HeloJunkie Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Hey Everyone - I am still making great progress on my R44 transformation. After another week in the shop and much has been accomplished including the final design of the MX20 mount including some structural strengthening to prevent vibration and wobble with the MX20 mount during flight. Other pictures include the final installation of the Kinnad 406AF ELT, final fabrication and installation location of the GDL69, Icom ID-800 Ham Radio, Astron Power Converter and discussion about the custom mount for the Garmin 496, dual XM audio system, replacement Whelen LED Strobe lights, Avionics Master Switch and replacement relay and the PreciseFlight HID kit that I just received in the mail for the R44. As always I am open to questions, comments and/or suggestions and ideas http://richard.sears.net Quote
BOATFIXERGUY Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 Very nice! I know there's a list started, but can you add me to your adoption list? Thank you. Quote
67november Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 Very nice! I know there's a list started, but can you add me to your adoption list? Thank you. Me too Quote
delorean Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 All that stuff and you don't have a radar altimeter??? Get the Bendix King one--it's good to 2500 AGL and has an altitude bug that sound when you drop below it's altitude. I wouldn't know what to do without one now. Also, Devore now makes some LED recognition light for the R44 skids and tail. Check them out. BTW, you're really going to like that LED beacon. They are REALLY bright and stand out in the night sky much better than the standard halogen strobes. Quote
BOATFIXERGUY Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 How about installing some small HD cameras on the ship with a digital recorder? The tail cam, nose cam, and of course, the pilot cam! Quote
HeloJunkie Posted June 26, 2008 Author Posted June 26, 2008 (edited) All that stuff and you don't have a radar altimeter??? Get the Bendix King one--it's good to 2500 AGL and has an altitude bug that sound when you drop below it's altitude. I wouldn't know what to do without one now. Also, Devore now makes some LED recognition light for the R44 skids and tail. Check them out. BTW, you're really going to like that LED beacon. They are REALLY bright and stand out in the night sky much better than the standard halogen strobes. I was actually looking at the Devore lights, but as I recall they are not available as of yet. I am keeping my eyes open !! I am a HUGE fan of being seen in the air. I am also adding a second LED Strobe to the bottom of the ship! I would also love a RA unit, but I am out of holes in my panel. I guess I could get rid of that pesky Engine/Rotor RPM gauge...heck, thats what the horn is for right...? Edited June 26, 2008 by HeloJunkie Quote
HeloJunkie Posted June 26, 2008 Author Posted June 26, 2008 How about installing some small HD cameras on the ship with a digital recorder? The tail cam, nose cam, and of course, the pilot cam! :-0 I generally run with a Sony HDR-SR12 High Def Video camera with a 120 hard drive mounted in the back unless I have the kids. I have a bunch of videos on YouTube made with the camera: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_quer..._type=&aq=f :-) Quote
ironranger Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 HeloJunkie you definitely have to have the most awesome r44 on the planet. If I put all that stuff in my measley r22 I don't think it could get off the ground. ironranger Quote
HeloJunkie Posted June 26, 2008 Author Posted June 26, 2008 HeloJunkie you definitely have to have the most awesome r44 on the planet. If I put all that stuff in my measley r22 I don't think it could get off the ground. ironranger Thanks IronRanger - I am a fixed wing guy that got used to all the bells and whistles in my SR22...so I figured - why not? Quote
PhotoFlyer Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 Do you have any useful load left now? You are going to need to hang a bowling ball off the tail to balance that thing! Nice looking 44, what do I have to do to get a ride in her? Quote
DynamicallyUnstable Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 Looks GREAT Richard! I do agree on the RA though! We have them on a couple of our ships and when we are in a flat light situation, it's nice to know that it's there to tell us how close the ground is. Think about a real night auto into a dark area! Set it to 100' and learn how long from 100 to flare and you might have a chance! The ones we have look like they would fit in the spot next to the mixture. Check em out! Quote
HeloJunkie Posted June 26, 2008 Author Posted June 26, 2008 (edited) Do you have any useful load left now? You are going to need to hang a bowling ball off the tail to balance that thing! Nice looking 44, what do I have to do to get a ride in her? Thats the amazing part - I think the total weight added after all is said and done is around 12 pounds....I will just have to skip lunch before I go flying Although part of that did go under the pass. rear seat so it should balance out. Edited June 26, 2008 by HeloJunkie Quote
HeloJunkie Posted June 26, 2008 Author Posted June 26, 2008 Looks GREAT Richard! I do agree on the RA though! We have them on a couple of our ships and when we are in a flat light situation, it's nice to know that it's there to tell us how close the ground is. Think about a real night auto into a dark area! Set it to 100' and learn how long from 100 to flare and you might have a chance! The ones we have look like they would fit in the spot next to the mixture. Check em out! Hey Sebastian - It would have to be pretty small...what is the brand/model of the one you guys fly with..? Cheers Buddy Quote
delorean Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 Dump that second VOR head.......you have a HSI, what do you need a second VOR w/ glide slope for? I realize you second GPS probably feeds to it, but when are you ever going to need a second radial unless you are IFR looking for an intersection (in which case your GPS can display it.) Put a switch on that HSI to slave it to GPS1 or GPS2 and dump that thing. I've seen other guys mount one on the side of the console underneath the flares. It would go under you engine monitor just fine, but I'd rather have it front and center like a RRPM gauge. You don't want to have to move your head down and to the side for those two. The thing I hate about that IFR trainer consoles is that it takes the two most important gauges (RRPM and MP) and puts them the furthest out of view. They're great for an IFR scan since it's so high though--but that's about it. I like the low-wide console they came up with a few years ago. Moving that GPS out front was a good idea too. Quote
HeloJunkie Posted June 26, 2008 Author Posted June 26, 2008 Dump that second VOR head.......you have a HSI, what do you need a second VOR w/ glide slope for? I realize you second GPS probably feeds to it, but when are you ever going to need a second radial unless you are IFR looking for an intersection (in which case your GPS can display it.) Put a switch on that HSI to slave it to GPS1 or GPS2 and dump that thing. I've seen other guys mount one on the side of the console underneath the flares. It would go under you engine monitor just fine, but I'd rather have it front and center like a RRPM gauge. You don't want to have to move your head down and to the side for those two. The thing I hate about that IFR trainer consoles is that it takes the two most important gauges (RRPM and MP) and puts them the furthest out of view. They're great for an IFR scan since it's so high though--but that's about it. I like the low-wide console they came up with a few years ago. Moving that GPS out front was a good idea too. Ah...well, ==> I I agree on the placement on the RPM and MP gauges. I looked at having them moved, lots of wiring and bundled stuff under there to move around. IMHO those should be right in front of the pilot. I have never flown with an RA unit, so I don't know if I would even use it much....I guess I will look around and see if I can find a ship with one that I can go fly and see if it merits adding another gauge... :-) Quote
DynamicallyUnstable Posted June 27, 2008 Posted June 27, 2008 (edited) Hey Richard, here is a few pictures of our RA's compared to a quarter. I'm not sure how big it is behind the display but it gives you something to go on. Our Director of Operations said that we had one in one of our other ships before it was converted to a B2 that was better (more reliable) and had a similar size display. I can find out from our DOM what brand that one is too. Also, they are not as reliable over water or snow, just FYI. Edited June 27, 2008 by DynamicallyUnstable Quote
HeloJunkie Posted June 27, 2008 Author Posted June 27, 2008 Hey Richard, here is a few pictures of our RA's compared to a quarter. I'm not sure how big it is behind the display but it gives you something to go on. Our Director of Operations said that we had one in one of our other ships before it was converted to a B2 that was better (more reliable) and had a similar size display. I can find out from our DOM what brand that one is too. Also, they are not as reliable over water or snow, just FYI. Thanks Sebastian - Can you find out how much room they take behind the panel..? I was expecting a needle :-) Quote
DynamicallyUnstable Posted June 29, 2008 Posted June 29, 2008 Thanks Sebastian - Can you find out how much room they take behind the panel..? I was expecting a needle :-) Our DOM said its about the size of the display but pretty deep, maybe 10" deep? Then it has another box that is remote. Quote
HeloJunkie Posted July 2, 2008 Author Posted July 2, 2008 Our DOM said its about the size of the display but pretty deep, maybe 10" deep? Then it has another box that is remote. Dang - that pretty deep - no way that is going in the R44 unless I start taking stuff out !! Quote
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