Flow Sensor, 201A-6, 0.3 - 30 GPH, A model 210.00 210.00

UMA Fuel Pressure Sender, 100 PSI MODEL 110.00 110.00

Capacitance Fuel Level Sender, 12-inch 65.00 65.00

All prices are in US Dollars TOTAL 3,102.00

"I'm inclined to agree that it is perfectly feasible to fly with ASI/ALT/VSI/T&B a Compass and a GPS". Well Blackrod you are correct there, I have been flying for the last 400+ hours with those except no T& B and no VSI. I can't see the need for either in VFR flying, and my hand held GPS is a luxury. We keep hearing how Glass panels are cheaper than steam gauges, but whenever I look at what is required glass would only be cheaper if you priced all the steam gauges that glass replace even if you never need them.

I have a hand held Icom radio with VOR capability and recently tried it out, and found the bearing varying through about 30 degrees, even though I was tracking direct to it and 20 miles away. Could possibly be caused by having the aerial vertical.

reply

Good afternoon geofferywh

It was me who was at Oshkosh and saw this glass cockpit which I thought was brilliant.

This unit is all electronic no *pins *bushes *bearings and those heavy things - electrons are not heavy.

Weight and price(US$) correct.

If you need the price and a photo, PM me as I could not get the scan small enough to post.

This unit is all the engine and flight instruments one can load the flight maps and with a dongle the weather can be down loaded, the screen is a touch screen.

Very user friendly.

Regards,

Keith Page

Got an email back from belite,

Hi Peter,

Working on all that, stay tuned.

-- James

So it's looking good.

Peter