Honeywell To Acquire TruTrak Flight Systems (July 2019 Announcement)

[TruTrakAndrew]

Originally Posted by newt

Okay, some feedback from a customer which speaks to that.

We've been waiting for software for the Vizion to do Garmin G5 integration for ... quite a while. TruTrak first suggested that it was in play more than a year ago, some of us were expecting some more info about it at OSH'18.

At OSH'19, the word is that it's now with the FAA waiting for approval, which could take three to six months. If that's accurate, then the time elapsed from initial announcement of the feature to its actual delivery will be almost two years, which seems a lot like the lead-time on certified products which E/AB folks thought we were avoiding!

The Experimental market doesn't need FAA approval for any aspect whatsoever of an autopilot. It's unclear why the FAA would be presented as something on the critical path at an EXPERIMENTAL Aircraft Association convention. Hearing that from your booth last week was very jarring, it wasn't great messaging in the context of where it was being delivered and the kind of people it was being delivered to.

I have noticed a change from TruTrak since the autopilot STC was made available: It's very clear that you're prioritizing the certified market now. That's perhaps not surprising, given that you can sell essentially the same product into that market at twice the price, which probably increases your gross profit percentage by several hundred per cent. Hard to criticize you for doing that.

But you're also expressing an intention to be true to your roots, so to speak: "VERY committed to supporting the experimental market." In that spirit, can you tell us when Garmin G5 integration will be made available for non-STC'ed Vizion 385 autopilot systems on a timeframe that doesn't depend on the FAA, just like all your products were produced two years ago?

(A GMC 307 with a couple of Garmin servos isn't that much different cost-wise and functionality-wise from a Vizion 385, except that the integration problem is already solved to the extent that the G5 can be used as a full-on flight director; And it's been available as a package for almost as long as the G5 has been on the market. You have a competitor in your patch, but from this distance it feels like you've been playing dead? Should your customers who have subsequently installed G5's sell their TruTrak systems on the second hand market and buy Garmin?)

- mark

Honestly, when you ask about G5 integration, my guys usually expect you are a certified customer. Sorry about that. If you want the G5 interface in the experimental market, we can arrange that. There just really hasn?t been much call for it. I just need to get the experimental manual update with the UI for it. We are in the process of merging the two controller versions into one (yes, for reasons I don?t wish to go into right now...we have been producing two different sets of hardware for the exp / cert versions)

While you are right the profits are a little higher on the certified unit, the production costs of the servo is 2x, and the certification cost for each model is $$$$$, and there are whole slew of other costs too.

My intention has never been to forget about the experimental market, but the certified market has taken a lot of my resources lately. That?s one of the reasons this partnership with BK is such a great thing. It allows me to do both much more effectively than I have been able in the last several years.

[eaglen92ce]

Andrew,

I was pleased to see your reply that this integration effort is still alive.

I have also been inquiring and waiting for G5 integration with the Vision.

Can you help me with which GAD 29 module I will need to take advantage of this future integration? Straight GAD 29 or the GAD 29B which is for the certified market and is advertised to have support for third party autopilots?
Which will I need?

Thanks in advance and congratulations on the sale.

[newt]

I echo Bill's appreciation for your response to my missive, and look forward to an experimental product that works with G5's.

I also have the same GAD29 question (I don't have the -B, but can easily retrofit one if needed, they're pretty inexpensive as far as aircraft parts go, and they're supposed to be pin-compatible with the wiring harness I already have)

Thanks for getting back.

- mark

[BCP Boys]

Andrew, congratulation to you. Well deserved. You are certainly living the American dream of an entrepreneur. It's great that you are still involved and so dedicated to your customer. Wish you the best.

[TruTrakAndrew]

Originally Posted by newt

I echo Bill's appreciation for your response to my missive, and look forward to an experimental product that works with G5's.

I also have the same GAD29 question (I don't have the -B, but can easily retrofit one if needed, they're pretty inexpensive as far as aircraft parts go, and they're supposed to be pin-compatible with the wiring harness I already have)

Thanks for getting back.

- mark

So we have a GAD 29B for our testing, but don't have a GAD 29. As far as we know there isn't any difference in the outputs that we use. If anyone had a GAD 29 that we could use for testing, then I would gladly toss into our demo panel and verify it. Or I could send you updated hardware and you can test it!

[wnplt]

Not to change the subject but thanks Andrew for pursuing the Aspen interface. Just placed my order a couple days ago for that one. Any idea if the Aspen Altitude select will ever interface to the TruTrak Vizion for certified?

[newt]

I'm guessing you won't want to send test hardware to Australia, otherwise I'd offer to run it for you. I'll defer to someone else to help out with that.

(but it's very good news that you expect it won't need the -B)

- mark

[TruTrakAndrew]

Originally Posted by newt

I'm guessing you won't want to send test hardware to Australia, otherwise I'd offer to run it for you. I'll defer to someone else to help out with that.

(but it's very good news that you expect it won't need the -B)

- mark

LOL, well that is a little far away, but we have done crazier things!

[Canadian_JOY]

Thank you for taking the time to reply here, Andrew. These must be crazy days for you.

I meant what I said about TruTrak becoming the tail that wags the B-K dog. In the GA world, B-K is an absolute dog, the laughing stock of the industry. On the other hand, TruTrak has its merry band of dedicated followers and very happy customers. I clearly fall into the latter category with my Vizion 385. I sincerely hope that TruTrak will be able to lead by example, showing Honeywell how business should be done. In this newest of your business endeavors I wish you the very best of success.

[eaglen92ce]

Andrew,

Any status on the Garmin G5 integration into the Vizion AP for the experimental market? I know that you are likely very busy, but I wanted to reaffirm that there are a bunch of out here waiting(hoping) for it!

Thanks in advance!