ADS-B Installed

My friend Stan came over to look at the project and helped me finish installing the ADS-B system. ADS-B (Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) is a new system that's designed to replace radar for controlling aircraft. If you want to fly into busy airspace or airports after 2020, you'll have to have ADS-B. It also provides some really advanced stuff in the cockpit - ALL FREE! Weather, traffic, terrain, Notams, TFRs plus more. The traffic is exactly what the air traffic controllers see on their screens just beamed via the ADS-B system directly to your cockpit display. Even non-transponder equipped aircraft, really big birds or UFOs that have a primary radar return will be displayed. In the picture below (this is the actual screen in my airplane), in the bottom left corner you can see the ADS-B and NEXRAD weather status. It shows No Signal because I'm in the garage but the system is fully functioning and passed all the tests.

 

Here's the remote installation of the ADS-B box and antenna from the inside. It's the Skyview ADS-B-470 system by Dynon, the same brand as the EFIS display above. You can see me in the reflection with a toothbrush in my mouth. Good dental hygiene is important even while you're building an airplane.

 

 

Here are the ADS-B and Transponder blade antennas. They are the Delta Pop antennas recommended by Dynon and are seperated by greater than 24" which is the required spacing.

 

Installing Transponder and Antenna

I decided to remote mount the transponder under the baggage floors. It will make for a very short antenna cable run as I'll be mounting the antenna only about 6 inches from the transponder box. It's not hard to remove the floors if I need to service it plus it was easier to run six small wires forward instead of running thick RG-400 coax cable aft. The picture in the following post (March 22nd) shows the map screen and at the top in a little box, you see xp 1200 GND in green letters. That shows the transponder is installed and working and set for automatic ground/air detection where it will turn the transponder on and squawk 1200 (VFR) automatically when airborne.

 

The forward tunnel is filling up with wires. Not many left to run but I sure am glad I decided to make two runs instead of one.

 

 

VP-X Displayed on EFIS

I've got the VP-X Pro system displaying on the EFIS. It's the far right section on the screen. Everything you ever wanted to know about your electrical system on one easy to understand screen. The link above takes you to Vertical Power's information page about the VP-X system and has lots more information and videos if you're interested in intelligent electronic circuit breakers for an experimental plane. If you visit their website, take a look at the VP-400 runway seeker. It's an almost unbelievable system that, with ONE push of a button, can fly your airplane to the best suitable airfield and bring it down to the runway for landing.

Electrical problems in a plane are much more critical than in a car. Being able to identify the problem and correct it is important to safety. I recently read an article about someone having an electrical problem in a small certified aircraft. Since the only gauge is often an amp meter or volt meter like in a car, the pilot couldn't figure out what was wrong and the flight ended badly. With the VP-X system, I can see the output of the alternator and the battery and the status of every individual electrical item. I can see faults and turn off or reset problem systems. I can also control items like flaps or trim or boost pumps directly through the screen if a switch fails. There are also many intelligent control features built in like the ability to reduce the trim speed above a certain airspeed or disable the flaps down switch above flaps limiting speeds or automatically wig-wag the lights plus many others. The screen doesn't have to be visible all the time as you can set aural and visual warnings and bring it up only when there's a problem.

SafeAir1 Pitot-Static and AOA Plumbing Kit

I ordered the SafeAir1 pitot-static and angle of attack plumbing kit to make the ADAHRS installation easier. It has all the tubing and connectors for a Skyview system. I'll add more below after I get started on it.

ADAHRS Mounted

I got the ADAHRS mounted the the shelf I built. I used brass screws, washers and nylon locknuts as recommended to prevent any magnetic interference. I had to order a 25 ft. Skyview network cable to reach all the way back and you can see it snaking up and around the rib the the picture below.

Autopilot Pitch Servo

I've mostly finished installing the autopilot pitch servo bracket and motor. I just need to safety wire some bolts. The servo connects to the elevator bellcrank. The elevator bellcrank connects the control stick via pushtubes to the elevator. The elevator is what makes the plane fly up and down or as some jokingly say, makes the houses bigger and smaller. The servo is a highly advanced stepper motor that doesn't restrict movement when the autopilot is off but can directly control the elevators when on. In the picture below, I didn't miss the middle rivet on the bracket. It's for an Adel clamp on the other side to hold wires.

If you're building, note the orientation of the AN 470 rivets on the bellcrank. The factory heads need to be on the same side as the servo pushrod. I tried it the other way but the shop heads interfered with the jamnut on the pushrod. I also added an extra washer between the bearing and the bellcrank.

Here's the top view. I still have wiring to route and connect and the pushtubes to reinstall.

Elevator Pitch Trim

I've mostly finished the elevator pitch trim. I just need to secure the wires and I've got several orders coming including one from McMaster Carr that has spiral wrap. I'll use it to protect the trim wires where they run through the horizontal stabilizer and fuselage.

The trim buttons on the sticks are now all working. It's fun to run the trim up and down and left and right.

I bought the Ray Allen stick grips used from a fellow Vans Airforcer and needed to replace a small sticker and one tiny screw. I called them and they sent the whole sheet of stickers and a set of four screws at NO CHARGE. I love dealing with companies like that.