Center Console Ideas

[captain_john]

I have been contemplating various ways of outfitting my plane with a console/armrest in the middle just aft of the throttle quad to support my wrist during formation and perhaps instrument flight.

Here is something interesting that Andy Karmy did.

http://www.karmy.com/rv9a/pictures/ArmRest/ArmRest.htm



His armrest seems like an elegant way to get achieve half of this goal!

If I could bring it closer to the throttle quad, it would support my wrist and provide additional storage to boot!

Hmmmm, things to ponder.

Does anyone have any pics of other installs like this?

CJ

[TomC]

I would like one of these also. When I mentioned it to some local RV flyers, they advised to make it removable. This would be to facilitate crawling under the control panel for future work/upgrades. If you build something, please post pictures for us to see.

Good Luck

[jim_geo]

They must be really small people to able to waste that much space.

[captain_john]

Tom, yes, having it removable would be good advice!

Jim, I come in at just under 2 beans and would still fit. Jim, do you really think that you wouldn't be able to make the squeeze?

Hell, if I can cram myself into the back of WS's -4, this should be no problem!

CJ

[jim_geo]

John, I'm a bit less than six feet tall and just shy of two "beans". I've had the opportunity to sit inside my 7 and have found that at my size it's a bit tight in there. I could put a center consol in there and I'd still fit but frankly I wouldn't give up the space. Of course your results may vary.

[Rockyjs]

CJ one of our fellow panhandle builders had a custom console built. It includes a throttle quadrant, fuel tank selector (it actually drives an andair valve located in the normal place via a drive shaft) and an arm rest with a hinged top for storing maps. It's not installed yet. I'll see if I can shoot you a picture.

[captain_john]

That'd be cool!

Thanks!

CJ

[aparchment]

Johny:

I think we should take some measurements on the Diamond. That center console fits in between the seats real slick.

I haven't found ass room to be an issue in the 7, but rather shoulder room -- and then only really in winter.

Antony

[captain_john]

Yah, let's do some dimensional comparisons and see what we can pull off!

CJ

[aparchment]

I'm not even going to touch this one, but yeah I agree.

Yah, let's do some dimensional comparisons and see what we can pull off!

CJ

[captain_john]

HA!

Soooooo not what I meant!

CJ

[Rockyjs]

CJ,
I finally got some pictures of a fellow builders console.







Rocky

[captain_john]

Cool! Thanks, Rocko!

I am wondering how hard it is to WORK inside the cockpit with the console in place? Some say it isn't easy.

Hmmmm, it makes an already hard job even harder when it needs to be removable!

CJ

[brian]

The pics Rocky posted look like it's the console from Aircraft Extras/Xtreme Products. I installed a modified version of that console starting here:
http://www.meyette.us/FuselageNov06.htm#nov28
Bryan at Xtreme Products was most helpful and provided excellent customer support. The console is designed to be removable, although if it contains a throttle quadrant, that'd make it a bit more cumbersome to remove.