[GMAs]

Jim... no matter how its done... I am sure you have a better plane for it... I agree.. the 60's were great but, the new stuff is much better... and I want to thank you for coming back and letting us know how the new panel is working...

As to the wt and bal... ya I agree.. because we have engines at both ends of the plane.. its not going to make much differance.. and whats a couple of lbs between friends anyway... smile... so I will agree with you on that... however, if it were I... would have pulled complete new wire.. and not spliced in as I have found splices and pulgs are NO. 1 sources of problems later... but, ya do what is necessary to make ends meet.. and splicing is acceptable...

ya the later ones left a lot out that the early ones had because the military specs changed... to civilian...

As to amp meters... and volt meters... you can interchange them.. and still get a picture of the system...

Here is what another person wrote to me on the subject too.. but, didn't put it on the web...

He said that he came off the same place the large diodes are... knowing that the more current their is going thru them the higher the voltage drop... OK... true... this then he put into a couple of digital light bars...(voltmeters) that are calibrated for 0 to 38 amps.. but, because they are not really amp meters per say.. he calls them per cent load meters... ahhhh now thats a twist... what they indicate is how much load they are putting out... in verticle graphic form... then he said he replaced the little amp meter with a digital volt meter.. and a switch that toggles , rear, front, and center is bat.... from that he can tell what the system is doing all the time... neat huh... and best of all he said it cost fractions of what some of the mechanical ones do.... and the electronic stuff is more rugged and sealed chips make it almost bullet proof...

he also put in a part about changing out the pannel lights to LED's and can have different colors by changing the voltage on them... as well as dim them down... some of them have been tested at his UL lab for over 10,000 hrs now.. and keep on going... Can we say good bye to filiment bulbs... I think its coming.... and he has gone one better for the voltage regulators... he came up with a circuit that he is trying out.. that utilizes high speed switching... to sample and then adjust the alternators... right at the source... along with a auto shut down if overloaded or shorted problems occur... he claims he took a long look at the way the auto industry is doing it.. and applied some of the ideas to his new regulators... the rear has remote sensing... so that it will keep up with the front one... as they both sense off the same point... but, have a second sense off the alternator itself... to try and balance them... neat huh... and they auto reset faster than you can get the light to come on... so he says...

As to your work in the wording of the acceptance.. ya its a lot of work to get it right... but, you almost have to be a layer now a days as well as a mechanic... but, I thought you did a good job on the location paragraph and page kinda thing.. that is what most want now a days too... YA Done GOOD HERE...

And never be ashamed of being a Airframe mechanic... I know lots of them who are artist and do better jobs of specializing in just their work than us A&Ps who have to be a jack of all trades kinda person... I tip my hat to you... You are a professional and as such its a honor to discuss things with you...

the FAA inspector who is signing this thing off figures in the works too.. but, I have found that most of them are not as experanced now as some of us are... of course they are a lot younger in age too...and that may have something to do with it... but, never the less.. he is signing his life to your plane.. and his signature is approval for return to service... I have seen some of these bimbos... approve things that they never even looked at... but, their life is on the line so to speak and if they sign... and stamp... hey its theirs...for life... of course they get a little mad at us IA's for not cluing them in... and say were responsible for their actions... I just smile and say.. he who gets paid the big bucks is it... smile... so if he wants micky mouse paw print.. then he gets it... otherwise... we kinda guide them along... sort of ting...

As I have always said.. its not the FAA that keeps planes and pilots safe... its people like you, the mechanics and inspectors... after all we are out their...making decisions and re-engineering the thing... they are in their offices... playing on the computers... and filling out their time cards... kinda thing... but, not to degrade them all... I have a few that I give a run for their money every now and again... and they do the same to me... I even had one that took off his jacket... yep actually rolled up his sleves and fixed his tie out of the way... and got in with both elbows.. and got greasy... holding wrenches and inspection lights as we tore into a engine that came apart for some unknown reason... and can you believe this... he stayed till after 4 and we got to the root of the problem... before he went home... he actually turned out to be a nice guy and good friend ...but, don't tell him that.. or it will make his head swell up... now that is the exception and not the rule.. but, we still argue with each other almost weekly... on the phone too... he is what I call a good FAA person... who wants to know why something is gone wrong... and how to keep pilot and people safe... only problem I have with him is he won't take NO for an answer... as he keeps saying he wants me to join them... what and miss all this fun... never... smile...

good luck on your cowl flap system... ya if I had more time I think I would sit down and come up with a better cheeper system... their has to be a better way than keep busting motors and cables... and the cost is way out of line... but, who is going to take the risk... and who is going to do the work... kinda thing...

thanks for taking the time to reply... and I hope that others will also learn and profit from our conversations... here on the web.. after all that is what its for...

Be looking for your article... you will have to send us all copies.. so we can put it in our files... ahhhh a nother peter Garrison... writer to be... its great to know ya... and you will have to come and show off your work... at one of the upcoming meetings... if I can ever help out... GMAs..