Design Improvements for the Zenith 601 HDS: Ignition Switches

Ignition Switches and Starter Button

An automotive ignition/starter key switch is no real deterrent to theft of the plane. Thus, we opted for two ignition switches mounted on the far left of the panel.



The starter is activated by a button among the switches in the center of the panel. The sequence of those switches follows the order of use during start of the engine. The leftmost switch is the master switch (red), followed by boost pump switch (black), starter button (red), avionics switch, strobe lights switch, and nav lights switch.

The left hand throttle control rod was replaced by a stainless steel version to suppress interference with the panel mounted compass. We also wound a compensating wire around the holding bracket of the tachometer for the same reason.