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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:

  • An aircraft instrument panel redesign involves addressing subtle problems beyond basic compatibility and aesthetics, which, with expert guidance, can be transformed into valuable upgrade opportunities.
  • The author replaced worn and imprecise throttle and mixture controls with modern vernier types, and updated other aging control knobs, carefully selecting new ones to match the aircraft's original vintage ivory palette.
  • Instead of installing new primary altimeters (which were handled by modern avionics), faulty altimeters were resolved by having a specialist restore a vintage altimeter and adding a restored turn indicator.
  • This approach maintained the panel's classic aesthetic and provided certified functional reliability and IFR backup capabilities, demonstrating how seemingly minor issues can lead to significant improvements.
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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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