----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- At 09:40 PM 8/6/00 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >What does the list recommend for a turn and bank? The one in the plane I >am looking to buy is toast.
The caveat, of course is it depends on what you want to do with the plane. I have a T&B in mine, and it's getting a little noisy. I realized its primary use is to warn me to turn off the master switch. I am now experimenting with pulling its breaker and remembering. When/if mine goes, I think I'll replace it with a blanking plate. Or maybe a carb-ice detector. You just don't need the T&B. It's dead weight. If you have pedals and you must have a ball, then get a little stick-on ball from Aircraft Spruce, and to hell with the gyro. Maybe I'll just pull mine anyway, and replace it with useful load. N2906H has spent the last decade shedding pounds, starting with a full set of (tube) IFR radios. The useful load is now up to 502 lbs. >In addition, how about a compass rebuild kit vs. a new or slightly used, >in-panel compass. Cheapest, of course, is to rebuild the one you have. If you lack a DG, maybe consider a vertical card compass, though. Get a good one (i.e., Hamilton). If you have the original in-panel compass, you have a treasure, as they are quite rare any more. >Also gonna need a lighting upgrade for landing lights and a beacon/strobe >and an alternator to run all the stuff. Argh! Stop it stop it stop it! Revisit that word 'need.' Is this, realistically, a day VFR plane? Most Ercoupes are, in truth. Weight and expense are a terrible penalty to pay for 'I may someday want to be able to...' What you're saying above illustrates very well how complexity and weight begets complexity and weight. Landing lights really draw current. But strobes draw very little power in proportion to the illumination they generate. Even if you have one of the old 15 AMP generators, you should have plenty of juice to make big bright flashes in the sky. >It looks like all the gauges are original and some just don't work. Oil temp and pressure gauges can be obtained from Aircraft Spruce or Skyport. The tough part is the scales. Today, many TSO'd gauges have scales which start and end too high to tell you what you really need to know. However, you can file a 337 for gauges with more appropriate scales. Same with the ammeter. Other than that you have altimeter, airspeed, and tach, which are commodity items. All else is unessential weight for day VFR using a decent GPS. In fact, after 50 hours or so with your new toy, you'll still scan the temps and pressures, and use the tach in cruise to make sure you're not icing up. But you'll start depending much less on the gauges and much more on what the plane sounds like and what the ground looks like in order to fly the plane. >What are your thoughts for this novice/future couper? Do what is needed to make it legal and safe first. Learn to fly it to the point where the wings feel like they stick out of your ribcage. Then start thinking about 'wants' and 'needs' in the second season. Like with that T&B. You can take it out now, put in a $2.00 plastic blanking plate from ACS, and if you think you need one, put in a $350.00 instrument next year. Since the plane is new to you, rest assured that there will be enough 'must dos' to keep you busy and broke for the balance of the season. Greg __________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
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