Instrument Options for small gyro

[Brian Jackson]

Hello All.

Hoping to learn a bit about what others are using for flight instruments (airspeed, alt, EGT, CHT, RRPM, etc.). Trying to work up a small, simple instrument panel for my light single-seater (still under construction). Noticing that there's a huge cost range in even simple instruments and don't know enough about various brands to judge quality and durability. Would like to go as tiny and light as safely possible, with small dials. Would even consider a single panel screen in lieu of standard dials if it was legible under all conditions. The instrument pod shell itself will be designed around the physical size of the gauges or screen, so trying to learn all I can about what others are using for similar "ultralight" applications. Thank you in advance for any input.

Brian

 

[Mayfield]

Hi Brian,

Without knowing the budget you have settled on, it's hard to make recommendations but....

If you are in the $1K ballpark the Dynon D3 Pocket Panel is pretty neat. It is not the most accurate since it uses GPS derived data rather than pitot/static data, but it is certainly accurate enough for a light gyro. Measuring 3.5" X 3.25" X 1" and with the same AHRS as Dynon panel mount EFIS, it is a very nice tiny panel.

If you shop around you can find a new one, delivered, for <$800.

If you go this route, spend another $20 and get a Hall wind meter (https://hallwindmeter.com/) as a backup airspeed indicator. You can tell about how high you are by looking down, Cardinal direction can be approximated by observing the sun, airspeed is more difficult.

 

[Aerofoam]

Hello All.

Hoping to learn a bit about what others are using for flight instruments (airspeed, alt, EGT, CHT, RRPM, etc.). Trying to work up a small, simple instrument panel for my light single-seater (still under construction). Noticing that there's a huge cost range in even simple instruments and don't know enough about various brands to judge quality and durability. Would like to go as tiny and light as safely possible, with small dials. Would even consider a single panel screen in lieu of standard dials if it was legible under all conditions. The instrument pod shell itself will be designed around the physical size of the gauges or screen, so trying to learn all I can about what others are using for similar "ultralight" applications. Thank you in advance for any input.

Brian

I have not done this on a gyro yet, but I am probably going to do it to the Dominator I am working on.
I will use either a "Cube", Fixhawk, or NavIo" autopilot as the main instrument with a super bright pad type panel.
Most of these will run on Linux and there are many sensors available. it also will provide a moving map if you want it.
I would still want an analog head temp gauge in addition to the glass screen.
It's a canbus system, so you can chain as many sensors as you want....
The autopilot with gps, pitot and sensors would run about $400 to $600-ish...
The tablet could be cheap, or a super bright one can run over $600.00 to $800.00

My AC has dual HTG, dual EGTS, airspeed, engine rpm, and for an ultralight, that seems like too much, I am kind of leaning just towards airspeed and a single EGT for the head that runs hottest.......

 

[scottessex]

Just go with standard analog gauges and get a 7" tablet from Ebay and download AVARE moving map GPS.
Airspeed, alt, Rotor RPM, vsi, engine gauges. RPM, temps, you don't need $$$$$$ glass cockpit on a gyro.
Don't need a skid ball, or artificial horizon, radar altimeter, angle of attack, bomb sight, etc.

 

[Georgi]

I have not done this on a gyro yet, but I am probably going to do it to the Dominator I am working on.
I will use either a "Cube", Fixhawk, or NavIo" autopilot as the main instrument with a super bright pad type panel.
Most of these will run on Linux and there are many sensors available. it also will provide a moving map if you want it.
I would still want an analog head temp gauge in addition to the glass screen.
It's a canbus system, so you can chain as many sensors as you want....
The autopilot with gps, pitot and sensors would run about $400 to $600-ish...
The tablet could be cheap, or a super bright one can run over $600.00 to $800.00

My AC has dual HTG, dual EGTS, airspeed, engine rpm, and for an ultralight, that seems like too much, I am kind of leaning just towards airspeed and a single EGT for the head that runs hottest.......

Single seater with "the autopilot and gps"?...Although we are all different and when I started my gyro flying Ralph Taggart hooked me with his DIGIPOD. It is a great analytical tool, but, otherwise, just a little bit too much. I know, that it is very addictive to know "ALL & EVERYTHING", including ex-boyfriends of your woman. I would look first at the Polish ultralight

JK-2 Nano Gyrocopter​

instrumentation box. It is compact and ~ $500

 

[scottessex]

Get a small digital EIS from grand rapids if you like digital engine gauges.
Personally I like analog because all you have to do is look at the needle position. ( green arc, yellow, red, )
With digital it gives you a number and then you have to think what the number means, what is the good number vs bad number.
Look at older military aircraft, multi engine, the gauges were mounted so that when everything was at the correct operating range all the needles pointed straight up, Just scan and go , no having to read each gauge.

 

[Brian Jackson]

Get a small digital EIS from grand rapids if you like digital engine gauges.
Personally I like analog because all you have to do is look at the needle position. ( green arc, yellow, red, )
With digital it gives you a number and then you have to think what the number means, what is the good number vs bad number.
Look at older military aircraft, multi engine, the gauges were mounted so that when everything was at the correct operating range all the needles pointed straight up, Just scan and go , no having to read each gauge.

That's quite interesting, and agree with that reasoning. Oddly my experience has been the opposite in some circumstances. Driving for example the speedometer needle is mostly meaningless while the numerals in the HUD seemed more easily understood. I wonder if others that work with numbers all day experience this. Food for thought.

Thank you all for responding. Much to learn. I like the Dynon idea, and recall seeing something for an iPad Mini as well (or looked like one). Have there been any glare or brightness issues reported with similar screen products if left unshielded? I've had laptops you couldn't read in the sun and imagine this could be a risky detail to overlook.

 

[Mayfield]

The D3 is very bright and comes with a matte overlay to prevent reflection.

It is self contained and can be moved from aircraft to aircraft.

It is only an EFIS so engine monitoring will require an additional screen or instruments

 

[Aerofoam]

Single seater with "the autopilot and gps"?...Although we are all different and when I started my gyro flying Ralph Taggart hooked me with his DIGIPOD. It is a great analytical tool, but, otherwise, just a little bit too much. I know, that it is very addictive to know "ALL & EVERYTHING", including ex-boyfriends of your woman. I would look first at the Polish ultralight

JK-2 Nano Gyrocopter​

instrumentation box. It is compact and ~ $500

I would not use the autopilot, it's just a cheap interface with customizable layout and GPS, altimeter etc.
It's one of the cheapest way to get whatever instrumentation you want.
The tablet will be the expensive part if you want to see it in daylight.
All the "Normal" tablets are almost useless in full sun, we have to use a hood when flying UAV's from tablets.....
I agree with keeping it simple, I'm seriously considering removing most of the instruments from my AC...

 

[Copper_Beard]

Single seater with "the autopilot and gps"?...Although we are all different and when I started my gyro flying Ralph Taggart hooked me with his DIGIPOD. It is a great analytical tool, but, otherwise, just a little bit too much. I know, that it is very addictive to know "ALL & EVERYTHING", including ex-boyfriends of your woman. I would look first at the Polish ultralight

JK-2 Nano Gyrocopter​

instrumentation box. It is compact and ~ $500

Here is nice photo of FlyFocus instrument nano uses:
JK-2 nano by Dan Johnson

 

[Aerofoam]

Here is nice photo of FlyFocus instrument nano uses:
JK-2 nano by Dan Johnson

The pics on that site would not display... I block google scripting, maybe they rely on it.....

 

[Copper_Beard]

Photo by Dan Johnson
Units are changeable.

 

[wolfy]

I use a ASI and ALT and then an MGL vega EMS-1, so simple easy to read and everything you need for engine monitoring in one gauge. And then 2 big red idiot lights, one lights up if engine not charging and the other if any parameter is out of spec on EMS gauge.

wolfy

 

[Sv.grainne]

I use MGL combo ALT/VSI, an EMS-2, and Rpm-1, with an ASI.

 

[Aerofoam]

View attachment 1160181
Photo by Dan Johnson
Units are changeable.

That's great, does it come with the sensors?

 

[LGoodhind]

Don't forget the piece of yarn.

 

[GyroRon]

If you want to go minimal and cheap and effective... You could put together something with a airspeed indicator, a bicycle speedo for rotor tach, and a Tiny Tach for engine RPM and hours. You really don't need much else. And really... You don't even need anything at all. My Gyronimo that famously landed on the capital lawn back on tax day 2015 was built with ZERO instrumentation whatsoever. Used a optical tach to set prop pitch and used my face as the airspeed indicator, and my eyes as a rotor tach.

 

[Jazzenjohn]

I'm using a MGL blaze EMS-2 for all engine info ($500), a older MGL airspeed/altitude combo, and a bike computer for RRPM. Very light. The flyfocus looks pretty nice too. Kanardia makes some nice stuff too that includes data logging.

 

[gyroplanes]

I have a pair of brand new AVEOMAXI SINGLE instruments 3 1/8 inch. One is MAXIFLIGHT primary flight instrument and the other is the E1 engine monitor. I believe they were purchased from John Rountree.

I know nothing about them. But mine are new. I got them with an RAF I purchased.

 

[Copper_Beard]

That's great, does it come with the sensors?

Yes, it comes with thermocouples, rrpm sensor, fuel level sensor, airspeed probe, Engine rpm can be read from ignition cable.