urbanti Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 I asked my avionics guy to look into converting the 1965 M20E panel to a modern flat panel with no bend angle between the top row of instruments and the lower row of instruments. Among other benefits, a flat panel would facilitate add an Aspen panel. He expressed concern that there might be a complication with regard to the mounting angle of the instruments, i.e., is there a need to maintain the mounted angle of the instruments that is provided by the current panel? Has anyone else run into this question or do people undertaking panel refurbishments just mount a flat panel and it works fine? If so is there a specific angle at which to mount the panel? thx Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbridges Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 I'm sure someone here has done it. I think I've seen a flat aluminum panel on several mooneys, but to be honest, I never really paid close attention. My mooney (and the later short bodies) have the larger flat panel, so I don't know why it would be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmcinc Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Check with the folks at LASAR. They have kits for this and are experts on the mounting angle issue you're wrestling with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pleisse Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 The whole purpose of buying an Aspen is not having to convert to a modern panel. Leave it alone and have your avionics guy build a canted mount just for the Aspen for 1/10th the price. This is what is great about the Aspen..... a $5k panel gut is no longer needed, creepy red cabin instrument lights are no longer needed....etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonal Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 HEY, I like those creepy red lights. makes me think I'm in a U-boat 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy95W Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 LASAR used to have modification kits but I'm not sure if they still offer them. Nowadays most shops just make their own. The gyro instruments mount directly to the new panel. Some of your gyros may have a canted adapter to keep it verical but that will no longer be needed. The bottom of the panel will use shock adapters to mount where the old panel mounted. The top of the panel will use 90 degree angle material to offset the top to make it vertical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 There are limits as to how much you can cant the Aspen - can't remember what they are. But it is very easy for a competent metal worker to make a new vertical panel for it. The radio stack has to stay canted because of the limited clearance to the tube in the center of the windscreen. Here's a rather blurry side view of my panel before I flew it: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N601RX Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 If you replace the pilot side panel with a flat panel that is offset, but at the same angle as the base panel and right side panel the angle will be about 24 deg and the IA and turn coordinator will have to be sent out for recalibration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmacewen Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Yes, you have to be careful to mount the Aspen in accordance with the Aspen install manual. There is a limit to the vertical, angle between RSM and Aspen unit and a limit for the RSM to the horizontal.....measure carefully. In my M20D, I used LASAR panels shown in the photo attached. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob_Belville Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 My '66E panel was flat before I redid it. I included a flush Aspen in the work. The new one was built by my avionics shop. It is built in 2 pieces and flat all the way across. The first one was from SWTA: Instrument panel by SW Texas Aviation, STC SA7828SW. It has a small canted section on the far right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesm Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 If you are talking about the pilot's side instrument panel, I would say no. I have been told that the purpose of the horizontal bend/crease in the panel was to accommodate all the older instruments back in the day, which as I understand it that the original DG was huge and took up a lot room. The new instruments and avionics don't require as much room. To my knowledge there is no benefit in having horizontal crease/bend in the Pilot side instrument panel. Beside there have been literal hundreds conversion to flat and my guess a majority gone to the "T" / 6 Pack instrument arrangement or something similar. Having the flat piece of aluminum makes it much easier to cut and to install. I have put slight vertical bend on right side instruments for the Tach, Man/FP , Insight G3 engine monitor and It much easier to see the instruments takes out the parallaxes. James '67C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Dunn Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 I have personally done this at our shop. I do the AUTOCAD work and run the CNC machine. The Aspen will be fine it has plenty of adjustment for error. The angle you are worried about is negligible if mount the panel to match the angle of the original one. Basically if you do it right you have a nice strait panel at the same angle as your old one, with no bend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M20F-1968 Posted September 24, 2014 Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 My solution to this problem was to install an instrument bow and install a flat panel like the new airplanes. Perhaps more work that you would like to do. The other alternative would be to use sheet metal brackets attached to the defroster bow in the old airplanes which is hos the SWTA panel was installed. You can get a hint of what is possible by looking at my gallery. John Breda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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