The Cessna 120-140 Association Forum

Any one have experience with skySensor from uAvionix for fabric wing C 140?

I just completed the installation and checkout of the SkySensor and the SkyBeacon on my 1948 140 with fabric wings. The system (both in and out) works great. I have the basic Foreflight on a 32 gig Apple ipad.
When I installed the units I removed the Whelen strobe system and used that wiring harness. It does help if you use the black wire in the harness to ground the light assembly to the fuselage ground, but it isn't necessary. (I tried it just grounded to the wingtip also).
Anyway, to answer your question...it works great, I never knew there was so much traffic here in the boondocks north of Tampa.

Steve Rose

6656 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 09, 2019 12:45 pm Any one have experience with skySensor from uAvionix for fabric wing C 140?

Hi, Doc -- no, no direct experience with the skySensor, but I'm hearing and reading good things about it. ...last I checked, it still isn't "TSO/approved" for certified aircraft (just for Exp. & LSA), but I'm told that uAvionix will be seeking TSO approval. Those who are using it for ADS-B "IN" give good reports (...an acquaintance who does some testing for uAvionix reports flawless operation with Sensor via his iPad/Foreflight and the Company's marketing director, Shane Woodson, flew from TX to SNF last year with one on his 172 & reported that it worked well). There are lots of similar & positive reports on various exp. forums. Just like the skyBeacon (that is, now, TSO'd) it installs (& exactly fits our wings) with the 3 screws after removing the (right wing) nav light & includes a nav light plus strobe option. uAvionix will be @ SNF as will dealers who'll be hawking their products -- no doubt there'll be lines at both for info. and to find out when back-ordered skyBeacons (and, Sensors?) will be shipped. Hope to see you down there! Mac

6339 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 09, 2019 4:17 pm I just completed the installation and checkout of the SkySensor and the SkyBeacon on my 1948 140 with fabric wings. The system (both in and out) works great. I have the basic Foreflight on a 32 gig Apple ipad.
When I installed the units I removed the Whelen strobe system and used that wiring harness. It does help if you use the black wire in the harness to ground the light assembly to the fuselage ground, but it isn't necessary. (I tried it just grounded to the wingtip also).
Anyway, to answer your question...it works great, I never knew there was so much traffic here in the boondocks north of Tampa.

Steve Rose

Hey, Steve -- I was posting while you were...any issues with the skySensor installation, like any need for a "field approval"(?) or is it so simple as to just be a "nav light replacement" . Mac

Mac,
My IA was happy with”navy light replacement”. The only issue I had was the non existent tinnermans for my nav light attach points which was solved with 6 #6 rivnuts.

James, if you think you may be interested in these units I’m only about 60 statute miles from you at Hidden Lake (FA40)

Steve

That sounds great, Steve...and, no doubt the rivnuts only added a few minutes to the installation. And, amen RE the "previously unseen traffic" -- I'm in the boonies northeast of Charlotte and am amazed at what I've surely missed seeing in the past. Thanks for sharing the info. and experience! Mac

Steve wrote" "... non existent tinnermans".

I've looked at a few wingtips & see that some have nut plates (like this one) and others don't. Rivnuts can be great solutions. Mac

The installation of the SkyBeacon requires a 337. You can download a sample 337 on the uAvionics site.

4390 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 10, 2019 11:53 am The installation of the SkyBeacon requires a 337. You can download a sample 337 on the uAvionics site.

Yep -- that's not a problem. As several have observed, the "paperwork" (completing/submitting the 337) takes much longer than the skyBeacon "installation". It was the skySensor we'd wondered about as it hasn't been blessed by the FAA as being TSO'd & available via STC...yet. Apparently, though, it may be considered a simple "replacement" of the right wingtip nav light & life and dependable ADS-B IN "comes with it" . Mac

I'm pretty sure if you're mounting it on the wing and hard wiring it you'll need a field approval for certified.