Dan,

I agree that blocking your view is to be avoided. I also agree that if you fly in airline congested areas you must have a transponder, and if you fly in contests you need a PowerFlarm.

I have a LS-8, which has a cramped panel like your LAK-17. But I've managed to shoehorn in both a Mode S transponder and a PowerFlarm core, and the only thing that shows above the glare shield is the 1" tall 3/16" diameter top of the Flarm antenna. Average Flarm range is 7 km, with maximum distance out to 25 km, so I'm quite pleased.

It's true that figuring out where to put things isn't easy. It took several trials until I was able to figure out where to put the boxes for the Trig and the PowerFlarm core! Later, when I installed a Butterfly Vario, the inertial unit had to go under the seat.

-John, Q3


On Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 10:12:12 AM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
Panel space is extremely limited in my LAK-17a and I feel that
sticking something on top is more of a risk due to blocked view
outside.* Many folks disagree with me.* I chose instead to install a
Mode S transponder under the cockpit floor(!) with the control head
in the panel and a Zaon MRX PCAS on top of the panel.* It has a much
smaller frontal area than the PF units I've seen.* I've looked at
the PF Mouse but, where I fly, being visible to airliners is more
important to me.