Partenavia P68 Cockpit Build

[peter1b1]

I have been "playing" around with Flt Sim since the early days (FS II) and a couple of years ago brought a CH Pro yoke and pedals. Always dreamt of have a "real" simulator but with work and family not much time. I recently brought the Th2Go unit and have sorted out the 3 screens with the addition of a Saitek switch panel was all set to start building. Came across a car simulator which I started as a base.



Then through work and good luck managed to purchase a Partenavia cockpit.

[peter1b1]

Managed to get the cockpit home and it now has wheels and the "large" job of fitting out is starting with the removal of all excess wiring etc. I am currently looking at the I/O interface and trying to work out what will be the best fit. I will be using FSxpand for the instruments (have that sorted already) and I am sourcing the LCD screens that will fit in the cockpit.

The cockpit just fitted into the float



Now at home and on wheels I am trying to strip it out, working on it a little each weekend.



Will keep updating this thread as I go.

[Anderson/SBSP]

Very good, i dont know this plane. Do you have more info for this model?

Congratulations!!

[Kennair]

Hey great work Peter and welcome from the West Coast. Thanks also for sharing your work on this forum and I look forward to seeing the progress. The Partenavia is popular at my aeroclub (Jandakot) used for twin commercial training. Its a good workhorse, however looking at the shaping of that nose it could easily be turned into a Lear. What aircraft are you looking at building?

Ken.

[spitfire9]

I flew a P68 observer model for a couple hundred hours. doing night patrols (looking for poachers spotlighting deer) and fire patrols etc.

I found it flew a lot like the Piper Seneca I. The same engines but it was a bit slower because it had fixed gear. It was a dead horse if you lost an engine but it was very easy to fly, forgiving in a stall etc.

I think i still have a photocopy of the manual.

Very interesting project. Please keep us posted !!

[peter1b1]

I am going to set it up initally as a Partenavia and there is a couple of models available on the net including the Observer. As I have the metal work for the instruments, I plan to fit LCD screens behind and using FSXpand "build" the instruments.
I am also toying with the idea of being able to change the instruments and that way make the sim changeable.
As to the aircraft, before coming accross this one I knew nothing about Partenavia (now Vulcanair), but after talking to my brother-in-law, he told me that he has around 700 hours on this model and recons it is an excellent first twin to fly, very forgiving but very slow!
My brother-in-law helped me unload the cockpit and his first comment was "is this full size?" because it is a very compact cockpit and he is 6'4" tall, then he mused that for the conversion you had to be able to get the passangers in and get in yourself "without sticking your behind in someones face!"
The aircraft was set up as a six seater (although could be configured for seven) and I have two and a half single seats and the bench seat, two of the engine instruments (2 x combined oil press, oil temp and EGT) plus the flap position guage (these might be simkits projects down the track)

[peter1b1]

Well I have not been here for a while, been busy with work.... I have taken the plunge and started to order the Simkits guages for my pit, so far just the Altimeter, and a set of 4 guage kits. Work is progressing on the throttle quadrant and the fuse has been primered. I hope this trip home to finish the paint and the throttles so I can start to assemble. Will be purchasing the Simkit guages as money comes available.

[Tony Hill]

Looking forward to seeing your progress!!

[peter1b1]

Well I thought it was time for another update, so far I have brought a number of simkits instruments and fitted out the cockpit as illustrated by the attached pictures.

Partenavia 18 October 2010 021.jpg

Partenavia 18 October 2010 018.jpg

I have purchased some aluminium plate to blank the inspection covers and some thin timber for the panelling. I am taking the seats to be re upholstered as well. The overhead console in wired in, just need the fuel selector switches and time...
Will try to keep updating as I go.

Peter

[Joe Cygan]

Awesome looking project!