ADAHRS -- Need Remote Compass

[rdowens]

I have a small aircraft--two seat tandem composite. It's small and light for aerobatics. The rear cockpit is where the pilot lives (who needs all the visibility of an RV, anyway?). The rear panel depth is tiny--a 7" Skyview barely fit depth-wise and the rest of the panel is too small or full of switches (there are 4) and breakers (6) and a radio and transponder.

I tried for about 4 hours one day to find a location in the airplane that had no magnetic interference where there was enough room to mount the ADAHRS. It was quite maddening, actually.

I finally gave up and mounted it under the baggage shelf of the turtle-deck which is not desirable. Sure, it is great as long as I have no baggage containing anything ferrous or electronic like a charger or batteries. If I take a trip, it's likely my compass will be incorrect unless I pack super careful or leave my laptop at home.

There is nowhere else in airplane that is "clean" except... Wingtips! Yes, that would work for the compass if it could be mounted remotely. I need the rest of the ADAHRS near the center of gravity, obviously, but that compass, if it could be remote mounted, would be a Godsend.

I understand other products in the Dynon lineup allow a remote install for magnetic sensors. Why not for the top-of-the-line Skyview? Any chance we can see this put on the drawing board for development? This is a serious shortcoming for an airplane like mine and I'd love to see some consideration. This is an expensive suite of avionics and it's kind of crazy that the compass in my install is only accurate if I'm not going some distance with luggage (which is the only time I really need it).

Thanks for the consideration, Dynon!

-Randy

 

[dynonsupport]

Hi Randy - we do recognize that it can be a challenge in some aircraft, and we do continue to think about what we can do there, but we don't have anything to announce at the moment.

I'll note that you can get farther than the spec'd distance from the CG on the ADAHRS at the cost of attitude performance under some circumstances. We haven't characterized the "drop-off" quantitatively, but some people have made that tradeoff, especially in aircraft that aren't being used for IFR.

 

[Jonas]

yes, a remote compass would be much appreciated.

 

[perryc]

Add me as one more vote for a remote compass. Glastar's 4130 cage makes for a real PIA to find a happy place for the bigger module and clutter of all lines that have to be run if you have backup steam gauges in the panel.

 

[mdl1954@gmail.com]

I really could use a remote compass that is small, light, inexpensive and retrofit-able to my AHARS. I now have a 3 to 4 degree compass movement back and forth and the map moves back and forth. I apparently have not mounted the AHARS unit far enough from all other electrical wires. I figured keeping it away from the large power users and the battery and starter wires would work. A major job coming up to move the whole thing with a new, longer cable and a bunch of new air tubes to mount it in the rear of my Searey.

 

[mdl1954@gmail.com]

I also have a question about where would I put the AHARS in the Searey? The aft area has gear motors and all cables that run to the engine. Farther back away from the power stuff is away from the center of the plane. Its now under my dash.

 

[bbtapb]

The only clean place I could find in my Cozy was the strake end. Now I'm wondering if the seemingly erratic pitch indication at high cruise speeds is related to the 5 ft of lateral displacement.

 

[johnsteichen]

Re: ADAHRS -- Need Remote Compass ( glastar )

I have my dual ADAHRS in my glastar mounted behind the baggage area, up high away from the cable runs. It was an easy plumb job. Pitot and static are also behind the panel
For back up insttruments. I used the Gemini true track for a complete efis back up. The extra pitot and static volume of the system has not been a problem
Happy camper here. No magnetic interference is detectable.
Been flying with this install for over a year now.