ryoder Posted July 27, 2014 Report Posted July 27, 2014 My 65 has a small directional gyro that looks like a compass. I would like to replace it with a vertical card if the price is right. I can't actually find any for sale in the nonstandard size. Any ideas? This thing makes flying on instruments harder but is good training for compass flying. Quote
Piloto Posted July 27, 2014 Report Posted July 27, 2014 In order to work properly the vertical card compass need to be mounted on a suspended mounting bracket attached to the windshield center post. It will not work reliable when mounted on the instrument panel. I have one for about five years and love it. Unlike the whisky compass that bounces in turbulence the vertical compass holds very well. It is also easier to read. If you do quick turns it will lag but on slow turns it behaves like a DG. José 1 Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted July 27, 2014 Report Posted July 27, 2014 You just have to cut a bigger hole in your panel. 2 Quote
ryoder Posted July 27, 2014 Author Report Posted July 27, 2014 Piloto thanks for the info on the vertical card compass I would like one of those. But what I am talking about is an old school dg that sits inside the panel and occupies a small hole. I think they make small dgs with a vertical card representation I just don't know where to find them. I could cut a bigger hole but am worried that will involve a ton of extra work and expense I don't want to sink into a steam gauge layout when my ultimate goal is something like the g3x once the FAA approves stuff like that for GA. Thanks n201. Won't that cost an arm and a leg though because I'll need to replace the panel cover? Quote
takair Posted July 27, 2014 Report Posted July 27, 2014 The vertical card compass was not intended to replace a DG. I am not aware of any 2 1/4" DGs. Most folks cut the bigger hole. Ironically, behind the panel, that old DG is enormous......and heavy. You would have plenty of room and save weight, even with a standard size "modern" DG. Many avionics shops have hole punches to upsize the hole easily. That part should not be costly. Don't let anybody use a sawzall or grinder without removing all instruments, the vibration will reduce the life of them. 2 Quote
Marauder Posted July 27, 2014 Report Posted July 27, 2014 I'm still having a hard time picturing what you have in your plane. I replaced the wet compass in my plane years ago with a PAI-700. What exactly do you have in your plane? Quote
carusoam Posted July 27, 2014 Report Posted July 27, 2014 Pull Up! Pull Up! Pull Up!.... Sorry, saw the trees in the windshield getting larger. What is the name of the balancing balls that are mounted with that compass? Best regards, -a- Quote
Marauder Posted July 27, 2014 Report Posted July 27, 2014 What is the name of the balancing balls that are mounted with that compass? -a- Balancing balls Quote
Mooneymite Posted July 27, 2014 Report Posted July 27, 2014 What is the name of the balancing balls that are mounted with that compass? -a- Maurauder told us about these awhile back. I bought them from Spruce and now my whiskey compass is perfect. If you're having problems with your mag compass because of magnetic interference (magnetized steel), this is a great solution. http://www.aircraftspruce.com/search/search.php?s=compass%20balls Quote
carusoam Posted July 27, 2014 Report Posted July 27, 2014 I see... Compass compensator balls... My 65C was unable to navigate by compass with any accuracy... This was problematic when I tried training for the IR... The compass would stop on certain headings while turning at standard rates. Then it would release and over speed to catch up. ANDS...took on a whole new meaning and complexity.... Best regards, -a- Quote
flyboy0681 Posted July 27, 2014 Report Posted July 27, 2014 In order to work properly the vertical card compass need to be mounted on a suspended mounting bracket attached to the windshield center post. It will not work reliable when mounted on the instrument panel. I have one for about five years and love it. Unlike the whisky compass that bounces in turbulence the vertical compass holds very well. It is also easier to read. If you do quick turns it will lag but on slow turns it behaves like a DG. José I had one installed last year and love it too. Much easier to read than the whisky. Quote
takair Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 I'm still having a hard time picturing what you have in your plane. I replaced the wet compass in my plane years ago with a PAI-700. What exactly do you have in your plane? I think he has the old style directional gyro that looks like a standard wet compass. They are WWII vintage and were still used in the 60s. Very reliable, but not as intuitive as a vertical card compass DG. Quote
ryoder Posted July 28, 2014 Author Report Posted July 28, 2014 Here is my panel. It's a compass no it's a dg but wait it's a compass in the panel?? It's odd but it works great as far as it doesn't process and moves nice and smooth. It keeps you right on the heading but you end up turning left and then realizing you need to turn right. Quote
Marauder Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 Here is my panel. It's a compass no it's a dg but wait it's a compass in the panel?? It's odd but it works great as far as it doesn't process and moves nice and smooth. It keeps you right on the heading but you end up turning left and then realizing you need to turn right. What does the knob do below it? Is it liquid filled? Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 The AN 5735-1 gyro was the premiere directional gyro in WWII. It was installed in our front line fighters like the P51 Mustang. It was manufactured by Sperry, the company that invented the DG. Thay litteraly built tons of them from the 40s through the 50s. I believe Mooney bought hundreds of them surplus back in the 60s by the pound. The gyro you have is probably 65 years old and has likely never been overhauled, and still works perfect. They just don't make stuff like that anymore. 1 Quote
ryoder Posted July 28, 2014 Author Report Posted July 28, 2014 Glad I have a piece of history. The knob is just the regular old knob you use to set the gyro to the compass. My cfi flew the airplane twice before I did because he is also an a&p and he told me that it would be hard to use during instrument training but that the darned thing works really well. He is right. It holds a heading for hours. We did 2.1 hours of instrument training and touch and goes and I never had to reset it from its initial position which btw was leftover from our last flight. It's just hard to read. Quote
scottfromiowa Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 First panel item I replaced. Mine was not the good little soldier that yours is. A standard size DG would be a minimal expense. Even with the shotgun panel and making a cut-out it will look and fly better than your 1930's p.o.s. gauge. Quote
carusoam Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 That Sperry device matches the T&B indicator really well. I understand that the future of IFR flight includes turn coordinators, HSIs and something called GPS... The challenge with the old devices that continue to work... The presentation of the data is often confusing or at least a higher work load to the brain. The compass that swings left, while turning right... T&B doesn't account for things as well as a TC does... And that Sperry device is a bit challenging to pick up rate of change... These details are more important when discussing partial panel. Flying in IMC and things stop working... They are more of a hassle the older you get. Consider adding to the classic panel a couple of portable devices... - attitude indicator - helps keep the clean side up. - GPS - helps keep the situational awareness on track. - Handheld radio My partial panel experience had been practicing in smooth conditions... My real IFR experience has the iPad bouncing off the ceiling... The old stuff may keep you flying legally. The new stuff in conjunction with the old will help keep you going and going. My 65 C had the same T&B. It would rattle on shut down and stop quickly. I sent it in for maintenance, they sent it back with the explanation that it was "normal". Your panel looks very nice, -a- Quote
Mooneymite Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 ........ fly better than your 1930's p.o.s. gauge. Watch out now! P.O.S. is in the eye of the beholder. I've got one of those and the darn thing works great! I agree, it does not blend well with a modern glass panel, but it is reliable, low cost and points in the right direction. Quote
scottfromiowa Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 touche...MINE was a POS. Probably just reflecting on my pattern check-out with purchase. Whiskey compass leaked on return flight and the...dated DG was not functional. The gauge is very small to my eye. A refurbed DG was peanuts and a MAJOR improvement...again, yes in my opinion. I sincerely appologize if you took offense... In your bird it works well with the "vintage" theme. I could not wait to update my panel to a standard six-pack with a standard size and modern type DG....Would I have swapped it immediately if it was still functional...NOPE. Quote
Mooneymite Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 touche...MINE was a POS. Probably just reflecting on my pattern check-out with purchase. Whiskey compass leaked on return flight and the...dated DG was not functional. The gauge is very small to my eye. A refurbed DG was peanuts and a MAJOR improvement...again, yes in my opinion. I sincerely appologize if you took offense... In your bird it works well with the "vintage" theme. I could not wait to update my panel to a standard six-pack with a standard size and modern type DG....Would I have swapped it immediately if it was still functional...NOPE. All in good fun, Scott! I knew you meant no offence, certainly none was taken. I should have added a . If anyone really likes "vintage compasses", they should Google "Earth Inductor Compasses" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_inductor_compass). It's what Lindbergh used for his trip to France! It obviously worked pretty well. There's a reference to it at the end of the film clip "Part 3 • "Well, Then, I Might As Well Go" found at : http://www.airportappraisals.com/ 1 Quote
scottfromiowa Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 Owner kicked in 1/2 of the refurb. purchase. I was REALLY glad I had a GPS for trip back from Brunswick, GA to Cedar Rapids. Quote
Mooneymite Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 .... for trip back from Brunswick, GA to Cedar Rapids. Going direct, you probably passed right over our field. Stop by next time! 1 Quote
Marauder Posted July 28, 2014 Report Posted July 28, 2014 After being a repressed steam gauge owner for 21 years, I find the last two years rejuvenating. It took me years to finally make peace with my compass by switching over to a vertical compass with compensating balls, only to be supplanted by the slaved compass technology in the Aspens. Now my biggest gripe is why they are a degree off from each other? 1 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.