Nav1 and 2 and ADF, grouped into one panel.

Nav 1 and Nav 2 radios have both stand-by and active frequencies. I could not find dual concentric rotaries, so I used simple rotaries with a push button function. By default, the fractions of the stand-by frequencies are active and will change when the rotary is turned. A push of the rotary button activates the full digits (this is visualized by full digits flashing twice). Another push of the rotary knob returns the focus to the fractions (also evidenced by flashing of the corresponding digits). If full digits were activated and there is no further action, the system automatically gives the focus back to fractions after 2 seconds.

This is a nice example of what can be done with the EPIC programming language EPL.

The ADF also uses a single rotary to tune individual digits. Each push of the rotary button activates the next digit from right to left, jumping back to the right, once the leftmost digit is reached.

I also programmed some other functions into the ADF to reduce the workload of the pilot (i.e.: me). My ADF has three memory positions, where frequencies can be stored for later use. So, during an uneventful stretch of a flight, I store the frequencies I will need later in the flight. LEDs indicate which position is already occupied.

The use is simple: Dial in a frequency and press an empty mem button. Once a position is used, it’s LED comes on. The next press of the mem button makes the LED flash for 2 seconds. During this time the frequency stored here can either be made active (i.e. sent to the display) or deleted.

I am the first to admit that I got slightly carried away here, but it was great fun programming all that stuff.

The keen observer might have wondered what the small section labelled “Disp Set” is all about. As the name implies, it is used for adjusting the front monitor’s onscreen display. There are 3 buttons on the monitor, but they are not reachable once the front panel of the cockpit is installed. I used precisely aligned, spring-loaded pencils with the rubber eraser side pointing towards the monitor’s buttons. Strange enough, it actually works!

For photos and a description of the entire front panel section, go to the the Front Panel Page.