Modern panels in vintage aircraft?
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wor Yerm
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What will you achieve by having modern instruments? Unless we are talking about real vintage, they will be as accurate as needed. So you might as well stick with the old steam clocks and dials.
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it's a bit like 'you can't play Bach on the piano, he didn't have pianos'. Personally I play him on the harpsichord or organ; but I don't begrudge those who play him on the piano.
But what is the comparison? If flying for the utility purpose of getting where one wants to be, the style of panel is totally irrelevant. If flying for the fun of flying, idem ditto. Only if creating/recreating an aeroplane for reasons of historic nostalgia, one can - and should - aim to get it all historically right. But the plane resulting from that process might well be too precious to be actually flown.
The goal of playing music is to produce audible music, with the great added value of ad hoc interpretation by (a) human musician(s). The goal of (re)building an aeroplane is less clearly defined.
But why should we argue, or even worry? Why cannot we leave to each their own?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Livin de island life
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If you actually want to go places a decent selection of kit makes the whole process easier. If you just want to look at them.....
Join Date: Mar 2011
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I am in my late fifties and own a Stereo system with electrostatic loudspeakers, the subtleties of which I long since have been unable to hear. I keep them because they take up a lot of room and infuriate the other half who prefers a transistor radio that sounds like a strangling chipmunk. Others tell me they sound very good but their utility to me is questionable.
Aeroplanes, however are another story. I do not subscribe to the use of four Ipads (Some do,) but clear and legible instrumentation makes ANY aircraft easier to fly and more pleasurable to use. My float and wire fuel gauge used to scare the hell out of me but the LCD display fed by a proper tank sender has made my flying much more confident and my sorties longer.
So as a dyed in the wool luddite, I am in favour of the modern panel, as long as it is not cluttered with stuff I do not need and would also assert the point that most of the older panels are a real mess when it comes to telling the pilot what he needs to know.
Aeroplanes, however are another story. I do not subscribe to the use of four Ipads (Some do,) but clear and legible instrumentation makes ANY aircraft easier to fly and more pleasurable to use. My float and wire fuel gauge used to scare the hell out of me but the LCD display fed by a proper tank sender has made my flying much more confident and my sorties longer.
So as a dyed in the wool luddite, I am in favour of the modern panel, as long as it is not cluttered with stuff I do not need and would also assert the point that most of the older panels are a real mess when it comes to telling the pilot what he needs to know.
Join Date: Sep 2015
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I think it really depends on your mission...
If you're flying a vintage plane for the love of vintage aeroplanes, and do so in your spare time during the summer, then why install anything but the original instruments?
If however, you love the aeroplane, but it is your main "go places" aeroplane. You intend to fly in IMC, along with all sorts of possible conditions you might encounter throughout the year - then in my book, suitable instruments would be preferable.
If you wanted to keep the original "look" you could probably hide the new part of the panel with a removable cover, which you can remove in flight to reveal your spanking new G500 with SVT, terrain etc... and a GTN750 in addition to an autopilot! (well okay... maybe overkill - but you get the idea!)
If you're flying a vintage plane for the love of vintage aeroplanes, and do so in your spare time during the summer, then why install anything but the original instruments?
If however, you love the aeroplane, but it is your main "go places" aeroplane. You intend to fly in IMC, along with all sorts of possible conditions you might encounter throughout the year - then in my book, suitable instruments would be preferable.
If you wanted to keep the original "look" you could probably hide the new part of the panel with a removable cover, which you can remove in flight to reveal your spanking new G500 with SVT, terrain etc... and a GTN750 in addition to an autopilot! (well okay... maybe overkill - but you get the idea!)
I have had the very pleasure to see the Paul Allen aicraft collection in Arlington back then. All aircraft are brought to mint condition. For display purposes when on the ground they get the original (mint again) equipment (seatbelts, avionics and stuff) just for flying they are reconfigured on short notice with modular modern stuff to make them legal. Good system but costly.
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Providing they are properly calibrated, why not? Besides, most vintage aircraft can be flown quite safely without instruments, as can most spam cans. Obviously easier with but if they fail it shouid not be the end of the world.
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It's simply a question of good judgement and good taste . You can construct a homebuild or restore a vintage classic to a very high standard , but still be deficient in both of the above areas!
There's nothing to stop you from restoring an E-Type Jaguar or a TR-4 and fitting Puerto Rican hub caps that revolve in the opposite direction when stationary. Or LED's in the wheel-arches , or having "drug dealer" blacked out windows.........But would your taste allow you to do that ? If it does and you're happy , then fine !
Same with aeroplanes though isn't it ? Surely , if you're happy with the conventional , analogue engine instrumentations accuracy , then the other constituents of the 6 pack can be easily contained in a removable tablet device and referred to as a cross reference to the time honoured and reliable instrumentation if/when required .
Take the Carbon-Cub for example , about $270.000 of "new technology" with a hideous great carbuncle of unnecessary digital dogsh*t right smack in the middle of the panel.
Whereas , for a fraction of that price , you could acquire the real thing !
Like I said,,,,,more a question of taste than anything else. Thankfully , we're all different. The more punters there are for Carbon Cubcrafters type machinery , the more proper classic/vintage types are left for people whose taste leans in the other direction .
Fine with me...!
There's nothing to stop you from restoring an E-Type Jaguar or a TR-4 and fitting Puerto Rican hub caps that revolve in the opposite direction when stationary. Or LED's in the wheel-arches , or having "drug dealer" blacked out windows.........But would your taste allow you to do that ? If it does and you're happy , then fine !
Same with aeroplanes though isn't it ? Surely , if you're happy with the conventional , analogue engine instrumentations accuracy , then the other constituents of the 6 pack can be easily contained in a removable tablet device and referred to as a cross reference to the time honoured and reliable instrumentation if/when required .
Take the Carbon-Cub for example , about $270.000 of "new technology" with a hideous great carbuncle of unnecessary digital dogsh*t right smack in the middle of the panel.
Whereas , for a fraction of that price , you could acquire the real thing !
Like I said,,,,,more a question of taste than anything else. Thankfully , we're all different. The more punters there are for Carbon Cubcrafters type machinery , the more proper classic/vintage types are left for people whose taste leans in the other direction .
Fine with me...!
Would you want to trust your life to seventy year old instruments?
Not that a cub really needs much more than oil pressure and temperature gauge, anyway.
And perhaps a compass.
