• The unique quarter side windows and the split oval rear
window give it a very different look.
• The side window was inspired by the Crowleys' favorite
automobile, the Porsche 356 pre-A Coupe, and the split
rear window reflects a vintage 1949 Volkswagen.
• Entering the cockpit, you settle into leather seats with
color-matched Hooker seat belts with rotary latches and
handmade wooden inserts. Clever matching brown elastic
cords suspend the harness strap out of the way and are
linked to keep the belts in place.
• The beautiful "wood" interior side panels with wood railings
and the "wood" behind the firewall are actually Kydex,
a fireproof synthetic sheet material designed for aircraft
interiors. Visit
www.sekisui-spi.com for more information.
• Overhead are custom cellular retractable "block-out"
accordion shades—a must in Arizona. Custom wood
is contoured to the roof with clear Lexan tracks (for
visibility when the shades are retracted) screwed into the
wood mounts. Either side can be adjusted for full, partial,
or no shade.
• The interior color matches the upholstery, and the
exterior matches the exterior white paint. Most of the
cockpit control knobs, such as the flap handle, trim
control, parking brake, air vent knobs, and throttle, are
custom wood. The throttle knob is a carving of a gourd by
a native Indian artist. You can tell right there that Dennis
and Barb had fun with this project.
• Up front, hidden behind fabric and curly maple-
veneered wood, is a carbon-fiber prototype instrument
panel originally built by Stan Foster. Dennis went
with a 10-inch Dynon panel instead of two 7-inch
panels so he could have moving-map, primary flight
instrumentation and engine instruments all on the one
display while still allowing enough room for backup
analog steam gauges. In addition, he uses an iPad
with ForeFlight for secondary navigation. The panel
EAA Experimenter 21
Leather seats in colors to match their 1954 Porsche 356 interior.
Dennis shrinking the fabric tight on the right wing.