PL21 Autopilot Unit

Based on the Pro Line 21 autopilot, we've recently added the PL21 Autopilot Unit to our list of products. This unit is supplied complete with a controller board for communicating via USB to a simulator. 

The unit is fully backlit, as shown in the above photograph.

A small software program is included, which can be used to send commands from the panel to a compatible simulator that has a registered version of FSUIPC, but there is also the ability to communicate directly with the Arduino controller. This allows you the option of writing your own software. Full communication details will of course be provided.

TBM-900 Landing Gear Panel

This is our first completed TBM-900 panel, which is fully backlit and comes supplied with all of the hardware shown in the photos below. 

In order to show the separation of the indicator backlighting, only one 

of the position indicators has been illuminated in these photos.

The following photo shows the panel backlighting on 

but all of the indicators (and the transition light) off.

And with everything off in daylight ...

We'll be releasing several other TBM-900 panels shortly, and we currently have a very patient customer awaiting the first set. They're all 95% complete but we're currently awaiting the delivery of some special switches before we show any photos of them ... ! 

Bell 206 NVG Avionics Stack

Below are a few quick photos showing an avionics stack that we made back in 2017 and which was destined for a Bell 206 simulator that required Night Vision training, hence the green backlighting and the red 7-segment digits.

The blank panel near the top of the unit was just a placeholder that we sent with the avionics stack until we'd made the EFIS units that would eventually be fitted. These are shown further down the post.

The above photo shows the unit with only the backlighting on, whilst below all of the individual radios have also been switched on.

The radios automatically pick up the correct information whenever they are turned on.

Below is the EFIS panel that would later replace the blank panel. The reason behind there being two separate EFIS units is that we built and supplied two separate avionics stacks.

C206 Pedestal Unit

This C206 Pedestal Unit was supplied along with the main instrument panel that was written about in an earlier post, here.

Dummy HF COMM Control Panel

This dummy HF COMM Control Panel faceplate was made for a customer who didn't actually require an operational radio but wanted something that at least looked the part, and so this was what we came up with. 

As much as we can, we like to make provisions so that dummy items can be made functional at some stage in the future if this is required. For this reason, it was constructed using the same measurements that we would use if building a working radio - although there's obviously no circuit board or display fitted to this example. 

And because we don't know how it might be used in the future, we ensured that the paint is bleed-proof should backlighting ever be needed, and the three buttonheads are similarly constructed and can all be individually removed for re-use.

We've previously found that dummy items are just as susceptible to people trying to operate them as functional parts, so we made sure to fit some encoders behind the two knobs - this means that they can be freely turned without causing any physical damage. Dummy buttons are also likely to be pressed, meaning that it's a good idea to secure them in place to prevent frustrated pilots from pushing them through the panel in their efforts to force some reaction!

This particular radio was destined for a Cessna Citation simulator, but we've also seen photos of them being used in TBM-900's, which happens to be the next product range that we're currently working on ...

Custom Annunciator Panel

A few months ago we had a request for a custom annunciator panel that was to be based around the standard King Air Glareshield Annunciators that we sell. The basic aspect of the panel is determined by the footprint of the LED circuit board, although we altered the shape of the unit to suit our customer's need. We also removed the dimming potentiometer from the left-hand side of the panel.

Each annunciator is a completely separate piece and can be easily removed from the rear of panel and replaced with a new/different legend at a later stage if required.

As a comparison, below is a photo of our standard King Air Glareshield Annunciator Panel, with the LEDs powered.

Four different LED colours were used in the custom panel (red, yellow, blue, and cool white), and although it's not shown very well in the photos below, the blue was actually a nice deep colour and not quite as 'washed out' as it appears here.

Prior to manufacturing the actual panel, we also provided several previews of what it would eventually look like. This allowed us to alter a couple of details, such as the wording of FUEL CROSSFEED, which was changed to the more aesthetically-pleasing FUEL X FEED.

These previews also allowed us to show how the panel could be mounted, and we could also provide the exact dimensions of the cut-out required and the placement of the mounting holes.

Citation Mustang - Pedestal Panel

This is a Trim & Emergency Gear Release Panel that's destined for a Cessna Citation Mustang simulator.

The Aileron Trim Knob can be rotated to momentarily activate either L Wing Down or R Wing Down via a centre-spring mechansim and a couple of microswitches. You can see this being operated in the following short video clip ...

As seen in the clip above, unlike the real aircraft, the split switch for the Rudder Trim is only designed to 'look' like two separate switches; it's actually mounted on the same centre-biased switch.

As with the majority of our panels, it's fully backlit. The lighting on this particular panel is being run on 12V.

The following photos are of the Emergency Gear Release Pull Lever that the two arrows refer to on the lower portion of the panel itself.

The handle has been fitted to pull on/pull off switch, to allow some functionality.

And here's one of the images that we used as a reference for the design of the panel ...

B200 Central MIP Panel

This is the central section of a King Air B200 Main Instrument Panel that we supplied to a customer a year or so ago, complete with six of our dual radios, operational altitude alert, and an RNS530 unit.

Below is a better shot of the backlighting whilst the panel was still in the process of being populated ...

As with most of the parts that we supply, we fitted all of the hardware to the panel prior to sending it. This allows us to verify that everything fits correctly, and it also hopefully means that the installation once delivered will be a little more straight-forward.