lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Michael,

Here’s my minimalist overhead console.

When flying IV’s with eyeball vents on the overhead, even large ones, here’s what I have noticed. The eyeball vents blow on the top right side of your head. I find this a bit irritating and it really doesn’t do a very good job of cooling you down. I cut out the entire front of the console and control the air flow with a valve in the aft fuselage. This huge opening flows an enormous volume of air. The flow goes forward to the windshield where it reverses and produces a nice, high volume/low speed flow over your entire upper body. I believe that it’s much more effective at cooling than the eyeballs. It’s certainly lighter, easier and cheaper.

LED light strips placed under the glare shield do a much better job of overall lighting than overhead lights. The small piece of Velcro visible on the duct holds a small battery powered LED light from Lowes. I have Velcro placed at 3 spots along the overhead and if I need an overhead light (a pretty rare occurrence) I simply stick my single light where it’s needed. Lighter, cheaper and easier. Best of all, it’s not there at all unless needed.

The fiberglass overhead console that is supplied with the kits weighs 7 pounds. I used this as a mold to lay up a 2 bid carbon duct. Mine weighs 1 pound.

Bill Harrelson

N5ZQ 320 2,150 hrs

N6ZQ IV 300 hrs

On Apr 25, 2013, at 1:48 AM, N66mg@aol.com wrote:

HELP!!!!

Looking for examples of the over head panel pictures for the L-IV...I need some ideas on arranging the lighting, air vents (eye sockets), etc...Hope I can get some help from all you guys that are flying and have all the ideas that you would do if done again...

Thanks,

Michael G,

L-IV

n7sz 99%

Attachment: overhead console.jpg

(78K)