The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I am wanting to mount a GPS/com and transponder in the center of my panel. How can this be done without the radios hitting the control tee.
This is a total rebuild with no old panel parts being used. I see some panels in different photos of this but am at a loss how it was done.

Most center-stack conversion require a different yoke behind the panel. The original "T" interferes with the depth of most radios. A conversion to center stack usually requires a chaneover to a "Y" yoke, and ... that's not as simple as it might first seem. Cable differences, etc. exist. Then there's the approval-basis situation these days.

This is what my 180 has:

http://www.avion.com/Products/Instrumen ... lKits.html

Even though they refer to the 170 below their list of STC'd aircraft it's a bit unclear if the 170 has an STC. I really like the mod, it adds a bit more height as well. Currently I've got the whole assembly out (big gaping hole aft of the firewall) and have just about completed building a new left side panel and modifying the right side to add more instruments. All the wiring will get cleaned up along the way. This mod is not cheap though.

When I contacted Avion, they hemmed and hawed for some time telling me how great it was and that I should immediately put one on order. When all the BS was cleared away and it came down to having a STC for the C-170, the answer was NO. It would require a field approval.

blueldr wrote:When I contacted Avion, they hemmed and hawed for some time telling me how great it was and that I should immediately put one on order. When all the BS was cleared away and it came down to having a STC for the C-170, the answer was NO. It would require a field approval.

Well that settles it then Dick. I guess it would be difficult these days to get the field approval so if someone wants the center stack they'd best buy one already done and approved.

Dave Clark wrote:

blueldr wrote:When I contacted Avion, they hemmed and hawed for some time telling me how great it was and that I should immediately put one on order. When all the BS was cleared away and it came down to having a STC for the C-170, the answer was NO. It would require a field approval.

Well that settles it then Dick. I guess it would be difficult these days to get the field approval so if someone wants the center stack they'd best buy one already done and approved.

I'm surprised they haven't aquired the STC for the 170. Sure seems like there are enough people that want the converison.

I thought that Delair or something like that name in California has an STC for a new panel.

FWIW - not wanting to sound negative - I will make this post as positive as I can - I bought my 170 with the center stack and Avion panel conversion - a very nice looking and well constructed panel --- However two years ago when I wanted to ensure that ALL paperwork had been completed I could not find any papers on the panel approval, so I contacted the folks (actually one folk) at Avion -- Let me say this - How many ways can you spell R U D E ? Apparently these folk(s) have been contacted by others wanting "paperwork" and I detected a raw nerve.

Nice product but..............

I have seen any number of 170's/172's and a few older 180's that have been converted from the old "T" yoke set up to the "Y" set up George refers to. They allow one to reconfigure the panel to a much more functional (although not original) panel. Radio's, GPS's, Transponder's, etc. all easier to see & use for both pilot & copilot. Its a shame our planes didn't come from the factor with the center stack. I have discussed the conversion with several folks and as George said, it is quite a project. The control column has to be cut off and the "Y" yoke welded on. The cables end up being too long (as I recall) resulting in them having to be cut off and new fittings swedged. I think a "Y" yoke from an early (after the center stack started being installed in the C-172's) C-172 is usually what is used. I think the position of the actual yoke holes in the panel ends up slightly different than our stock ones. I suspect all of the ones I have seen were done at a time when field approvals were easier to obtain. Would sure be a nice mod!

STC Number:
SA4540NM

This certificate issued to:
Del-Air

STC Holder's Address:
2121 S. Wildcat Way
Porterville CA 93257
United States

Description of the Type Design Change:
Installation of modified instrument panel and control yoke.

Application Date:


Status:
Issued, 03/16/1989

Responsible Office:
ANM-100L Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office Tel: (562) 627-5200

TC Number -- Make -- Model:
A-799 -- Cessna Aircraft Company, The -- 170A
A-799 -- Cessna Aircraft Company, The -- 170B


I talked to Harry last year when I purchased my Aircraft
He said the cost for the STC mod on the yoke and blank panels
is about 2200.00.

Does del-Air have a website? (And, yes, I did google del-air)

Harry is from another era. Be glad he has a telephone. He doesn't take credit cards and probably doesn't have a computer much less a website. When I went to pick up a firewall that he had pressed, he had no record that I had previously paid for it. Fortunately, he took my word for it that I had paid in full for the firewall when I had ordered it. What Harry does have is some very talented employees (who seem to be quite frustrated with their boss).

Mike said:

"I talked to Harry last year when I purchased my Aircraft
He said the cost for the STC mod on the yoke and blank panels
is about 2200.00."

So, ball-park, how many hours labor would you estimate to install the mods?

170C wrote:... Its a shame our planes didn't come from the factor with the center stack...

Naw! I like the classic look! If I'd wanted a modern looking airplane I'd have bought one. There's nothing more disgusting to me than seeing an old DC-3 with 3 1/8" pictoral gyro's, panel mounted digital Garmins and a color radar! (But if I'd bought a 172, then I guess I'd want it to have an old "conventional" landing gear and have to pay for a conversion!)

There's nothing quite like an hour on solid instruments in rough air around 9,000 feet, looking sideways (to the right side of the cockpit while travelling forward in choppy air with the associated inner-ear confusion) at an old AN horizon-gyro but rotating your head every so often to steer with a AN hockey-puck in front of you (just above the altimeter) both of which are running on 3.5 inches of venturi-vacuum. Ahhhh. Yeeessss. Gives you that Ol' Aviator crick-in-the-neck and sick-in-the-pit of the stomach...but what the heck. It's real FLYING!

George,

Were you disappointed when decommissioned the old four legged radio ranges?