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Fiberglass instrument panel
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brinker(at)cox-internet.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:19 am Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



I have a composite airplane Aerocomp 6. The dash panel is

fiberglass. Will the fiberglass alone be strong enough to support the

avionics ? Do I need an overlay of some sort ?

Randy

mprather(at)spro.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:53 am Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel

Not sure, but it sounds like a question for Aerocomp.. My Varieze has the

stock fiberglass sandwich panel, and has the avionics/instruments mounted

directly to it, but the Aerocomp likely has different layup/materials..

However, I think the stock Varieze panel looks kind of cheesy (technical

term)..

Matt-

nuckollsr(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:00 am Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel

A panel with sufficient strength and stiffness can probably

be fabricated from any common structural material. The answer

to your question is not readily provided without knowing

numbers of instruments, weights, overhang moments, etc.

The EASY answer is, if you provide an aluminum overlay equal

to the panel thickness in say, the RV kits, then you WILL

have sufficient structural capability to support the components.

Are you in contact with any folks who have finished and

are flying this airplane? What to the plans call for?

Bob . . .

BigD(at)DaveMorris.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:14 am Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel

The Dragonfly uses a fiberglass instrument panel that is actually

structural! But there are some really SWEET carbon fiber overlays you can

put on that will spiff them up quite a bit, thanks to the Japanese "tuner"

import crowd. See http://www.robotcombat.com/marketplace carbonfiber.html

for some colorful carbon fiber overlay sheets. I'm planning to use a red

one on my panel.

Dave Morris

At 10:17 AM 1/4/2006, you wrote:

I have a composite airplane Aerocomp 6. The dash panel is

fiberglass. Will the fiberglass alone be strong enough to support the

avionics ? Do I need an overlay of some sort ?

Randy

stein(at)steinair.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:16 am Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



Hi Randy,

It really depends on the contents of the panel and how you construct it

along with the thickness and type of composite panel. For example, if the

panel is only 3 layers of 3oz. glass, then it won't support anything.

But....if the panel is 5 layers of Carbon then it probably would support

anything you put in it.

Assuming your panel is a moderately stiff glass panel, then if you put the

requisite structural stiffners behind the radio rack and don't hang dual

530's off of it you'll proabably be ok in that area. This too depends on the

units themselves...some avionics are very shallow and light, others are

really deep and heavy.

If you use some of the newer EFIS's like a Dynon or GRT they don't weight

much at all and should be fine in that area. But if you use a conventional

"6 pack" with Vac Gryos then the likelyhood is that after you remove the

glass it won't support the instruments.

The cure for that of course is to cut some aluminum sheets which fit into

the areas you'll be mounting instruments. Unless it's really heavy stuff,

then .040"-.063" should be plenty.

Hope that helps and doesn't confuse too much!

Cheers,

Stein.

do not archive

brinker(at)cox-internet.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:10 am Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



I have not found a forum for this plane, I suppose there are not

many being built. I am not the original purchaser of the kit so Aerocomp

wants $3000 ( believe it or not) up front to give any builder assistance.

And I have loads of assembly photo's, diagrams etc. but cannot find and

specifics on the panel. Was hoping to find another person building an

Aerocomp in group.

Bruce(at)glasair.org
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:26 am Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



The Glasair line of airplanes usually have a FG panel, with a twist. An .062

aluminum insert encompasses the entire flight group (some have gone to

.090). The radio rack is all FG but the secret is that the radio stack is

supported from the back of the rack. This means the panel is only loaded in

shear. All radios, and deep instruments for that matter, should have support

in the back end of the panel. We pull +6 -3 g's with these toys, gotta make

it secure.

Bruce

www.glasair.org

mprather(at)spro.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:45 am Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



Ouch!! That's a black eye for Aerocomp as far as I am concerned..

Interesting. I don't think that's common in the industry, is it?

Regards,

Matt-

<brinker(at)cox-internet.com>

I have not found a forum for this plane, I suppose there are

not

many being built. I am not the original purchaser of the kit so Aerocomp

wants $3000 ( believe it or not) up front to give any builder

assistance. And I have loads of assembly photo's, diagrams etc. but

cannot find and specifics on the panel. Was hoping to find another

person building an Aerocomp in group.

brinker(at)cox-internet.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:18 pm Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



Thanks. Nice but rather pricey I guess that if you want to save weight

you have to spend the bucks.

brinker(at)cox-internet.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:27 pm Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



I may have been a little more gunshy about buying this plane if I had

known this before hand. You would think any kit manufacturer would be more

than happy to help out any way they could just to get more of their design's

in the air as advertisement.

brinker(at)cox-internet.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:59 pm Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



It will not be a problem to support the radio stack from the back on

this plane. Accually I believe I will do that even if I decide to put an

aluminum plate over the FG

jschroeder(at)perigee.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:23 pm Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel

We installed the trays on pieces of 3/4"x3/4" aluminum angle and the

fastened them to the glass panel.

John

Lancair ES

brinker(at)cox-internet.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



Thanks Stein, no I'm not really confused but without the experience I

tend to be a little bit slow. Could'nt say for sure of the amount of layers

but it is at least 1/8 thick possibly more, I have yet to cut a hole in it

to find out for sure. It feels solid and looks fairly solid. Although I

think my main concern is vibration pulling the mounting screws through.

Washers I suppose would take care of that problem but would more than likely

look tacky.

I plan on dual GRT's both stacked on the pilot side, with wx8

stormscope, auto pilot and annunciators stacked to the rh, audio panel,

sl30, kln90b, gtx330 radio stack in middle, 3 1/8 asi, alt, & electric adi

to the rh of radio stack. No vaccum instruments. These items are not at

all heavy individually but together with turbulence or G's could be. I

suppose the added weight of the aluminum plate vs. safety factor is minimal.

Thanks to all for your contributions and for helping me make my

mind up and add the aluminum plate.

klehman(at)albedo.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:31 pm Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



Off topic Do not archive

As the second owner of a Murphy kit, I can tell you that they expressed

delight to provide me with free support. They just wanted to help get

another of their products airborne. That support included free

replacement and shipping of a large part that I wasn't happy with. They

provided a CD with a newer version of the manual and when I had an

opportunity to visit the factory they spent a couple of hours answering

questions and giving a tour.

OTOH I think most customer support occurs immediately after purchase and

I can be somewhat sympathetic to a reasonable charge to repeat that for

a new owner.

Ken

Matt Prather wrote:

Ouch!! That's a black eye for Aerocomp as far as I am concerned..

Interesting. I don't think that's common in the industry, is it?

Regards,

Matt-

brinker(at)cox-internet.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



That would definately stiffen the radio stack but what about the

other instruments ?

BobsV35B(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:49 pm Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel

PLaurence(at)the-beach.ne
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:21 pm Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



Randy

We have a composite panel in a Velocity RG XL. It has a full Apollo/UPS

stack in the center, A full compliment of steam flight gauges, a VM1000,

transponder and an array of breakers. We supported it with a couple of

aluminum strips .It is very sturdy.

Peter

I have a composite airplane Aerocomp 6. The dash panel is

fiberglass. Will the fiberglass alone be strong enough to support the

avionics ? Do I need an overlay of some sort ?

Randy

jschroeder(at)perigee.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:35 pm Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel



Hello Bob,

We looked at the Radio RAX, but they were a tad on the high side of the

cost curve. Our panel is finished and installed and we need to fly the

bird first.

Thanks for the info,

John

 	  Quote: 	
		   We installed the trays on pieces of 3/4"x3/4" aluminum angle and the

fastened them to the glass panel.

John

Lancair ES

Good Evening John,

You might consider using the RadioRax product (www.radiorax.com) in

lieu of

the angle aluminum. Not cheap, but make for very easy changes of

equipment.

Happy Skies,

Old Bob

AKA

Bob Siegfried

Ancient Aviator

Stearman N3977A

Brookeridge Air Park LL22

Downers Grove, IL 60516

630 985-8503

	


--

rv8iator

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 145
Location: Newberg, OR

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 5:44 am Post subject: Fiberglass instrument panel

Fibreglass aka polyester and glass can be strong enough to support most panel mounted avionics.  The problems or rather limitations of fibreglass are:

1.  Not as rigid(stiff) as aluminum so will require reinforcement to reduce localized bending. Ie, around openings where racks attach to the panel face.

2.  holes that are made after fabrication break the glass fibers and are subject to tear out are cracking.



3.  Requires a mold to make the panel thus additional time and effort to fabricate.  (typically the panel needs to be removable to facilitate construction and maintenance).

Not impossible but not very practical unless there is some compelling requirement.

Chris





On Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 10:19 PM MAXI5005 <slavaslim(at)gmail.com (slavaslim(at)gmail.com)> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "MAXI5005" <slavaslim(at)gmail.com (slavaslim(at)gmail.com)>

 

 Will the fiberglass alone be strong enough to support the

 avionics ? Do I need an overlay of some sort?

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=492875#492875

 

 

 

 

 

 

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C. Stone (RV8iator)

user9253

Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 1921
Location: Riley TWP Michigan

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 6:16 am Post subject: Re: Fiberglass instrument panel

MAXI5005 is a spammer. Notice that he copied and pasted the original poster's question.

_________________
Joe Gores

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