Thoughts on panel upgrade?

On Monday, January 30, 2017 at 3:13:42 PM UTC-5, Bruce Hoult wrote:
On Monday, January 30, 2017 at 10:52:13 PM UTC+3, ND wrote:
On Monday, January 30, 2017 at 12:17:59 AM UTC-5, Paul wrote:
I'm hoping some of you might be kind enough to offer some perspective regarding my panel (pic he https://s29.postimg.org/qvb54ydzb/Panel_2.jpg), it's equipped with:
* Cambridge L-NAV computer with vario display, audio vario & gear warning
* Cambridge GPS-NAV flight recorder & LCD navigation display
* Sage mechanical vario

Not pictured:
* Kobo XCSoar tablet (sunlight readable black & white flight computer)
* Android tablet, running Avare, connected to Stratux for traffic & weather

I've been flying gliders one season, and managed to earn the bronze badge. I plan to start on the silver badge this spring, and hope to fly cross country. I've only used the Cambridge as a vario, and it works fine; I imagine it's navigation interface is clunky compared to my tablets. The Kobo XCSoar tablet gives lots of glider flight data, and the Android tablet also runs XCSoar, in case of a Kobo failure.

I imagine some of you have been down this road. Other than the obvious aesthetics, what's the benefit of replacing the Cambridge gear with something like an LXNAV S100?

Thanks,
Paul

the SN10, and CAI303 are both excellent instruments. if you like xcsoar stick with it. as far as a panel upgrade is concerned, you may simply have this one reconfigured and made more pretty.

if you do have it spruced up, think about functionality and what you most actively need. i like to put instruments with buttons on the left side of the panel, so you can use your free hand to manipulate them without having to trade hands on the stick. switches and fuses are also good to have on the left because you can easily access them with your free hand.

also it makes good sense to put more important/pertinent informaion near the top of the panel. specifically, the vario and the airspeed indicator. the altimeter is not needed quite as often. plus, most soaring programs (xc soar, oudie, lx and c-nav) all have altitude readouts on them, and are prominantly displayed.

your currently layout is not bad! i would put the radio into a 57mm hole off center, and move the temperature gauge down to the bottom of the panel. i'd also get rid of that vertical vario thingy (whatever it is) to the right of the altimeter.

That speaker takes up valuable panel space too. it doesn't need to be mounted on the face of the panel, it could be wired to the support bracket behind the panel, or even moved back behind your head. that frees up some space, de-clutters the panel.

those are my thoughts on "panel theory" X-D

hopefully that helps if you decide to have it re-done.

Andy

"Vertical vario thing"

I assumed that's a G meter?

good call. couldn't think of what it might be last night.