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Bill Schlatterer
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 195
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 Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 5:25 am Post subject: The Perfect Panel...how to decide - was GNS-430W now POSITI |
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Gary, this is really personal choice kinda like boxers or briefs but this was my thought process. BTW, I am not flying the GRT yet but have it completely installed and love it horizontally sitting in the plane. To frame the comments, I have about 300 IFR hours over a really nice 6 pack ADI/HSI Garmin 430/530 combination with a fully coupled autopilot BUT no glass time. My reasoning on horizontal glass from my current experience is this and I preface with I "think" because it's just my opinion based on my experiences which means "think" it out as it applies to your panel and flight preferences.
All of the 6 pack stuff is in one screen and the scan drops from about 12 inches with a 6 pack to about 6 inches with EFIS glass so moving it just a little off center doesn't matter much and I find it easier to scan horizontally than vertically. (could be a large discussion on what is proper scan technique  Glass is a quicker easier scan no matter where you put it because it requires less eye movement and the Attitude Indicator is predominant.
Short of a HUD display, IF the glass panel is high horizontal, then you get some view over the panel, the upper radio controls are in the same scan line and I "THINK" that we are less likely to get spatially disoriented with a side to side movement as opposed to an up and down movement. I would have had mine higher in the panel but structure got in the way so I put all of my EFIS control and panel light switches on top where I could see them without loosing the scan. AP on/off is directly by the AP head.
I don't recall anyone who has gone horizontal saying they would have done it differently but that doesn't mean much because it takes a big gulp to accept that you might not really like it after all the work putting it in.
I "think" getting the radio/nav controls close and in the same scan is important because one of the biggest distractions is ATC frequency changes and NAV programming. The last thing you want to do in the soup is lean over, stare at small frequency numbers and approaches, and twiddle with a bunch of knobs while cross checking the glass. I like it all where I can see it peripherally with little or no vertical head movement. Primary radio and nav should be high in the panel.
I "think" where you position the autopilot head is important because many times you have to have direct control and you don't want to switch hands or reach for it either.
I "think" that having approach plates right on the panel might be cool but maybe not functional because they would be way outside our scan in a normal panel. My personal preference would be if there were some easy way to get the key numbers on a "electric scratch pad" just right of the altitude tape. From just outside the FAF and down, all I want to remember/see/confirm is heading, initial approach altitude, time from the FAF if needed, and DA/MDA and first move on the missed if needed. This is wishing but good cockpit organization is "a" key to a safe approach!
One contradiction, I still like weather on my 396 and not in the panel because it's just easier to use, it's transportable between airplanes, and I don't need weather on the approach.
Hope this helps!
Bill S
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orchidman
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 277
Location: Oklahoma City - KRCE
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 10:13 am Post subject: Re: The Perfect Panel...how to decide - was GNS-430W now PO |
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| Bill Schlatterer wrote: | Gary, this is really personal choice kinda like boxers or briefs but this was my thought process. BTW, I am not flying the GRT yet but have it completely installed and love it horizontally sitting in the plane. To frame the comments, I have about 300 IFR hours over a really nice 6 pack ADI/HSI Garmin 430/530 combination with a fully coupled autopilot BUT no glass time. My reasoning on horizontal glass from my current experience is this and I preface with I "think" because it's just my opinion based on my experiences which means "think" it out as it applies to your panel and flight preferences.
Hope this helps!
Bill S
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Bill, it sure does help to organize and prioritize my thoughts and thought process. Great comments. With the ability to split the EFIS screens and having the ADI/HSI on the same screen, if desired, is important and does decrease any head movement. I like your thoughts about positioning of the different components in the center bay.
I am still way early in this but with Oshkosh coming up, now is when a lot of this homework must be done so I will be prepaired to nail all the 'vendors' to the wall with important questions.
Gary
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_________________
Gary Blankenbiller
RV10 - # 40674
(N2GB Flying) |
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