Thanks for everyones very kind comments about our panel.
We have just finished testing, which included a mandatory minimum timed flight of 2 hours, in fact we were in the air for around 2.5 hours and we both felt perfectly comfortable. The throttle quadrants were positioned very carefully so that they are placed above our legs but lie comfortably to hand with the forearm on the side rest. As a matter of interest, maybe the picture is misleading, but the panel is absolutely standard Vans issue, no extra depth. The additional panel placed underneath is approx 1.2 inches which allows us to pull our legs up if needed. I do however agree with you (Capt Avgas) about the centre console; if I had the time again I would make it as narrow as possible - it does however make it very easy to get in and out as you have something substantial to push against.
Form over function - maybe? But I do hope not. We spent what seemed to be months and months planning the panel. The concept was to allow both pilots to be able to fly from either side (as our syndicate is three pilots who regularly want to fly together, well two at a time anyway!). That is why we went for the AFS panels directly in front of both seats, so no pilot has to look across the instrument panel for their primary flight information. Placement of standby instruments below the primary display was planned as the pilot has to normally look slightly down to the primary EFIS display, however in the event of failure, he would naturally be looking down to the EFIS - but just a little lower down to the standby instruments, rather than having to consciously think where they had been placed. One of our syndicate is ex RAF with more hours and experience that I can count to, he spent hours thinking about the appropriate position of switches etc so that their function was appropriately placed to match their use in different modes in flight.
After functional planning we did, I admit, spend almost as long trying to make sure that the position of everything was lined up, with similar gaps around instruments etc! I suppose the main thing is that we are absolutely delighted with the panel. That's what I absolutely love about our RVs, everyone is different and can, and does, build what is right for them.
DanH mentioned the warning placard: the words are mandated by our Light Aircraft Association, LAA (the UK version of your EAA).
Naruto; the dual throttle quadrants were in fact very simple to set up, you will find a few pictures here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Mark.CastleSmith/DropBox#
The throttle and prop cables attach either side of the throttle and governor arms using standard practice in terms of large washers other side of the rose joints etc. Hopefully one of the pictures will explain all. The main issue was the passenger quadrant wording was backwards (as we had to turn the quadrant around 180 degrees). We solved the issue by milling the top of the bracket by the depth of the wording, milling new wording on the bracket and reanodising - worked well.
The AFS panels and the Tru Track are stunning products - can't wait for the AFS upgrade and European maps.
Can't finish without words of praise for Stein for customer service- outstanding.
