VFR panel ideas ??

[efwd]

Ken, that is a beautiful panel. Just the way I would copy you had I seen it and was going steam. Im not very original, my glass is a copy as well.
Eddie

[DesertFox4]

Great looking panels guys. Congrats. I'd enjoy flying behind all of them.

[ken nougaret]

Ken, that is a beautiful panel. Just the way I would copy you had I seen it and was going steam. Im not very original, my glass is a copy as well.
Eddie

Thanks Eddie!

[jrevens]

I agree with Eddie, Ken... it looks really good!

[PaulSS]

Ken's it what my wife would want. Jim's is almost what I would want (just remote mount the radio, with a built in intercom, and hide a smaller compass elsewhere.....perfect)

[jiott]

I have been asked many times what I would do if my glass panel suddenly went dark since I have no backup gauges. I would simply fly the plane by looking out the window, which is what I do most of the time anyway. I can hold approach speeds pretty close by flying a slight positive AOA by watching the underside of the wing against the horizon. I am a sport pilot so I don't fly at night.

To be honest, I do carry some backups: Sporty's handheld radio w/VOR navigation, some out-of-date paper charts, smartphone with Avare, etc. on it, and maybe soon an iPad with Foreflight.

[Dave S]

I have to agree with Jim O 100%.......old style or new panel....we should all be able to maintain control of the aircraft if any of the stuff on the panel dies. I have some vague recollection that is what we were all originally taught.

Back in my rental days.......it seemed that something was going to quit on you no matter what degree of technology occupied the panel....most common was radios, electrical system and vacuum instruments and an occasional glob of crud up the pitot tube.

I always kept a supply of post it notes, in addition to using them for notes, they were handy covering up the somewhat distracting failed vacuum instruments - which always seemed to coincide with vis of 4-6.

[southwind32]

I've been a CFII MEI for 45 years, I've always taught the primary instrument is what you see through the windshield.
As many have commented in recent years, the latest crop of avionics, from moving maps to MFD etc tend to draw pilots, especially newer pilots eyes from being outside the cockpit to the panel. I forget what the FAA recommends for percentage of eyes outside the cockpit, I think it was something like 80%, I always taught 99% outside, a quick glance certain instruments is all you need to attain the desired information.
Most of your 5 senses are instruments and can be applied to flying, eyes, for attitude, and even altitude to a degree, ears, for Airspeed and power settings, touch, how the airplane feels and is trimmed, and even smell can be used to detect a possible engine problem ie; smoke etc.
Eyes being in the cockpit will probably get worse in the future when pilots will be staring at the displays looking for traffic, instead of again, a quick glance will do.
Safe Flying.
Brian