Modifications and Ideas

Every project I do, I make small changes in order to make it mine (#SexyWRXy). I like to try new things in order to learn, experiment, and test my knowledge and skills. This page is a list of things I’ve thought of and design choices I’ve made, as well as the notes and references I have.

Lighting and Illumination

Landing/Taxi/Position Lights

BajaDesigns makes spot/driving lights for offroad vehicles. This may be a good alternative to dedication aviation lighting solutions.
Navigation and strobe lights will be in the wingtips, maybe I’ll put some wider angle taxi lights as well.

Courtesy Lights

Lights in the baggage compartment, under the dash to help with entry and exit, outside under the wing to illuminate the ground, and something to illuminate the top of the wing either facing forwards or backwards.

Deployable Landing/Taxi Lights

Lights that would drop down from the wing or possibly be built into an access panel. They would be hinged in the back, so (on a tail dragger) during landing they would point horizontally.
They would provide negligible drag in flight, and upon deploying add a small amount of drag. These may be more useful for taxi lights rather than landing, as landing lights would have larger forward surface area and volume. This way I could have the biggest and brightest landing lights in the wings.
VansAirForce 35607

Rotating Beacon

Fairing the beacon into the top of the vertical stabilizer. The front would be a clear layer epoxy or polycarb. Opaque would look cooler, but would probably not be bright enough to legally qualify as anti-collision.

Comfort and Convenience

Extended Baggage Compartment

A small (6″x12″) opening in the back of the baggage compartment that would run aft maybe 4-5 feet. A door or net on the front to secure the contents and ensure they don’t slide forwards.
The goal is to provide enough space for golf clubs, hiking poles, rockets, or other long light objects that won’t fit in the baggage compartment. A doubler would be needed on the opening. The extended compartment could be as simple as netting or ripstop polyester, but would be better if it was thin aluminum or fiberglass.
VansAirForce 10161
VansAirForce 31401
VansAirForce 29285

Supertracks Canopy Extension

Extended canopy slide rails that allow the the canopy to slide farther back. It’s pretty common mod that allows significantly improved access improvement to the baggage area.
Supertracks website

Sealed Wheel Bearings

Wheel bearings sealed and balanced to prevent shimmy and extend lifespan and reliability of tires.
https://antisplataero.com/products/main-wheel-bearing-mod

Removable Copilot stick

Would be good to have PTT and elevator trim controls.

Electric Trim and Flaps

Electric Elevator Trim.
Electric Aileron Trim. This is a spring bias system. I would like to look at changing it into a trim tab configuration as seen here and here.
PH Aviation Flap Motor. Mount will have to be fabricated from their drawings.

Autopilot

This will end up being part of what ever panel system I got with. More than likely Dynon or AFS.

Indicators, Sensors, Feedback

Too much information is never bad. Inefficient/ineffective processing and displaying of that information is bad.
AOA/Pitot combination. Trim position. Battery voltage/current. Fuel flow.
Flap Position: Flap up limit switch, potentiometer for travel indication.
Parking brake: Parking brake engagement limit switch.

Lockable Canopy

Wouldn’t be super secure, but enough to keep someone deterred.

“Pressurized” Cabin

Rather than controlling the volume of the air coming in, I want to control the volume of the air going out. Rather than having separate hot and cold inlets, I would have one inlet that I could select between pulling the hot or cold air in. I’d then control the outflow with a cowl flap.
This idea needs more research. A pro-con list.

Engine/Performance

Engine Cooling

Cowl flap and/or oil cooler shutter. Preferably these would be servo controlled for automating.