Have you created anything "home-made" for your plane? (or a low cost alternative?)

"Andy" wrote:

I was wondering if anyone reading this thread would share information
on any devices that are perhaps homemade or are low cost alternatives
to items available in aviation catalogs.

My biggest home-made project has been to build a console to fit between the seats on my 182. It worked
out really well, and at virtually no cost. I just used some scrap 1/4" or 3/8" particle board and just glued it
all together. Not real fancy to look at but very functional. It has a space on the bottom for my oxygen
cylinder, plus pencil holder, drink holder, and space for charts and approach plate books.

Mike

"Andy" posted the exciting message
ups.com:

As a new pilot and new owner of a cessna 172, I've noticed the
seeimingly unlimited amount of accessories available for my plane. Most
seem to have one thing in common - a high price tag.

I was wondering if anyone reading this thread would share information
on any devices that are perhaps homemade or are low cost alternatives
to items available in aviation catalogs.

I guess this would include anything from pilot -assist devices to low
cost alternatives to lighting, interior upholstery, and the like.

Thanks in advance for any input you may offer.

Andy.


One thing that bugs me is the high cost of headsets. I've been enjoying
some Sony in-the-ear audio earphones that sound great with my MP3 player.
I did some research and found that if you buy a Radio Shack transformer
you can adapt standard earphones to the impedance of the headset, but I
haven't done this yet.

About the time I was thinking about it, I saw that there are a couple of
very light headsets hitting the GA market, same idea, non active NR, with
in-the-ear design. But they're around $500!!!!!

So what I'm wondering is.... I take my earbud headset, make the adaptor
box with the impedance transformer and a potentiometer for volume, and
then how can I get a cheap microphone and make that work? I'm still
thinking about it; I see that you can get relatively inexpensive headsets
for computers with noise-cancelling microphones for around $50.... I've
been contemplating making my own very light, full function headset.
Anybody have any ideas on this one?

(Yes, I know I'm a cheap bas****, but it's either that or I spend $1000
for a Bose headset!)

Anybody have any ideas on this one?

I fought this battle, too. Started with a $7.00 (that's not a typo)
used headset that my CFI (also an A&P, also an avionics tech) had
repaired. They were better than nothing, which is what I was wearing
before.

After suffering with those for a year, I bought a pair of Flightcom
Eclipse. Reasonably priced, very comfortable, almost NO noise
attenuation at all.

After suffering with headaches for a year, I bought a pair of Flightcom
DX5s (or whatever they were called). Excellent noise attenuation, but
they clamped your head like Dave Clarks. (They were basically DC
knock-offs) Hurt like hell after an hour.

After suffering with those for a year, I finally broke down and bought
a pair of early LightSpeeds. Excellent comfort, excellent noise
attenuation, and ZERO durability. You could almost literally watch
them break while hanging on the yoke. They were back to LightSpeed
multiple times.

This has gone on for 11 years. I'm finally satisified with my
Lightspeed Twenty 3Gs. They are excellent, comfortable, and durable.
They have a cell phone attachment, auto-shut-off, bass and treble
controls. Battery life is good.

Bottom line: If I had bought the stupid Bose back at the start, I'd be
money ahead. But who knew?

Good luck with building your own -- but I think you'll find that you'll
eventually have to bite the bullet and buy "real" ones...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I've done some thinking along similiar lines (homemade headset). Y'see,
in my setup, I just connect the radio output directly to my cochlear
implant processor, I don't need the headphones.
What I need is something to hold the microphone in place.
I did ask a couple of manfacturers of those new lightweight headsets
about it. One wouldn't do it, and one misunderstood the setup I wanted
and qouted me for the volume control (which I don't need) and the cord
that connects from the radio to the processor (which I don't need). He
didn't respond.

Anyway, I thought about using one of those computer headset, but I kinda
doubt the mike would be resistant to the noise of an airplane.

I had the idea of getting a good aviation headset and using the mike
from that to craft my own headset...maybe merge with a computer headset
for the boom arm and headband.

IFR practice hood.
Use your old ball cap ( worn with the bill forward for you modern guys) use
the shirt cardboard insert from your laundry, glue on to bill of ball cap,
bend each side down and voila a great hood .

"Andy" wrote in message
ups.com...
As a new pilot and new owner of a cessna 172, I've noticed the
seeimingly unlimited amount of accessories available for my plane. Most
seem to have one thing in common - a high price tag.

I was wondering if anyone reading this thread would share information
on any devices that are perhaps homemade or are low cost alternatives
to items available in aviation catalogs.

I guess this would include anything from pilot -assist devices to low
cost alternatives to lighting, interior upholstery, and the like.

Thanks in advance for any input you may offer.

Andy.

Item #1--- Tie-downs...

go to your local big-box or whatever hardware store, purchase 10 stakes
(12 in. long, 1/2 or 5/8 in in diameter)
why 10 when you only need 9? Because you'll lose one.
cost? about $10. IF you have the equipment (I don't), you can
buy rebar or similar and cut to 12-18 in lengths
at the same store, get a heavy duty plastic hammer - about $2.00
while you're at it, if the store has marine-quality rope, get 3 lengths,
appropriate to your wing height. I have a low-wing cherokee, so
the back tie-down only needs 6 feet at most, the 2 wings, 10 feet each.
the rope needs to be 1/2 to 5/8 in
and wander to the chain area of the store and find the heaviest duty
chain link they have. get 3 set of 4 links. cost - about $3.00 total
if you really want to be spiffy, get a nylon bag to put this all in.

total cost? about $15 + the rope. I bought the rope at the local
marine shop, and bought more than I needed, so you could probably
get by with $20 for a low-wing.

I used this at OSH during the Sunday (Monday?) storm - no problems!

Putting it together...3 stakes go thru 3 of the links on the chain
(or 2 stakes if it's not windy) and the rope goes thru the last
chain. I used an interior chain for the rope so that it would be
easier to get the stakes out of the ground (pull from the middle...)

Item #2 -- glareshield...
In the very near future, the edge (about 3-4 in. wide) of the glareshield
will be completely covered in black velcro. Why? Everything goes up
there and stays there! The handheld GPS (garmin pilott III), the
TPAS, LED flashlight, pen/pencil, etc. No more fumbling around trying
to find something --- it's right there in front of me!

Item #3 -- something to put the O2 mask and/or nose thingy...(cannula)
I leave the hose connected to the O2 tank, then loosely roll the hose
and put the excess and the mask into a large zip-lock plastic bag.
Close the bag up to about 1/2 in and tuck it into the handle of
the O2 case. I've got an Aerox unit in a padded case that is attached
to the right pax seat so I can always reach it. The zip bag fits nicely
into the carrying handle.
Always handy, always clean.

Item #4 -- packages of alcohol wipes.
No, I'm not completely paranoid about germs (well, not yet). But I
frequently have friends, once in a while an Angel Flight. So I keep the
headseats scrupulously clean. The wipes clean off the ear muffs, the
mic and the foam cover on the mic. Got this idea from the museum...
I volunteer at a local museum and do multiple shows for the visitors.
We use wireless hand mics and headsets. So we keep the wipes handy
for the mics, and the spray for various exhibits. Sams club or costco,
100 or 500 in a box for almost nothing. (these are the same wipes
used to "clean" before an injection or blood draw, about 1 inch square)

Item #5 -- under seat storage.
Turns out that the space under a seat in an older cherokee is just bout
the size of a 500 sheet (ream) box of paper. Took the box, reinforced
it a bit with tape, and it's a perfect place for the fire extinguisher,
the CO detector, the "big" flashlight (metal, 3 D size batteries).

Item #6 - the user manual.
The previous owner gave me an 8.5 x 11 binder with everything in it.
Not practical.
Once again, suitable for an older cherokee. The width of the area
between the handles on the yoke is EXACTLY the size of a small, 6x9 in.
plastic clipboard at the local office supply store. The
pressboard won't work, since the clip extends past the edge of the
board. The plastic one has the clip within the boundary of the board.
I rewrote all the procedures, frequently used freqs, checklists, etc
and printed them 3 x 4 in. Over to Kinko's, laminated and spiral
bound it. Fits perfectly on the little clipboard, again, right
in front of me, no hunting for anything. Cost? About $1.00 for
the clipboard and whatever Kinko's charges for laminating and binding.
One side of the little notebook is under the clip, the other side
is held on with a heavy-duty rubber band. Clipboard just slides right
into the yoke.

Item #7 -- AR(R)OW holder.
Back to the office supply store. Small, transparent plastic folder
(letter-size envelope). More velcro. One side of the velcro on
the envelope, the other on the back wall, high up by the headliner
(that way, it won't be dislodged by luggage or gear). Absolutely
visible to everyone at any time. Cost? Another $1.00 IIRC.

In the early days before rental aircraft had intercoms, I would wear
(David Clark) hearing protectors for the flight and would still be able
to hear the instructor (who didn't have to scream any louder, since
background noise is attenuated along with his voice), and put a Lafyette
speaker in the earpiece (remember Lafyettes?). With an adaptor, I had
an instant half headset. It made a whole lot of difference (though I
still had to use the mike, that was no big deal)

I also had (inhereted) the most comfortable hood, made of a sheet of
plastic folded three ways and imprinted with the Jeppesen logo. Alas
that was stolen along with my logbook and flight stuff years ago. So I
made another out of shirt cardboard, and it is still the most
comfortable and effective hood I've ever worn. Total cost, about two cents.

The only disadvantage is that now that I have a real headset, I can't
just "slip it on" - I have to remove the headset first. (I don't
remember how I did it when I had the fake headset).

Jose
--
Nothing takes longer than a shortcut.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Andy wrote:
As a new pilot and new owner of a cessna 172, I've noticed the
seeimingly unlimited amount of accessories available for my plane. Most
seem to have one thing in common - a high price tag.

I was wondering if anyone reading this thread would share information
on any devices that are perhaps homemade or are low cost alternatives
to items available in aviation catalogs.

I guess this would include anything from pilot -assist devices to low
cost alternatives to lighting, interior upholstery, and the like.

Thanks in advance for any input you may offer.

Andy.

To make covers for the pitot and tank vents, I took three tennis balls
and punched holes in two ( for the tank vents) and cut a slit in the
third for the pitot. Attach some red streamers to each as the "remove
before flight" flags.

Chuck

Rubber shark from Wallie-World as seen in the background in Joey and
Chandlers Apt - $0.99, remove squeaker, place metal grommets from
tarp/tent repair kit near jaw hinge, bungee cord over pitot tube.

Rav O Vac red/white LED headset from Wallie-World - $12.97, attach velcro to
forehead side of headset, velcor to ceiling of aircraft. A very fine and
bright LED instrument flood light. Battery operated LED flood light for
$13. Battery operated regular bulb velcro lights in pilot mags: $49.

For Maules: Wrap down tubes in windsheild with leather steering wheel
wraps. Easier to grab hold of for entry and exit.

For Maules: Make headset hangars (ala Cirrus) from small black metal coat
hooks, attach to down tubes with black velcro or black cable ties.

Velcro spare key holder onto back side of an access panel near cockpit door.
Add spare key.

For quicker battery removal in winter time, use wingnuts on terminals.

Use label maker and put your a/c V speeds on panel near AS indicator.

Use label maker and make "a/c status" near tach: i.e. Annual due, oil
change due, ELT batt due, txpdr pitot/static check due, etc.

Use canoe rail cartop closed cell foam blocks as aft wingtip hangar rash
protector. $5 at Sporting Good Store. Cut slit in foam (if not already
there). Add RBF streamers on opposite sides (for L and R wings).

Use Lemon Pledge (3 Industrial Size Spray cans for $9 at Sam's Club) for
windsheilds and leading edges of wings. Easier to remove bugs next time.
No paint damage or windsheild scratches.

Use little orange plastic cable grippers (cam locks) for cord management
(headsets, gps, etc.) from Home Depot: $0.67, faster and more durable than
velcro or Dave Clark green ties.

Watson





"Chuck" wrote in message
ups.com...

Andy wrote:
As a new pilot and new owner of a cessna 172, I've noticed the
seeimingly unlimited amount of accessories available for my plane. Most
seem to have one thing in common - a high price tag.

I was wondering if anyone reading this thread would share information
on any devices that are perhaps homemade or are low cost alternatives
to items available in aviation catalogs.

I guess this would include anything from pilot -assist devices to low
cost alternatives to lighting, interior upholstery, and the like.

Thanks in advance for any input you may offer.

Andy.

To make covers for the pitot and tank vents, I took three tennis balls
and punched holes in two ( for the tank vents) and cut a slit in the
third for the pitot. Attach some red streamers to each as the "remove
before flight" flags.

Chuck

Watson wrote:
Use canoe rail cartop closed cell foam blocks as aft wingtip hangar rash
protector. $5 at Sporting Good Store. Cut slit in foam (if not already
there). Add RBF streamers on opposite sides (for L and R wings).

I picked up a bunch of those 3 ft. long foam tubes in the pool
area at Target for $0.99 each, cut slit in them. Didn't go with the
streamers since the tubes are fluorescent colored. A bit hard to miss.