Airvan aircraft

(Rick Durden) wrote in message m...
Now you have me curious...argument over overhead switches? I guess I
wasn't aware there was one, back in the '60s the crashworthiness folks
found out that overhead panels killed pilots in crashes; the switches
penetrated the skull, so the word went out to avoid them if at all
possible.
snip

I'm looking at your comment and wondering whether there are those who
think overhead panels are attractive or cool and therefore use them
because they don't know about the research that was done nearly 40
years ago. Now, I'm curious as to why designers/engineers would put
in an overhead panel on an otherwise simple airplane. It can't be for
panel space problems, I've flown far more complex airplanes, with the
same size panel, in which the designers were able to put everything in
front of the pilot.

If you've got any contacts a Piper, you might want to ask them. I
flew one of their new Archer IIIs last year and was really put off by
their new overhead switch arrangement. The switches were located at
the top of the pilots side windshield and blocked the view up. I
can't see any reason why they would do this, as the previous location
for these switches on the panel was quite good (and remained unchanged
for a couple of decades).

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

(John Galban) wrote in message . com...
(Rick Durden) wrote in message m...
Now you have me curious...argument over overhead switches? I guess I
wasn't aware there was one, back in the '60s the crashworthiness folks
found out that overhead panels killed pilots in crashes; the switches
penetrated the skull, so the word went out to avoid them if at all
possible.
snip

I'm looking at your comment and wondering whether there are those who
think overhead panels are attractive or cool and therefore use them
because they don't know about the research that was done nearly 40
years ago. Now, I'm curious as to why designers/engineers would put
in an overhead panel on an otherwise simple airplane. It can't be for
panel space problems, I've flown far more complex airplanes, with the
same size panel, in which the designers were able to put everything in
front of the pilot.

If you've got any contacts a Piper, you might want to ask them. I
flew one of their new Archer IIIs last year and was really put off by
their new overhead switch arrangement. The switches were located at
the top of the pilots side windshield and blocked the view up. I
can't see any reason why they would do this, as the previous location
for these switches on the panel was quite good (and remained unchanged
for a couple of decades).

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

John,

I have not sat in any of the New Pipers, but no one I know has said
anything nice about the overhead switches on them. IMHO, the switches
were very well placed when they were located in the center of the
panel. I never cared for the side wall placement I have seen on
Lances and some other Cherokee models.

However, if someone were to offer me a cherry Cherokee with the side
switches, it would not be an automatic no.

Best

John

John Pelchat wrote:
(John Galban) wrote in message . com...

(Rick Durden) wrote in message m...

Now you have me curious...argument over overhead switches? I guess I
wasn't aware there was one, back in the '60s the crashworthiness folks
found out that overhead panels killed pilots in crashes; the switches
penetrated the skull, so the word went out to avoid them if at all
possible.

snip

I'm looking at your comment and wondering whether there are those who
think overhead panels are attractive or cool and therefore use them
because they don't know about the research that was done nearly 40
years ago. Now, I'm curious as to why designers/engineers would put
in an overhead panel on an otherwise simple airplane. It can't be for
panel space problems, I've flown far more complex airplanes, with the
same size panel, in which the designers were able to put everything in
front of the pilot.

If you've got any contacts a Piper, you might want to ask them. I
flew one of their new Archer IIIs last year and was really put off by
their new overhead switch arrangement. The switches were located at
the top of the pilots side windshield and blocked the view up. I
can't see any reason why they would do this, as the previous location
for these switches on the panel was quite good (and remained unchanged
for a couple of decades).

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)


John,

I have not sat in any of the New Pipers, but no one I know has said
anything nice about the overhead switches on them. IMHO, the switches
were very well placed when they were located in the center of the
panel. I never cared for the side wall placement I have seen on
Lances and some other Cherokee models.

However, if someone were to offer me a cherry Cherokee with the side
switches, it would not be an automatic no.

Best

John


There are some more photos of the Airvan flight deck at this website.
It shows detail for the overhead panel.


/www.njwg.cap.gov/Operations/Gippsland/

"Kevin" wrote in message
news:7mQDb.410999$ao4.1343213@attbi_s51...
John Pelchat wrote:
(John Galban) wrote in message
. com...
John,

I have not sat in any of the New Pipers, but no one I know has said
anything nice about the overhead switches on them. IMHO, the switches
were very well placed when they were located in the center of the
panel. I never cared for the side wall placement I have seen on
Lances and some other Cherokee models.

However, if someone were to offer me a cherry Cherokee with the side
switches, it would not be an automatic no.

Best

John


There are some more photos of the Airvan flight deck at this website.
It shows detail for the overhead panel.


/www.njwg.cap.gov/Operations/Gippsland/

This one seems a lot more efficient in a refurbished Rockwell JetProp 1000
(but it's an "eyebrow panel" not specifically an "overhead" panel.

http://www.eagle-creek.com/magic_pop...s/cockpit3.jpg

John,

Why do I wonder whether the overhead in the Piper's was motivated by
marketing folks who thought they looked cool and didn't have the
faintest inkling of the research that had been done that concluded
they were not a good thing to put in an airplane.....


All the best,
Rick

(John Galban) wrote in message . com...
(Rick Durden) wrote in message m...
Now you have me curious...argument over overhead switches? I guess I
wasn't aware there was one, back in the '60s the crashworthiness folks
found out that overhead panels killed pilots in crashes; the switches
penetrated the skull, so the word went out to avoid them if at all
possible.
snip

I'm looking at your comment and wondering whether there are those who
think overhead panels are attractive or cool and therefore use them
because they don't know about the research that was done nearly 40
years ago. Now, I'm curious as to why designers/engineers would put
in an overhead panel on an otherwise simple airplane. It can't be for
panel space problems, I've flown far more complex airplanes, with the
same size panel, in which the designers were able to put everything in
front of the pilot.

If you've got any contacts a Piper, you might want to ask them. I
flew one of their new Archer IIIs last year and was really put off by
their new overhead switch arrangement. The switches were located at
the top of the pilots side windshield and blocked the view up. I
can't see any reason why they would do this, as the previous location
for these switches on the panel was quite good (and remained unchanged
for a couple of decades).

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

(Rick Durden) wrote in message om...
John,

Why do I wonder whether the overhead in the Piper's was motivated by
marketing folks who thought they looked cool and didn't have the
faintest inkling of the research that had been done that concluded
they were not a good thing to put in an airplane.....


All the best,
Rick


Rick, I suspect that did have something to do with it but on the other
hand, I like a lot of things about the new Piper panel, including a
centralized (and apparently) organized annunciator panel. AND tons of
real estate for a good switch panel to be relocated to.

To the gentleman from the NJ Civil Air Patrol, thank you very much for
the pictures and the write-up about the Airvan.

I still pick AirVan as my favorite panel and I will close by wishing
all on the groups a very merry Christmas.

best to all of you

John Pelchat

John Pelchat wrote:
(Rick Durden) wrote in message om...

John,

Why do I wonder whether the overhead in the Piper's was motivated by
marketing folks who thought they looked cool and didn't have the
faintest inkling of the research that had been done that concluded
they were not a good thing to put in an airplane.....


All the best,
Rick



Rick, I suspect that did have something to do with it but on the other
hand, I like a lot of things about the new Piper panel, including a
centralized (and apparently) organized annunciator panel. AND tons of
real estate for a good switch panel to be relocated to.

To the gentleman from the NJ Civil Air Patrol, thank you very much for
the pictures and the write-up about the Airvan.

I still pick AirVan as my favorite panel and I will close by wishing
all on the groups a very merry Christmas.

best to all of you

John Pelchat

The overhead panel makes it easier to access all of the breakers
without reaching over to the right side of the panel.

I designed and built a panel for my jeep TJ which has all of the
electrical switches overhead, ignition , accessories, lights etc. . It
makes everything easy to access.

/www.jeepboard.net/modules.php?set_albumName=TJs&id=jeep_004&op=modlo ad&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php