Below are CAD drawings of instrument panels for Standard Cirrus gliders. This information is provided to help you build a replacement panel for your ship.

You can download a drawing and use it to generate an NC file to automatically mill or cut your panel. This is desirable since it is very difficult to place the holes exactly using manual methods.

If you must use manual methods, then print a 1:1 template from this file. You may have to spread the image over several pieces of paper and then tape them together (a source of error). A good technique for transferring the image to the aluminum is to print the template on a laser printer, lay it print side down on the metal and moisten it with acetone to transfer the image to the plate. Working from a drawing should produce more accurate results than tracing your old panel.

Deep instrument chassis placed on the periphery may strike the instrument hood since it slopes downward and inward as it approaches the nose of the glider. Also, some instrument chassis are oversized and may conflict with adjacent instruments. So, before committing to a hole pattern you should verify that you have adequate clearance in all three dimensions.

The outline and dimensions were taken from a 1:1 scale drawing provided by Schempp-Hirth. Instrument placement varies slightly from factory values for more consistent spacing and improved clearance.

Example of standard panel - Hendrix. (click to expand image.)
Front Side	Back Side	In Flight	In Flight

The following drawing illustrates a modified instrument panel with higher knee arches as recommended by Torben Kristensen, below.

Examples of panels with high leg arches. (click to expand image.)
Nick Gilbert	Michael Sohn

Joaquin Bejar Garcia's Panel

Joaquin Bejar Garcia is building a carbon fiber panel according to this drawing.

Thomas Himmelsbach's Panel

This panel is prepared to for mounting a flarm system.
The small slits cover a card reader and will serve for the insertion of flash cards in order to update the software.

Here's an unusual panel design for those who like it simple and who can do such things legally.

• Reduces the number of instruments to the minimum needed for cross country flying.
• Gets rid of the aluminum panel to prevent leg injuries.
• Facilitates emergency bailout.
• Allow the sun to warm the legs and feet.

Arnaldo Salvaterra laser cut a nice panel for his ship. Pictures are in the Gallery. He sent me a CAD file, but it came into my CAD program with the wrong dimensions, so I have not reproduced it here. Contact him for details.

When making a new instrument panel one should seriously consider to make the leg arches larger. Ideally they should be large enough not to interfere with the knees when bending the legs. I think it will be very difficult to get out in an emergency without being able to use the legs in the process. (It makes it easier getting in and out in normal operation as well):

Another thing to consider is that the panel tends to be a bit wobbly, - especially if you put heavy instruments at the top. This can be cured by stiffening the stub part of the panel with some aluminum angles on the back.