Identify the missing instrument!
 

This panel (D31 Turbulent) already has all the instruments a person could wish for. So what's the missing one?

https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8493/2...6800bdf3f0.jpg

Where's the artificial horizon ?

Easy, the GPS.

G meter.

(min post length addition)

Love the clock

The cut out is sized for a clock or G meter (or cabin pressurization controller, but I'm not thinking that one).

Consider the possible effect of the turn and bank on the compass. Turn and banks are intended for positioning lower left in the panel, so not typically near the compass, and are not necessarily magnetically inert. It may introduce compass deviation.

What an odd bunch of instruments!


An ASI from a helicopter?
VSI and Turn indicator, a waste of weight (slip ball would be sufficient)
RPM, 0-8000rpm?
French mag switch?


Whatever is missing, it will fly better without it :).


What does the rest of the aeroplane look like?


J.J.

It's got a switch for the maggies and an oil pressure switch - what else do you need? :)

I take it that the Blue-Tak was only rated for 3G.
.

That must depend on the person. I've met at least one who considers a HSI essential.

Hmm... It's not aerobatic but I don't know whether that makes a G-Meter more or less useful. A clock would make sense.

I like the comment on the blue-tack, but the previous owner (presumably) had blu-tacked a small pad there for writing en-route info down, I guess. I took it off to take a picture of the panel. I guess the blue-tack is because someone banned him from using a screwdriver.

The mag switch is from the Jos Pollak Corp. who I gather were from the US.

Presumably the tachometer is from a car, as is the engine. I agree it would be nicer to have one 'ranged' for an aircraft.

Step turn: your point about magnetism and the compass is well taken, but I think it's from an era before vfr panels were in any way standardised. If you want to see some even weirder ones try this page: Fly Baby Instrument Panels

The few Turbulent cockpits I've seen on Google Images seem to have turn and bank indicators. Most of them seem to have venturi tubes so must have vacuum instruments of some sort or another. It's not an aircraft I would like to fly in IMC but I suppose it would give you a sporting chance of an encounter with a small cloud. I wonder whether it was a requirement of the time?

The rest of the aircraft was built by an expert, maintained by a numpty who did stuff like this:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/1/755/22...d8928be590.jpg
It's currently a bit tatty, but it's had all the important bits fixed - much like every other aircraft I've flown. The big one is the paint which was applied to the previous scheme without preparation. It looks good, but is flaking off. For trim he'd used yellow electrician's tape which started flapping in the breeze. I've removed it: it pulls off the new paint as I do so.

Gyrocompass
Also possibly an ADF has ben removed because there are very few beacons left

No electrical system so I think electrical instruments such as an ADF unlikely.

Identify the missing instrument!
 

A Waltham 8 day clock is whats missing from that hole.

The missing instrument is a G meter. The Blue tack was to hold the small display card for the manoeuvre's at an airshow. The Tiger Club Turbulent's would probably have something similar, as they have limited or no electrics. The rev counter is red lined at about 5,000 as it is a VW Beetle engine. That wire locking surely is a temporary fit as no one could seriously consider that normal as it should go anticlockwise around each bolt head. The Propeller is a Chris Lodge type of at least 10 years old -- i hope it has been stored horizontal otherwise it will not be balanced anymore.

Mach indicator.

The propeller is a 'propellers inc.' prop now being kept horizontal. I have no reason to think that it didn't fly with the safety wiring shown: much of it was similarly bad.

Just for clarity, wire locking should "pull" clockwise round each bolt in that view, not anti-clockwise.

Yes, correct but depends on how you describe it.

Rounds-remaining indicator....

:)

Looks too small for an AH. It's possible that a vacuum-powered DG might have gone there, or perhaps a CHT/EGT gauge?

PDR