The Best Avionics Stack for Amateur Built Aircraft

2008 Van’s RV 7A

Aircraft & Owner:

The Van’s Aircraft RV line of amateur built airplanes are the most popular amateur-built aircraft in the world. With more RVs flying than all other amateur built aircraft put together, it’s not rare to see one at your local airport, or even more so at a fly-in event. Being “amateur” built, this means the aircraft wasn’t built in a factory, but was built by someone in their own time as a passion project. Amateur built aircraft follow a slightly different set of regulations than certified aircraft opening up the possibilities of equipment available for installation. This particular RV-7A is owned by a pair of pilots based out of Victoria Airport (CYYJ), who are not the original builders, but still wanted to put their personal touch on the aircraft by improving the avionics and making it a more capable aircraft.

Need:

The owners of this aircraft reached out to us after being placed in limbo by another shop. Over a year after purchasing the major equipment for their desired upgrade, no progress had been made on the installation and the shop was not offering a realistic path to completion. With no end in sight, the owners reached out to Maxcraft for a solution, and we were able to work together to transfer the equipment and bring the aircraft to our hangar in Pitt Meadows to complete the upgrades in a realistic timeframe. Upon reviewing the equipment purchased, Maxcraft recommended some additional equipment to make this the most optimal layout which the customers jumped on once informed.

NEW EQUIPMENT LIST

G3X Touch	10.6” Integrated Primary Flight Display (Garmin)
G3X EIS	Integrated Engine Indication System (Garmin)
G5	Backup Electronic Flight Instrument (Garmin)
GMA 245	Digital Audio Panel for Experimental Aircraft (Garmin)
GNX 375	GPS Navigator and ADS-B In/Out Transponder (Garmin)
GTR 20	Remote Mount VHF Comm Radio (Garmin)
GTR 200	VHF Comm Radio for Experimental Aircraft (Garmin)
GFC 500X	3-Axis Digital Auto Pilot for Experimental Aircraft (Garmin)
GAD 29C	G3X GPS/Navigation Data Interface (Garmin)
GAD 27	G3X Electronic Adapter Unit (Garmin)
MaxPanel	Custom Powder Coated Instrument Panel (Maxcraft)

Maxcraft Solution:

As soon as the aircraft arrived, we were quick to get to work dissecting the existing panel and removing old systems to make room for the new avionics. With a project of this size, this means removing almost every piece of equipment from the instrument panel forward and starting fresh. This means any electrical gremlins, or oddities from progressive upgrades over the years since the aircraft was built will be eliminated. Every wire behind the panel is laser marked with a label, which when combined with the wiring diagrams we provided to the owners, can be used to know exactly what each and every wire is used for. The wiring is also mounted and routed to ensure longevity in a vibration filled aircraft environment.

The primary hub and information display is the Garmin G3X primary flight display (PFD) The Garmin G3X was designed specifically with the experimental world in mind, named G3X with the X standing for eXperimental.  This large, touchscreen primary flight display integrates seamlessly with other Garmin products such as the GNX 375 navigator, engine monitoring systems, and remote communicators. Alongside the G3X, we installed Garmin’s engine indication system which will display data on the right side of the G3X display and allows the pilot to download engine data from flights via the Garmin Pilot app for review, or to send to his mechanic for troubleshooting any engine irregularities in flight.

For a navigator, the customer decided on Garmin’s GNX 375, which combines what is often two different devices on most aircraft. The GNX 375 is both a full function touchscreen WAAS GPS navigator, as well as an ADS-B in and out transponder. The GNX 375 is the perfect option for aircraft owners who do not already have a WAAS GPS source who are looking to add ADS-B capability to their aircraft. The small 4.8” screen form factor means more room in the panel for other equipment, which is important in a panel like this with limited real estate.

An all-digital autopilot can offer precise, and smooth flying, and can dramatically reduce pilot work load on both VFR and IFR flights. Garmin has one of the best and most cost-effective digital autopilot options for general aviation aircraft. The GFC 500 offers all the capabilities you would expect from a two axis autopilot, as well as a wide range of safety features. The dedicated return to level button on the GFC 500 can make recovery from unusual attitudes as easy as pressing a button. Overspeed, underspeed, and electronic stability and protection, will gently pull the controls back towards safety if the pilot is approaching an unsafe flight condition.

As is often the case with our full panel installations, one of the most noticeable changes is the metal panel itself. We like to compare the panel to the frame on a piece of art. While many people don’t think much of it, the complement it adds brings the entire end product to another level. We spent hours working with both pilots who regularly fly this aircraft to make the layout perfect for them. This included ensuring the switch layout and grouping was ergonomic and sensible. Our durable MaxPanel powder coating and engraving will stand up to the elements, and won’t fade, or deteriorate over time. The new layout and state-of-the-art coating was a game changer in both use and aesthetics of the final product.

The Story:

During it’s time in our hangar, the owners requested that we complete an annual inspection alongside the avionics installation. This allowed us to do a deep dive on the mechanical condition of the aircraft while we had much of the aircraft open for the installation. We found and corrected a few minor mechanical snags, one of which being an issue with the starter ring gear.