Instrument Subpanel. Feb. 18th, 2001

As mentioned earlier, I like a dual stick arrangement with central throttle/mixture (In my view there are only two logical setups for a dual-stick design: either central throttle or dual throttle. Single throttle at the left side (Sonex's original design) makes the airplane undrivable for the co-pilot and no sense at all) . Problem with the Sonex's panel design is that there is simply no space at the center part of the instrument panel.

So I decided for a homebrown subpanel. The subpanel will be riveted to the underside of the instrument panel cross tie. The subpanel is 15 cm wide and 5 cm high and hopefully will not limit leg space too much.

This is the cut pattern. The flanges and the foldback triangle sides will stiffen the whole thing.

This is a look from the rear. Triangle sides fold up and all edges are flanged.

This is the sub-panel from the front. Bending was a bit difficult and the flanges still have to be adjusted for a good fit.

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Further Sheet Metal Bending. Feb. 7th, 2001

All sheet metal I could bend on my 2-ft home breake I have already done. Today I went to the Student's soaring interest group at our local university. This guys do very interesting things. Currently they develop a two-place side-by-side composite glider. This machine got an rocket-propelled emergency escape system (pilot will be rocket-driven pulled out from the seat of the disabled aircraft).

In their workshop they have a 5-ft brake where I'll do most of the medium-size channels. Only the control surfaces, the wing rear-spars and the turtledeck joint will remain to be bent. Either I'll go to a professional shop or I'll order from Sonex-Ltd - will see.

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Oil Cooler Ducting Suggestions. Feb. 6th, 2001

Based on recent discussions at the Sonex email list I have spun this air-scoop ducting subject a bit further.

This is what came out. I designed the duct outline using Corel Draw 8. The Corel source file is also availabe for download.

There's another, initially not intended but very advantageous side effect of this setup. Read what 'Hawkeye' Doug Humble wrote about T4 installation weight:

I installed a type 4 in my Q2 and here is what mine weighted in at. 198 lbs. w/o oil, exhaust & intake manifolds, external oil cooler and no sec. ignition & wires. Weight does include a Diehl case, starter, one mag, & alternator.... According to Great Plains it should develop 83 take off HP (@3600 rpm), and 78 continuous HP (@3400 rpm).

Here it's again: our Sonex 200lb firewall forward dilemma. BUT with the oil cooler under the belly and by using a composite intake manifold I might take the corner.

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Superbright LEDs. Feb. 5th, 2001

It's not long ago since there are super bright LEDs on the market. One of my ideas was to use them for position lighting or even as an replacement for anticollision strobe lights. I ordered some red, green and white samples (manufacturer: 'Kingbright'). Today I received the samples and here's an impression:

The picture is completely overexposed. The pic was taken with all ceiling lighting on! I put the LEDs 2 ft away from a whith cardboard and the two LEDs could easyly illuminate the cardboard. The green one is 4500mcd (4.5 candlepowers) and the red one is 6000mcd. They draw 20 and 30 mA respectively. The red one sells for 30c, a ~white~ one is 3$! per piece. For red anticollision lighting several hundered LEDs would be required, but even this would be still less than what Wheelen or Aeroflash want for their heigh voltage units.

Anyway I'll used them instead of light bulbs for the 'idiot lights' at the instrument panel.

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