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Feedback on my new RV6 panel please

A

adrianolsantos

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I am redesigning my RV6 (slider) panel to update the avionics. At the moment I have an Dynon D100 with AP74 and analog gauges for the engine.

The new panel will have a Dynon HDX 10 inches and an EI CGR-30P as engine analizer ( I already have it so better just install it).

The pictures attaches are the panel as it is and the new design.

Please comment and make any suggestions to improve it.

Thanks everybody for your helpRV6A panel.pngWhatsApp Image 2026-06-10 at 18.25.59.jpeg
 
I was headed down the path of designing and doing mine myself like I did 20 plus years ago. After one call and conversation with Advanced, it became clear to me having them do it was my best path.
My power distribution system also needed cleaning up so I went full Advanced with ACM.
If you stick with what you have, why the redundant EMS?
Good luck and have fun!
 
JonJay said:
I was headed down the path of designing and doing mine myself like I did 20 plus years ago. After one call and conversation with Advanced, it became clear to me having them do it was my best path.
My power distribution system also needed cleaning up so I went full Advanced with ACM.
If you stick with what you have, why the redundant EMS?
Good luck and have fun!
Click to expand...
It isn’t redundant . Instead of installing the Dynon EMS I will just install the CGR 30P I already have.
 
adrianolsantos said:
I am redesigning my RV6 (slider) panel to update the avionics. At the moment I have an Dynon D100 with AP74 and analog gauges for the engine.

The new panel will have a Dynon HDX 10 inches and an EI CGR-30P as engine analizer ( I already have it so better just install it).

The pictures attaches are the panel as it is and the new design.

Please comment and make any suggestions to improve it.

Thanks everybody for your helpView attachment 120154View attachment 120155
Click to expand...
The new design looks awesome, but I gotta say your old panel looks pretty nice. Round dials and toggle switches are cool.
 
adrianolsantos said:
I am redesigning my RV6 (slider) panel to update the avionics. At the moment I have an Dynon D100 with AP74 and analog gauges for the engine.

The new panel will have a Dynon HDX 10 inches and an EI CGR-30P as engine analizer ( I already have it so better just install it).

The pictures attaches are the panel as it is and the new design.

Please comment and make any suggestions to improve it.

Thanks everybody for your helpView attachment 120154View attachment 120155
Click to expand...
It looks good. My only thought might be to move your AP control panel down to the bottom. I find its easier to control there when its bumpy because you can kinda brace your hand against the bottom lip of the panel rather than reaching way up high when everything is shaking. YMMV.

1781109900165.png
 
My 2c:
Move the screen up as high as possible.
Move the CGR to where the G5 is (G5 won't normally be used with the Dynon).
Set up the center stack to be centered, plan for future upgrades
Don't know what all those things are scattered around but think SYMMETRY.
Replace the Dynon with Garmin :oops:
(below is an RV6 I did some time ago)

1781110853703.jpeg
 
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Walt said:
My 2c:
Move the screen up as high as possible.
Move the CGR to where the G5 is (G5 won't normally be used with the Dynon).
Set up the center stack to be centered, plan for future upgrades
Don't know what all those things are scattered around but think SYMMETRY.
Replace the Dynon with Garmin :oops:
(below is an RV6 I did some time ago)

View attachment 120159
Click to expand...
But wouldn't the G5's function in this case be to back up the system?
 
Notso said:
It looks good. My only thought might be to move your AP control panel down to the bottom. I find its easier to control there when its bumpy because you can kinda brace your hand against the bottom lip of the panel rather than reaching way up high when everything is shaking. YMMV.

View attachment 120158
Click to expand...
All airliners have the AP controls at the top, just under the glareshield. You can brace your hand on the glareshield with a high mounted AP control
 
jmra72a said:
Install the Dynon EMS and take advantage of their integrated system. It will take up much less panel space and make a much more elegant package.
Click to expand...
I have to say: All that work and you are still left with a barnacle on the glareshield. I could never live with that. Love the rest of the panel though. :)
 
terrye said:
All airliners have the AP controls at the top, just under the glareshield. You can brace your hand on the glareshield with a high mounted AP control
Click to expand...
Yep. Also, on a crew airplane, changes to the FD/AP are required to be pointed to or touched and verified by both pilots, so that makes it easy to stay heads up in a busy environment. Some of the older airplanes I've flown had the AP/FD controls on the pedestal or down low on the panel and that is a major distraction when you're trying to keep your eyes outside.
 
My only feedback to the OP is: Symmetry. Center the radio stack. Leave equal space on either side of it, so later on either you or another owner can add a second panel for the passenger seat. Move the Dynon higher, and put a row of toggles below it. Put a row of breakers in the corresponding space on the passenger side. Switches near the throttle for boost, flaps, trim. Put the engine analyzer on the passenger side in the "future" Dynon space. The Dynon will show you all your engine info anyway, you don't need two things showing it that close together.
 
The issue with a centered radio stack in a slider -6,-7,-9 is clearance to the longerons ribs. If you want, say, a GTN 650 which is deep, you'll have to keep it low in the stack. Otherwise, be mindful of the outboard longerons ribs also when placing LRU's and switches etc.

1781126129359.png
 
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Walt said:
Those are ribs, they can be easily modified.
Click to expand...
On my 6A when I went to install GRT Sport 10.1 I was relieved when I found the prior owner(s) had just made about a 1.5" notch back which worked perfectly for the GRT clearance and there is still solid support of the panel.
 
terrye said:
All airliners have the AP controls at the top, just under the glareshield. You can brace your hand on the glareshield with a high mounted AP control
Click to expand...
Yeah, well an RV isn't an airliner. And also wouldn't the PNF normally be the one engaging the AP, etc? Whatever, it was just a suggestion. Personally, I'd rather have the Screen up high rather than the AP.
 
Snowflake said:
My only feedback to the OP is: Symmetry. Center the radio stack. Leave equal space on either side of it, so later on either you or another owner can add a second panel for the passenger seat. Move the Dynon higher, and put a row of toggles below it. Put a row of breakers in the corresponding space on the passenger side. Switches near the throttle for boost, flaps, trim. Put the engine analyzer on the passenger side in the "future" Dynon space. The Dynon will show you all your engine info anyway, you don't need two things showing it that close together.
Click to expand...
I agree with the symmetry thing.
 
I’m not an expert, but I reworked an Rv7 (tip up) panel from VFR to IFR.

Like you I did a one panel setup. Consider swapping the G5 backup with the engine monitor. If your primary display stops working it’s available to you, center aircraft. Similarly if you are flying with a CFI or the right seat needs to fly, they have full access to your G5 as their primary display.

When I installed the radio stack. I had to make a window in the subpanel and frame it in to allow for the depth on my radios. The structure behind the subpanel dictated where the radios could go. You may not have the same structure issue with your -6 slider but you may have the depth issue. We framed in the window in the subpanel to support the radio stack.

Because I am a mechanic, and removing the panel for maintenance isn’t fun. I mounted all the switches and circuit breakers on a separate recessed ‘leave in place panel’. I can remove the upper panel without playing with any of the wires for switches and circuit breakers.


IMG_8495.jpegIMG_8290.jpeg
 
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I reworked my RV-6 in 2021.

Other than what's already been offered by folks better than I, the best advice I can give is to examine the vendor mix you have and think about reforming it to single-vendor.

We have an astonishing range of avionics available for our experimental airplanes. For better or worse, each box communicates best with other boxes from the same product family. We shouldn't think of them as individual discrete components, they're part of an ecosystem.

I'm not saying any one vendor is better than the other (I have a Garmin G3X Touch panel, and I'm just as happy with it as friends who have Dynon Skyview panels), but I am saying that mixing and matching will yield results which are more difficult and less intuitive to work with as a pilot and a maintainer than a single integrated system.

Prior to my rebuild, I had Garmin, TruTrak, MGL, MicroAir, and Electronics International components. They all had different quirks, all spoke different protocols, all had limitations when combining them together. Replacing them all with a single product family was one of the best outcomes of the panel rebuild; Now it's all seamless.

Here's my RV-6 refurb thread: https://vansairforce.net/threads/rv-6-vh-sol-mark-newton.200193/

- mark
 
... if you decide to go Dynon EMS instead of the EI CGR-30P system I might be a buyer for the EI set up. My airplane is fuel injected so I may have to switch out a sensor or two and reprogram a few things but if the price were good I would be interested. I was about to call EI and have them quote me up a system to replace my aging Vision Micro set up.

Bill
 
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hgerhardt said:
The issue with a centered radio stack in a slider -6,-7,-9 is clearance to the longerons ribs. If you want, say, a GTN 650 which is deep, you'll have to keep it low in the stack. Otherwise, be mindful of the outboard longerons ribs also when placing LRU's and switches etc.

View attachment 120213
Click to expand...
Yes, that’s the reason why I had to move the radio stack to the right of the middle rib. It isn’t easy to have some symmetry with those ribs taking space behind the panel.
 
newt said:
We have an astonishing range of avionics available for our experimental airplanes. For better or worse, each box communicates best with other boxes from the same product family. We shouldn't think of them as individual discrete components, they're part of an ecosystem.

I'm not saying any one vendor is better than the other (I have a Garmin G3X Touch panel, and I'm just as happy with it as friends who have Dynon Skyview panels), but I am saying that mixing and matching will yield results which are more difficult and less intuitive to work with as a pilot and a maintainer than a single integrated system.
Click to expand...
I am pretty sure it will never come but it would be great if the commercial aviation world would follow what is happening in the military going to open system architecture. This allows anyone’s hardware to run anyone’s software with all working on standardized architectures. It makes it more like computers with plug and play and ability to run anyone’s apps. Saves in both original purchase price and big time in upgrading cost and capabilities.
I can only dream. But he who creates the architecture will be king (think Microsoft with MSDos/Windows and Apple IOS)
 
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Some great points already written above. I would recommend making use of the Dynon's engine monitoring instrumentation, even if only for the ability to see everything in a larger display. Similarly, you may want to make use of their remote-mounted COM radio that integrates with the display. The Icom you have might not be controllable from the Dynon display and a remote mount radio would save you weight and panel space(perhaps mounting the autopilot control panel above the txpdr instead of the Icom?).
 
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Does the Dynon HDX show trim location? If so, dont need separate indicators.
Switches across the bottom? Enough room, or on a separate lower panel?
Other switches?, start button, e-mag check switches, key switch? Oh, and idiot lights?
These things seem to take up room quick.
And, you are going to need a bigger boat, I mean more breakers.
 
BruceW said:
Does the Dynon HDX show trim location? If so, dont need separate indicators.
Switches across the bottom? Enough room, or on a separate lower panel?
Other switches?, start button, e-mag check switches, key switch? Oh, and idiot lights?
These things seem to take up room quick.
And, you are going to need a bigger boat, I mean more breakers.
Click to expand...
Trim can be displayed on the engine page (bottom, mid, or full).
 
clarenceoveur said:
The new design looks awesome, but I gotta say your old panel looks pretty nice. Round dials and toggle switches are cool.
Click to expand...
Much easier to read a giant altimeter and airspeed indicator without cheaters! Round dials got us to the moon and back.

If you could sell the EI engine monitor, you're halfway to another display which would also give you more space to display trim indicators, etc. But I'm biased, I hate wearing cheaters so I want a big map.
 
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