Frank, I am looking at some of the TruTrak instruments:
http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/home.htm I have not yet purchased, but I did attend one of their presentation / demos at a fly-in. Andy Anderson 415-D N93609 _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of fnelson913 Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 5:33 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Installing Non-TSOed Equipment in the Ercoupe I asked my friend Matt at LA Sport Aviation a question which I know has been discussed here at length. Since he sells some cool electronic (glass panel) gadgets to the experimental aviation market, I wonder if I could take out some of my gyros and the venturi and replace them with something from his inventory. So Matt asked Joe Norris at EAA if we are required to put TSO'd avionics in our Ercoupes. Transponders and IFR GPS equipment might be required to be TSO'd, but most everything else would not. So I am going to start looking for an economical way to replace my directional and attitude gyros with some cool and (relatively) inexpensive electronic replacement. Any ideas? Frank Nelson N51DV - 415C TOA Summary and complete email thread follow: "You will find no requirement in any regulation that requires any piece of equipment to be built under a TSO authorization (commonly referred to as "TSOed")... for the most part there is no requirement that any particular piece of equipment be "TSOed"... You do have to make sure that the certification of the aircraft doesn't specifically prohibit or require certain equipment to be installed, but in the case of an Ercoupe that wouldn't be an issue..." Joe Norris EAA 113615 Lifetime Senior Aviation Specialist EAA Aviation Services Phone: 888.322.4636 Extension 6806 Email thread-- Hi Frank, Here is an answer to your question from Joe Norris at EAA, who always seems to know the answer to every regulation question. Looks like you can put new equipment in. I think you would have to check the Ercoupe documents to make sure you can remove certain items, because there is probably a list of standard equipment that is required. Best, Matt ----- Original Message ----- From: Joe Norris To: Matt at LA Sport Aviation Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 1:56 PM Subject: RE: TSO'd question Hello Matt, You will find no requirement in any regulation that requires any piece of equipment to be built under a TSO authorization (commonly referred to as "TSOed"). However, some regulations require that a piece of equipment "meet the requirements" of a TSO. Examples would be transponders and IFR GPS units. But for the most part there is no requirement that any particular piece of equipment be "TSOed". Of course the installation of the equipment might need to be approved, such as modifying an instrument panel when the panel is a structural member of the fuselage, or when changes to the primary structure must be made to accommodate a particular piece of avionics. But the unit being installed does not necessarily have to be "TSOed". (This has nothing to do with whether the aircraft manufacturer is still in business or not.) You do have to make sure that the certification of the aircraft doesn't specifically prohibit or require certain equipment to be installed, but in the case of an Ercoupe that wouldn't be an issue (but can be an issue with later FAR Part 23 certificated aircraft). Joe Norris EAA 113615 Lifetime Senior Aviation Specialist EAA Aviation Services Phone: 888.322.4636 Extension 6806 Fax: 920.426.6560 www.eaa.org From: Matt at LA Sport Aviation [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:matt%40LASportAviation.com> n.com] Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 3:49 PM To: Joe Norris Subject: TSO'd question Hi Joe, I know you are the genius to contact when it comes to regulations. We have an old 1940's Ercoupe here. Question is, does this aircraft require TSO'd equipment? Can we install equipment into the panel that is not certified and not TSO'd? I would have assumed that would be the case, but some people here seem to think that because the Ercoupe is so old and not listed on any TSOs and because the manufacturer no longer exists, that any equipment can be installed (even uncertified). Thanks as always for your insight. Best Matt
