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Making an Old Panel New Again

During an instrument panel upgrade, problems can turn into not-too-terribly expensive opportunities for adding functionality and reliability.

Between the major concerns, such as avionics and visual design, interesting opportunities abound to breathe new life into an old panel. [Credit: Jessica Voruda]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A full instrument panel redesign uncovers subtle issues that, with expert advice, can be transformed into valuable opportunities for functional upgrades.
  • The author significantly enhanced precision and safety by replacing old, imprecise control knobs (throttle, mixture, lighting) with modern vernier types, carefully maintaining the aircraft's vintage aesthetic.
  • Faulty vintage altimeters were addressed by restoration through a specialist company, preserving the panel's original look while ensuring reliability and IFR certification as a crucial backup system.
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The process of completely redoing one’s instrument panel consists of several chapters, each interesting in its own way and some that are unexpected. The first typically tackles some of the most fundamental issues revolving around mechanical interference and the basic compatibility of all the various avionics you’ve selected. The last step involves determining the aesthetics of the panel, from instrument positioning to the colors used.

In between, some more subtle problems emerge. If you’re fortunate enough to have selected an experienced avionics shop that patiently educates you along the way, you can work together to transform these frustrating problems into interesting opportunities. This made me explore and freshen up some of my panel’s less flashy and more functional aspects.

Jason McDowell

Jason McDowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. He can be found on Instagram as @cessnateur.

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