New Instrument Panel for Southern Cross

garmin 430

Steve
I dont know if you have a 430 in any of your other airplanes, but it is a great unit. We have 430’s in the bonanza, baron, and the seafire. With a 530 in the cheyenne 400LS. Great for situational awarness, plus there are all kinds of things that adapt to them.
Great looking panel!!!!!!!
Mike

Hi Steve

I can answer your question about the 5 Oil Pressure guages.

It was a common practice in UK service with the Centauras to keep adding them till the oil pressure came good – just start her up and whatever the highest reading was – well that must be the right one and away you go- Oil pressure by consensus !!!!!!!! I just love it – Still you can make some bucks selling the spares.

Regards
John P

Seems Mr. Jones has retired for the evening…

Don’t go to any trouble, but I do like a nice single malt scotch. Lagavulin, Ardbeg, Oban…of course a vodka martini can be very nice…

After seeing the schedule that you have planned for us I don’t think there will be any time for cocktails!

Lagavulin, Ardveg or the other one from Islay!!!!!!!

I see that the turn-and-bank indicator is on the right and your VSI on the left. Isn’t this the other way round compared to the standard British basic-six configuration?

Yes, It’s non-standard now and I’m going to have it changed as well. The cockpit is a light grey, although it looks more white in this photo. It’s not too bad for glare, and doesn’t get as hot in the summer time. When the sun is shinning you get a lot of radiant heat through the canopy.

Part of the problem is the panel has been changed so many times since George did the original restoration that it’s very difficult sorting out what goes where, and why. There are many wires that have just simply been cut off, with no termination or notation. This airplane had FIVE oil pressure gauges (including I believe the one that RER noticed on the lower far right. Now, my scan isn’t bad, but even I can’t keep up with five oil pressure gauges (although only four of them worked). This panel gets back to a basic 3-1 gauge for fuel pressure, oil temp and oil pressure, as well as a CHT gauge all together. The upper panel has the g meter, clock, ball, and we’ll add a gauge for ADI (not installed yet).

Thanks for the suggestions.

Steve

I see that the turn-and-bank indicator is on the right and your VSI on the left. Isn’t this the other way round compared to the standard British basic-six configuration?

Hi steve,where are you going to fit the boom box to to take the sounds from your stereo?What your not fitting one?Youv’e got to have something to cover up the sound of that wrong engine!!

Just kidding,thanks for sharing the pics with us and for keeping the fury flying!
Alan.

The Sea Fury panel was originally restored non-standard, and I’m just trying to update it without taking the plane down for the entire season. While we’re on the subject thought I see nothing wrong with modern avionics in any warbird. Most B-17s and the CAF B-29 have modern panels, or variations on them. Modern navigations and communications equipment is a smart move to help safely operate these aircraft over long distances.

The T-6 panel is much more authentic, and still has the old style AI and gyro compass. It has a small GPS installed, as well as modern comm/nav radios, but they’re pretty unobtrusive. It also has the original gun sight.

The Sea Fury will go through a major refit, when the panel will probably go back to a much closer version of the original, but with modern radios. I just don’t want to take her down for a year or two to do it right now.

Here’s a shot of the T-6 panel

This is great! Of course there’s no point in losing a season for some “make-up” rework, but if yr intention is to work on her later on it’s wonderful! I too think that u must use modern equipment too, there’s no point in flying a plane like that without at least a VOR/DME!! It’s just a matter of hiding the stuff properly, and the look of the T-6 it’s just perfect! We have a switchbox that runs almost all over the right side and we’re thinking about removing the old suff in there, which despite being wonderful is now useless, and hiding there a GPS, the VHF and then some extra space for personal items. We still have the map box which is installed under the seats, but the feature I’m looking forward to test is the relief tube!! “bio-dumping” is gonna be fun, expecially buzzing over flightlines! 😀 😀 😀

Alex

Hi Steve,

Look great, question the far right instrument on the floor what is that can’t make it out. Boy you have change it alot since George owned it maybe I can rumage thru the photo collection and see if I can find the shot I have of her right after she got her first set of instruments.

Also wheres the Key hole how do you expect someone to start this thing huh :p

Do you plan on keeping the present cockpit color or do you plan on going back to black.

I would make sure that the jump seat has plenty of Barf bags and some real nice English Punk Rock will do just nicely or maybe some lovely Bag Pipes might be better.

Cheers
RER

Hi mexicanbob

I agree Red Bull is great – I had to strip the Astons valance pannel the other day – it works a treat!

I believe some people drink it but after seeing that it won’t be me !!!!!

Regards
John P

If red bull is actually that corrosive, I might have a use for it without Vodka. I routinely soak my desert flight suits in Coca-Cola before washing them to remove oil and grease stains left by the airplane!

Hi mexicanbob

I agree Red Bull is great – I had to strip the Astons valance pannel the other day – it works a treat!

I believe some people drink it but after seeing that it won’t be me !!!!!

Regards
John P

Steve,
Go for Red Bull and Vodka! It gets the job done and supports the warbird industry!

I’m a government employee so I can’t afford very expensive tastes. A bottle of Thunderbird or Mad Dog 20/20 wrapped in a paper sack always makes for a fun evening!

Hi Steve

Ahhhhhhhhhh yes but all the nights are free for some solid social activity

Regards
JohnP

Seems Mr. Jones has retired for the evening…

Don’t go to any trouble, but I do like a nice single malt scotch. Lagavulin, Ardbeg, Oban…of course a vodka martini can be very nice…

After seeing the schedule that you have planned for us I don’t think there will be any time for cocktails!

Hi

Paker to Patterson – Parker to Patterson – I say again – WHAT WHISKEY – Meaning what sort do you like so I know what to buy – Get it!!!

Regards
Parker

Well, I used to have…

Just stocked up here Reds and Whites – What whiskey?

Beer is my choice but it will be good.

John

Sounds like a good test for Bridget.

Jones? I say, are you with us Jones???

Well, I used to have…

Just stocked up here Reds and Whites – What whiskey?

Beer is my choice but it will be good.

John

Hi Steve

One last thing do you find the white OK – it would anoy me a bit but it’s what suits you here – I would go for matt grey or green I think – the glare must be a bit wild with white?

Regards
John P

Yeah, Patty has an impressive collection of fine wine, Beer and Whisky…

Well, I used to have…

Yeah Yeah you keep saying that.

If the Sea Fury isanything like as loud as a P-51 then you had probably a had a bit too much Scotch before you got in 🙂

Yeah, Patty has an impressive collection of fine wine, Beer and Whisky.
It seemed impolite to refuse.
It’s pretty loud in there but the headphones kept it under control.

I still sometimes think, did that really happen to me.
Apparently it did.
Great!
Andy

Yeah Yeah you keep saying that.

If the Sea Fury isanything like as loud as a P-51 then you had probably a had a bit too much Scotch before you got in 🙂