Excellent thread here discussing options for including Retina iPad Mini with Garmin Pilot in a new Carbon Cub. By background, I am signed up for Carbon Cub 316 with delivery May 29, 2014, so I have to make a decision soon about the panel. I have a 2010 CC with the Executive Panel which has been a good fit for the CC. But the technology in the current executive panel is currently at the end of its life, so I have been considering other options for a 2014 CC.
As a result of the thread I started about the new Garmin Pilot software several CC and CC EX owners have contacted me urging a fresh look at Dynon Skyview. Skyview appears to be a great glass panel with a wide variety of peripherals supporting most current technologies. A Skyview strength is that it provides the interface for all functionality: COM/NAV/Transponder/Autopilot all through the same panel through the same user interface. This provides a clean simple look for the CC panel. In the Carbon Cub there is no choice but to have a single 10" Skyview panel set up, so a strength for a clean installation becomes a weakness in the event of panel failure. If the panel fails there is no way to control all the various functions controlled by the panel.
With that in mind, I have been considering various options to include a single 10" Skyview panel while still retaining redundency in controlling other functions in the avionics. This is a paper shuffle exercise at this point as I am in California currently and my CC is in Washington, so my measurements are just approximate.
It appears that the configuration of the MyPanel option for the CC might be an excellent starting point to add a Dynon 10" Skyview display after delivery. The MyPanel is a $8,990 (3.3lb) option on the CC that includes a Trig TY91 VHF Radio, Trig TT21 Mode S(ADS out) XPDR, PM3000R Intercom and some basic engine gauges (RPM and Oil press/temp).
It appears the cut out panel is just barely big enough to accomodate the Dynon 10" panel. I need to confirm this with CubCrafters, but with some trimming of the existing cut out in the MyPanel it does appear the 10" panel will fit.
So one plan I am considering is to take delivery of CC316 with the MyPanel option. Then after delivery (it will be an ELSA) I will install the 10" SkyView Panel. Since the VHF Radio and the transponder will all ready be installed, the major challenge will be to install the Skyview Air Data, Attitude, Heading Reference ADAHRS Module in the left wing and the engine module and associated probes. If I elect this option I would see if CubCrafters could pre install the ADAHRS unit in the wing of CC316 before cover during construction which would really make the Skyview Panel installation post production much easier.
The neat thing about the Skyview panel is that the autopilot functionality is built in. All you need to activate an autopilot in a CC with Skyview is to install two $750 servos on the controls.
With the Skyview 10" panel built in and plugged into the engine module the two engine gauges (RPM and Oil temp/pressure) that come with the MyPanel option located on each side of the panel could be removed and repurposed for other functions.
Here is my "photoshop" rendering showing how this modification of the "MyPanel" option would look. Comments would be very welcome by everyone who has Skyview. I would be most interested to know if there is enough room in the behind that "MyPanel" panel to place the Skyview panel. It would be a very close fit with the adjoining instruments but it looks like it might work.