KR> "backup" panel guages?
Mark; Because GPS is based on satellites, how would the signal in a local area be shut down? Broadcast an interfering signal? FARs don't require backup instruments, and experimentals can use any form of the basic VFR instruments they want.(airspeed, altimeter, oil pressure, RPM, fuel quantity indicator, compass. Peter -Original Message- From: Mark Langford
KR> "backup" panel guages?
At 03:24 PM 4/14/2013, you wrote: > There used to be a prevailing attitude that if you were using a > "glass panel", you'd still need backup "steam" gauges for basic > stuff like compass, airspeed, and altimeter. >Mark Langford Mark, When considering the entire panel at once it looks a bit challenging. Break it down to the three things you need for a safe flight, aviate, navigate, communicate. First aviate: (fly the airplane) You're setting up for VFR day / night with something to save your bacon on inadvertent flight into IFR. Start with the required list in whatever form you chose and I'd want at least an artificial horizon and (maybe) a turn and bank. You may have all that in your "glass box". Then decide if you want or need backup and what form that will take. Your iPhone may serve backup for most of what you need. How about a simple flashlight for backup night cockpit lighting. Some smart phones even have that. If your iPhone is primary backup, I'd want it plugged in to aircraft power (charger) so it's ready to go at any time with full battery. Navigate: Your IFLY 720 is your primary. Awesome piece of equipment ! Possible backup? Is your radio a comm only or is it a nav / comm? You have a transponder, call "center" for a fix and heading if your in unfamiliar territory if necessary. Does you iPhone have GPS of any kind? I have an IFLY 720 but I've left my 7 year old Lawrance 500 installed for backup. Data base is over 5 years old but they haven't moved many airports since then. Communicate: If your radio quits on flight following, or any time, dial in the transponder code for "no communication", 7600 I think. 7700 is "hijacked" as I recall. Your IFLy 720 has tower phone numbers or at least FBO phone numbers under "airport information". iPhone to the rescue. I once had total radio failure and happened to have the home base tower number in my flip phone. I called them for clearance. Plan your equipment for the type of flights you normally make and keep it simple. Make adjustments as necessary. How many times have you actually had equipment failure? Is a simple backup sufficient when it happens? Larry Flesner
KR> "backup" panel guages?
There used to be a prevailing attitude that if you were using a "glass panel", you'd still need backup "steam" gauges for basic stuff like compass, airspeed, and altimeter. I've done some research on this, and see no requirement mandating the backups, so maybe it's just prudence. I have an MGL Explorer and an iFly 720 GPS that I'm putting in N891JF, and they both cover these and much more individually. They'll also both have backup power. If that's not enough, I have an iPhone that'll do that and attitude also. Admittedly, GPS can and will fail (I've had it go away twice over Ft. Campbell, and I'm guessing it's training), but I also have a pretty good idea of airspeed based on engine RPM. In my mind, all I'd need to be perfectly safe is a compass, RPM-derived airspeed, and the transponder's uncorrected altitude indication. Any lapse in GPS coverage is going to be localized and brief anyway, unless the sun goes crazy for a while, and then I won't fly! I've flown and landed without airspeed or altimeter (pitot and static ports were swapped), and it was no problem at all landing. If anybody can point me to regulation that requires more than this, please point it out to me. Otherwise, I'm forging ahead on my new panel. It's made from a carbon fiber covered "reject" from the N56ML construction effort. I had used peelply to flatten the surface, but it turned out way TOO flat, but that's easily fixed with a thin layer of satin finish polyurethane or something similar. There are a few details on it at http://www.n56ml.com/n891jf/panel/ . I have everything I need to finish it up, but finding the time will be the hard part. My goal is to have it flying by June 1st... Mark Langford ML at N56ML.com website at http://www.N56ML.com
