The International Cessna 170 Association

From an online EI add.

Replace your Tachometer with EI’s CGR-30P, and bring glass panel technology to your panel today, without breaking the bank.
STC'd for all models of the Cessna 170.

3 1/8 flush mount
Sunlight viewable color display
Four screens
Advanced Bar Graph
Fuel management
Up to 4 primary functions
Up to 5 non primary functions
4 Cylinder $3,596
6 Cylinder $4,342

My bank is not that big.

The reality of it is if you had to replace all your steam gauges ,you would be up for the same cost and so much more panel space taken up . I have replaced all my old steam gauges with EI individual digital gauges and now wished I had waited a little longer for this new system .

I plan to put this gauge in with my 360 conversion next year.
I think it's a great value and it fit's in the panel quite nicely.

My first question would be, what goes in all those empty holes if one of these is used?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of modern upgrades, if someone wants to put one in, that' great, but.........

That's a 3-1/8" gauge, right? I have enough trouble seeing a gauge with one set of info on it, that one would have to be right in front of me where the primary instruments are in order to see it. In turbulence, forget about it.

Plus, I prefer not to put all my eggs in one basket. Now, if I lose one gauge, it's not good but doesn't cause me to be completely blind, I know which one failed and can fix that one. What happens if that composite gauge goes dark, am I required to land immediately since I have no information?

Just saying.......

I plan to retain the existing oil temp / pressure gauges in mine.

With the 360, I need fuel pressure and possibly manifold pressure as well as a new tach anyway.
This allows me to fit all that in one hole with some extra gravy.

That's a really neat little unit. I don't mind the glass engine instruments...although if I were to put one in an airplane, I'd want a little more real estate than is afforded by a single 3 1/8" hole. The JPI 930 is a nice unit, albeit more expensive and wouldn't fit in a piano key panel. A lot of the Beechcraft guys are using them, or Auracles, or the EI MVP-50.

My dream panel would have Aerospace Logic instruments. Modern functionality that fits in the existing holes.

http://www.aerospacelogic.com/

Only $3648

Our yearly cost are $1200 for insurance, $400 tie down, $300 annual. We fly the airplane about 50 hours a year so $2400 in fuel leaving $536 for oil changes and wear and tear items each year, split between two partners, before we would reach $3648 the cost of one fancy instrument.

That's my perspective and I guess it's a good thing not everyone has it or there wouldn't be an EI.

A person can always have custom framed family pictures and mounted in any empty hole. This is how you can have company when flying.

John

Arash-
You will love the FP-5L once you get it dialed-in. That and the GPS have done more to reduce inflight anxiety than anything.

Well I have fitted a EI FP-5L and find its as good as sliced bread. But it rattles my nerves when on a flight and it shows me that I am burning only 32 litres a hour and I have planned on 38 litres a hour. so after 3.5 hours do I have all this extra fuel and can the flight be stretched. The gauge shows fuel used and fuel remaining , and most of my flights are of a 3.5 hours duration. Often fuel is scarce in this environment. I always fly with at least 45 mins reserve . I have done over 30 flights using the FF-5L and find very accurate BUT what about Murphys Law? So the question is it worth the $500 . Yes its a fun toy to play with and the info shown helps when flying long distances. I have found that my engine loves to run around 33 litres a hour up to 5000ft . It helps with leaning and general engine management.

Arash-
Expect less than one gallon error in a full tank when its tuned up. That may take a couple of fill-ups to get the K factor just right. Be sure and save the K factor tag that comes with the unit for future reference and record what the final K factor for your installation is once you have it determined.

Ghostflyer-
Once you have determined the best K- factor for your installation, it is very accurate as you have seen and it is repeatable on every fill-up. Everybody has to operate in their own comfort zone but the best feature is time to empty which you can compare with time to destination from the GPS. The difference is your reserve.

Then once you get used to using it, it is very useful in setting the mixture, also as you have seen.

I have the low alarm set at 1 hour and the low low at 30 minutes just as a reminder.

I also get nervous when the fuel gets below 1 hour but I believe what it is telling me if I need full range. Even if winds change against me, I can see it immediately and do something if I need to. Options are always good and I always like to have more than one.

Hilltop you are so right, I have checked the k factor but I have been in the aviation industry since 1969 and have seen Murphy,s Law in action a number of times . I do not want to be a member of the Murphy,s Law Society. Maybe I am getting old and carefull.

ghostflyer wrote:Hilltop you are so right, I have checked the k factor but I have been in the aviation industry since 1969 and have seen Murphy,s Law in action a number of times . I do not want to be a member of the Murphy,s Law Society. Maybe I am getting old and carefull.

Is carrying gas cans legal in Austrailia? If so, if I was flying 3-1/2 hours, I would have some in case I needed it.

I don't believe it is legal but have seen people do it. I personally wouldn't do it due to a safety concern.. I know you cant have too much fuel unless you are on fire ,but its the fire thing that worries me.

It's a great entertainment gizmo, alright...but.... how difficult is it to multiply hours flown by 7.8?
What did you buy the airplane for?.... to keep your eyes inside the cockpit? Look OUTSIDE... not only to observe what you have an airplane for, but also to look for other traffic. I fly "glass" at work. Classic airplanes with steam gauges brings me back to happier times. IMO.
But if that floats your boat..... enjoy!