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Jon Reining
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 37
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 Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 11:43 am Post subject: When to start on the panel |
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My dad and I are making good progress on the quickbuild wings (I know, they came almost done, but it still feels good) and we're starting to seriously think about the panel. Our thoughts are centering around a 3 panel Chelton system with all the appropriate gizmos to help them perform at peak proficiency.
When would you start ordering equipment? How much of a delay is there from the point of ordering to receiving? If we go with a panel builder, what are the delays on that end - how much time is it taking the pros to build panels once all the parts come in?
With all the new technology coming out on such a regular basis, we're reluctant to order anything before its time. But, recognizing that the panel will probably take a lot of time to get all together, we don't want to be waiting forever either.
Thanks for the thoughts
Jon and Bill Reining
40514 - wings
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Tim Olson
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2872
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject: When to start on the panel |
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Jon,
Your question is a very tough one, and a very good one. The problem
is, there's no one answer that will work for every builder.
The reason is, some components are available immediately. Some, like
my mini-ADI from TruTrak, will take over 2 YEARS to get to you.
There are EFIS systems that you can buy and have delivered within
a week. Then there are some that will easily approach a year (or
maybe even more) before you'll be at the top of the queue, and
waiting for the latest features to actually ship will REALLY
place you into a long wait. The there's the panel builders. Ask
people like Anh Vu how long a panel's lead time is by a panel
builder.... You'd be surprised. For some panel builders, you will
wait nearly a year (or more) from your actual paid deposit before
you'll get a finished product, and most panel builders have at least
a few weeks or months lead time. Even with interiors, Abby is currently
booking October/November slots. It just varies so much from item to
item. Also, figure that no matter what the date you are given when
you contact them is, there will inevitably be delays beyond that for
many people.
The only safe thing to do is to look at what you actually
want to buy, and the possibilities for the future, and then go
with a choice that you know you'll be happy with. For example,
if you buy a GRT system, they will allow you to upgrade later for
a fee. Then you just have to ensure you have your panel made for the
current system yet able to fit the future one...but waiting for
the features to show up may just mean you will have a plane with
no panel by the time you need it. Stein has said in the past
that when you shop for avionics, you need to buy what's available
today, because the vendors promises of delivery on things in
the future don't come with reliable timeframes.
As far as your current thoughts for hardware, from what I hear
these days, there is almost zero lead time on the EFIS and
probably a month or two at most on the entire system, so you're
OK there for the time being. *Most* of the Garmin standard
radio stack hardware is pretty quick to ship, as are the
backup gauges and things like that. So theoretically you
could buy today and have a panel builder finish it maybe
in the 3rd or 4th quarter of '07, or if you DIY, you could
buy it in August and still be wiring it in the same timeframe.
Oh, and if you get a QB fuselage, you won't have an incredibly
long time before you'll want to at least have those items
identified so you can prepare for some wiring and placements.
I'd actually pick a panel builder you trust and call them
for a time estimate. It's no secret that I'm a Stein fan, but
the nice thing is, he'll give you a straight idea on the
timeframe. All bets are off when OSH comes though, as that's
a time when the schedules quickly book for months to come,
so it pays to either jump before OSH or right in the first
couple of days of the show.
Personally, I ordered my panel items in May 2005. I got most
of it by the end of July, and started wiring. Some items
came a little later. The item that has taken the longest is
the mini-ADI, which I'm still waiting for today.
When you start talking panel though, you're hitting some of
the most fun but stressful times of the build. 
Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying
do not archive
Jon Reining wrote:
| Quote: |
<jonathan.w.reining(at)wellsfargo.com>
My dad and I are making good progress on the quickbuild wings (I
know, they came almost done, but it still feels good) and we're
starting to seriously think about the panel. Our thoughts are
centering around a 3 panel Chelton system with all the appropriate
gizmos to help them perform at peak proficiency.
When would you start ordering equipment? How much of a delay is
there from the point of ordering to receiving? If we go with a panel
builder, what are the delays on that end - how much time is it taking
the pros to build panels once all the parts come in?
With all the new technology coming out on such a regular basis, we're
reluctant to order anything before its time. But, recognizing that
the panel will probably take a lot of time to get all together, we
don't want to be waiting forever either.
Thanks for the thoughts
Jon and Bill Reining 40514 - wings
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=114241#114241
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jesse(at)saintaviation.co
Guest
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 12:44 pm Post subject: When to start on the panel |
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I would say it depends on the fuse. If you are just working on the wings
and don't even have the fuse sitting there ready to work on, then you can
wait quite a while. It also depends on how fast you plan to work. I would
say that it is safe, if you are going to build the panel yourself, to start
ordering 3-4 months before you expect to want your panel up and running. If
you are going to have someone like Stein put it together for you, then you
will want to talk with him about lead times. It is a good practice, IMHO,
to not run wires while you are building the airplane. I have shared my
viewpoint on this in the past, but if you run conduit and stuff like that,
then pull/push your wires after things are closed up, then you know that you
can access anywhere you need to access, so when (not if) you want to modify
or rewire things in the future, you know that you can do it. The same goes
for installing your panel. If you build the panel into the upper forward
fuse on the bench, then install it and build the plane around it, there is a
much better chance of having something back in there that is inaccessible in
the future. If you wire everything after it is mounted, then you KNOW that
you can get at everything, because you put it in there in the same state as
you will be getting back at it.
This is just my opinion, having done this several times, but I have only
done it this way, so I only have experience from this viewpoint.
So, in short, it depends on how you want to approach things and how fast you
expect to be building. You can wait until you have your airframe completely
done, your engine hung, and your interior in (besides seats and close-out
panels, of course, if you want to. It has been done and is being done.
Bracing for the attacks!
Jesse Saint
Saint Aviation, Inc.
jesse(at)saintaviation.com
www.saintaviation.com
Cell: 352-427-0285
Fax: 815-377-3694
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LloydDR(at)wernerco.com
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:15 pm Post subject: When to start on the panel |
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I agree with everything stated here, but I would like to stress that the
best panel builders always fill up their schedules fast, especially in
the 2 or 3 months following a show, even if you have not finalized all
of your decisions get on a wait list for the panel builder with a
deposit and work with them to design it to meet your needs. I worked
with Stein and he was great, even during the problems with Direct2 etc.
He was invaluable in making certain decisions based on hi previous
experiences in helping other builders.
I agree with Tim that the panel is the most stressful choices you will
make.
Dan
N289DT RV10E (finishing he cowl)
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