Pro's and cons of analog instruments

[3wheels]

Hi bergdwerg,

I have the Stratomaster "X" treme from MGL and it is great, all the info on one panel, looks good too. I am however going to add an analogue ALT meter for the very reason mentioned before on this thread ( power failure)

The one thing that is for certain when comparing the two, analogue you have a much quicker info intake than digital, you see the value as opposed to having to read the value.

[Abe]

Hi fliers!
Agree that analog instruments are easier on the eye! Can scan without having to focus. However, there is now a hole in my panel, previously occopied by a direct fuel pressure guage. (Fuel injection presssure on BMW changes with throttle intake vacuum.) Smelling petrol in flight soon after takeoff, then seeing it drip out from under fuse panel made me think! Switching off unneccessary circuits might cause a spark, but bloody hell, switching anything might! Toggled no switches and made it back to base while praying for no sparks from bad connections.
Lesson, think ahead.
FlySafe!
Abe.

[RudiGreyling]

Bigscreen digitals give you much much more info than any number of analogues for the same panel real estate. Some usefull info you can only get on digitals. Some of the color digitals use the colour effectively to show you at a glance you are nearing Green, Yellow, RED lines and they are configurable. Some digitals show you the info on round dailes similiar to anologue. In addition some digital can record information to review your flight afterwards. Some digitals can talk on a computer serual bus with other instruments, swapping radio frequensies between GPS Radio, Waypoints displayed on EFIS, etc etc. Some digitals can display 3D maps and highway in the sky approaches.

But all this is an overkill for a simple microlight.

It is when you start to fly the bigger faster further range machines that the digitals really makes pilot workload less.

Regards
Rudi

[Wargames]

Can't agree with rudi more.

Why is analog easier on the eye?? Because you're used to it. I like digital better, because it reads easier. It all depend on what you're used to.

Digital wins for me, because the cost is less. Price is the only thing that decides it for me, as the rest is personal choice.

Rudi,

What is your take on mgl avionics??

Regards,

[John Boucher]

How good are they, userfrendly,prices,reliability etc.I am building up data, planing to build aircraft soon.

It depends what you intend building....

If I had to build something like an RV, or buy a new plane - then yes I would have an EFIS panel in it for sure - a must for me!

I still would stick with 2 important instruments and that is what I said earlier - airspeed & altimeter - Cirrus, Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Boeing, Airbus etc all trust their EFIS panels soo much that they still have the 3 basic instruments ASI, ALT & AH..... on their panels!

I rest my case!

[Morph]

I have all three primary instruments displayed as analog, with a digital readout as well. Either way they are not as easy to read a quick glance at the picture of the multi couloured analog ASI on apporach for example. Your brain does not have to calculate anything.

Digital numbers are the worst, especially when switching between revs, ASI, ALT, etc. a nice pic of where the needles need to be is much quicker.

But I fear this discussion will go on forever.

MGL BTW are simply the best, Proudly South African

[bergdwerg]

Thanx you all, i am ok now, all depends on what you fly, money etc.Will stick to analog in ASI,ALT,VSI, TURN/SLIP, with some electronics thrown in with it.

[Ian]

Yep, personal choice... mine based on experience from some long distance TBird flying where some digital info is very handy.

All engine info on an MGL, red light goes crazy if actual below or exceeded preset limits. Other MGL is fuel flow with bingo calc (pretty accurately set up now.. Im withing 2 litres on 40 used)

But all other good old Steam...

Cheers ian

[John Boucher]

That is a very functional and practical panel....

[Bacardi]

I prefer analogues, because without multifocals I have an idea of where I am, but can see and enjoy Terra Firma, with multi's I can see the instruments but cannot enjoy the flight scenery. I fly without them. A persistent problem, because the multi's also bugger up your depth perception upon landing.

[RudiGreyling]

<SNIP>
What is your take on mgl avionics??

Fantastic Stuff, especially if you think they are local.

Their newest stuff are not 'mainstream', more for the tinkerer, the shear amount of options it can do and be loaded with is mind boggling! This scare some mainstream/old way/comercial users a bit of, those that just want to fit and forget. But for the tinkerer it is a heaven send!

MY 2c evaluation.

My next fixed wing kit build, will have MGL stuff in...

Rudi