Jay - regarding your headset cable tangles - do you have a panel mount
intercom? Or are you using a portable? I used to have a portable on
the floor next to the flap handle (Cherokee) and always got tangled
entering/exiting the plane. I installed a PS7000, put headset jacks
in the lower corners of the panel, and in the rear - where the
ashtrays used to be. It works great, and I cannot recall tripping on
a cable since.

This is exactly the set-up we have -- except we've got the PS
Engineering CD/Intercom combo unit.

When I slide across the plane into the pilot seat (danged single
door!) I am eternally catching my foot on the co-pilot's headset
cord. We try to remember to drape it over the yoke, but inevitably
forget. Or it falls down.

I've successfully eliminated every other cord in the cockpit, now that
we've panel-docked the 496 -- but I'd sure love to eliminate those
headset cords.

But it remains to be seen if Lopresti has found the answer.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"