This is another ATR-72 overhead panel that we made a few months ago for a customer.
We've previously made an ATR-72 Engine Start Panel, which uses the same replica Korry switches that are shown here. For more detail about the general construction of this panel, the post regarding the aforementioned Engine Start Panel can be found here.
As mentioned in this blog previously, the simulator that we have in our workshop is based on an ATR-72 and has become something of a test-bed for various components over the years without having had the time to properly complete it. The overhead panels shown there were the first iteration of ATR componentry that we used to sell.
Recently though, as the result of a specific customer request for some ATR overhead panels, we have embarked upon something of a re-design process utilising the same techniques that we've begun implementing across our entire range of panels. This includes fully backlighting them.
The first panel that we've just completed is the Engine Start Panel, as shown below:
The above photo (when compared with the photo below) gives some indication as to the amount of separation there is between neighbouring legends which are housed on the same annunciator; there is no light bleed whatsoever between the two halves.
Similarly below, in the korry switch that displays 'FAULT' there is no bleeding of the amber light into the well of the legend which reads 'ON' (and vice versa, had I thought to take a photo of it!)
Another challenge was the Prop Brake switch latch, which had to be loose enough to operate but tight enough not to fall open on its own accord (it's upside-down above one's head, of course). This problem was overcome by fitting a small customised spring onto one side of it.
Below is a photograph of what the panel looks like from the rear. You can see that it's supplied as one fully-populated unit, with all of the components pre-fitted to various mounting plates. For connecting up the korry switches, we've fitted 3-way connectors, which hopefully make things a bit more convenient and will lead to our customer spending more time flying and less time soldering!
Below is a very quick video (without any commentary) which demonstrates (hopefully) some sense of how solid the korry switches sound, and how 'positive' their action is ...
It's been a while since any work has really been done on my own ATR simulator, although over the Christmas holiday break this year (wow, that was a while back now!) I managed to get a few things done. Most of the work was behind-the-scenes sort of stuff, with some programming work being carried out that allows yet more overhead buttons and annunciators to be properly interfaced, although a visible portion of the progress (and the one most obvious to visitors) is the newly made Central MIP, which overlays the PC monitor.
Below are a few quick photos, the first image being the Central MIP prior to painting and the fitting of the gauge bezels and other panels et cetera ...
And below is the original photograph of an actual ATR72 cockpit that I was lucky enough to go and visit a few years back, and which the design of the above panel(s) was based on. There are discrepancies with various measurements here and there due to space constraints and the like, although hopefully the overall essence of the panel has been maintained.
There's not really too much to show with regards to the additional interfacing that was accomplished on the overhead as the majority of it related to implementing some of the new abilities on our Input and Output cards, although I did have the overhead section down from above the simulator for the first time in a long while and so took a coupe of shots of it.
And I'm guessing that'll be about it unless we can find time for some Christmas holidays again this year ... !
A few years have elapsed since we designed the first version of our ATR Autopilot Panel and so, using some newer techniques that we've developed in the interim - along with some slightly altered dimensions - this panel has recently undergone some design alterations.
Below are some photographs of the prototype ...
For photographic purposes, the buttons here are only temporarily
attached to the rear of the panel with masking tape.
It's difficult to show here, but the engraving of the panel isn't on the front surface, where it would be exposed to a lot of wear due to the pilot's operation of the trim wheel.
By means of comparison, below are a couple of shots showing the earlier version
