EFIS 1

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Back to Building Progress
To Autopilot servo install  --   To Sensor Wiring

If there is anything "experimental" about this airplane, it will be the Blue Mountain EFIS/One system that I've purchased to serve as the flight instruments, navigation system, autopilot, and engine instruments.  This is a relatively new system, and I hope it will become my favorite part of the airplane.

This is the system as it looks out of the box.

I immediately got busy cutting a hole in my panel to accept the flat-panel screen.  I had previously modified the rib that supports the left side of the panel with a "bridge" made out of aluminum angle.

See THIS PAGE for more photos.

The screen fit perfectly (except I had to grind a little off the nutplate on the bottom angle.

This is what it looks like from the front side.

I then started working on a mounting system for the main processor.  This photo is looking aft at the space between the firewall and subpanel.  There are two pieces of aluminum angle that will attach to the panel ribs using screws and nutplates.  Screws through the angle attach the box in place.  The box was moved forward to within an inch or two of the firewall after this picture was taken to make room for the radios that poke through the subpanel.

This is a side view, showing the main processor and screen in place, also showing the EXP-bus (electrical switches) fitted tightly in the space over the top of the screen, between the canopy release handle and the left rib attach point.

NOTE: Although it is possible to unscrew the 4 screws that hold the aluminum angle to the ribs and drop the EFIS box down and out, it isn't easy.  I'd spend more time next time making a "quick release" system to enable easier access to the box.

I installed a little shelf to hold the magnetometer at the top center rib behind the baggage bulkhead.  This location will be at least 2' from anything else electrical or steel.  It is supposed to be level in cruise flight, and I might have to shim the magnetometer so it will sit level.  I'm thinking about mounting the magnetometer to the shelf using aluminum pop rivets from the bottom.

NOTE: I did put a small piece of aluminum at the aft end and drilled holes to match the existing holes.  I used 4 tie-wraps to secure the sensor to the shelf.