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01-25-2012, 10:13 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Myerstown, Pa
Posts: 101
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RV-12 auto pilot
I built my 12 as an EAB with no autopilot. Can anyone give me any information on what it would take to add the autopilot and would it be worth the effort? I'm using the Dynon D100 EFIS. I have 54 hours on the plane and it is all apart for painting at this time.
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01-25-2012, 11:35 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,365
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AutoPilot-Is it worth it?
Well, that is totally up to you.
1. If you make a bad decision flying and fly into IMC, you can push a button and the autopilot will take over and make a 180° turn out of the soup.
2. If you want to take pictures, the autopilot can keep you right side up when you are fooling with the digital camera.
3. If you want to hold an exact altitude and course while X-country on flight following, the autopilot will do so while you watch for traffic, eat a sandwich and enjoy the scenery.
So...there are a lot of reasons, those are some of mine.
Installation is a bit difficult on the completed aircraft. If you already installed the servo brackets, less so. If you don't have the servo brackets in you will need a right angle drill adapter to drill out some rivets in the tailcone to mount the brackets for the roll servo.
You need to take off the left instrument panel to make the cutout for the AP-74.
I had about 19 hours in the autopilot install.
There are a series of pictures here that show most all of the aspects of the work required to install the autopilot.
Tony
__________________
Tony
E-LSA RV-12 ULS
Last edited by Tony_T : 02-12-2012 at 09:02 PM.
Reason: corrected my hours to install autopilot
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01-25-2012, 11:36 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Clayton, GA
Posts: 193
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johns4689
I built my 12 as an EAB with no autopilot. Can anyone give me any information on what it would take to add the autopilot and would it be worth the effort? I'm using the Dynon D100 EFIS. I have 54 hours on the plane and it is all apart for painting at this time.
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I put the autopilot in mine at the second condition inspection. You have to add two brackets to the bulkhead aft of the flaperon torque tubes which involves drilling out some rivets. You also have to add a doubler to one of the seat ribs under the pilot seat for the pitch servo, which involves some trimming and drilling in tight quarters but nothing you can't handle if you built your airplane. I would recommend buying the kit from Van's. It's priced competitively and includes all the instructions, brackets, linkages, etc.
-Bruce
__________________
Bruce Russell
Clayton, GA
Simultaneous Repeat Offender
RV-14A 140005
N48WT
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01-25-2012, 11:47 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Napa, Calif
Posts: 274
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I installed my autopilot after completion. I didn't find it that hard, just time consuming. I would echo Tony's comments. It is great to let Mike fly the plane while you check the map or have a bite to eat. If I ever get in IMC, I have an option.
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01-25-2012, 12:00 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Marshall TX (KASL)
Posts: 1,783
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You do not HAVE to have the $400 AP-74 module with a D-180. The software is in the D-180 and can be accessed via the menu system for all AP functions. Van's sells an "RV-12 Autopilot Servo Kit" that has just the servos and rods etc. without the AP-74. This is because the Skyview does not use the AP74 and many of us wanted to go ahead and install the servos while waiting. But I think that the AP brackets came with the fuselage kit and you could have optionally installed them them. (Could have been different for early kit numbers.)
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01-25-2012, 01:47 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Southern Mississippi
Posts: 495
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I agree with what has been said, not hard to install but the servo in the tail cone is a pain if you are more that about 4 feet tall or over 100 pounds.
The AP74 isn't mandatory BUT it does make using the autopilot soooooo much easier. Another benefit of installing an AP74 is the synthetic voice alerts when connected to an auxiliary input on your intercom. For those with a D180 it's even better!
I blew an oil line in my RV-8 and the millisecond the oil pressure dropped the Dynon caught it and told me about it "Oil pressure low". A quick 180 back to the airport and I was on the ground before any damage done.
It will "say" a lot of other things like "altitude" or "stall" but that has been the most important one so far.
I'm convinced that the Dynon saved my engine and perhaps my butt. For 400 bucks, nice addition.
__________________
John Ratliff
N898R
RV-8
Saucier MS
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01-25-2012, 01:55 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: La Feria Texas
Posts: 3,822
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Any ONE of those is enough for me, three makes it a real bonus. I think back of all the times that I have wished I had an autopilot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony_T
Well, that is totally up to you.
1. If you make a bad decision flying and fly into IMC, you can push a button and the autopilot will take over and make a 180? turn out of the soup.
2. If you want to take pictures, the autopilot can keep you right side up when you are fooling with the digital camera.
3. If you want to hold an exact altitude and course while X-country on flight following, the autopilot will do so while you watch for traffic, eat a sandwich and enjoy the scenery.
So...there are a lot of reasons, those are some of mine.
Installation is a bit difficult on the completed aircraft. If you already installed the servo brackets, less so. If you don't have the servo brackets in you will need a right angle drill adapter to drill out some rivets in the tailcone to mount the brackets for the roll servo.
You need to take off the left instrument panel to make the cutout for the AP-74.
I had about 30 hours in the autopilot install.
There are a series of pictures here that show most all of the aspects of the work required to install the autopilot.
Tony
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01-25-2012, 03:14 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
Posts: 2,645
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Im convinced
Im convinced. I have many hours in a 182 with a crappy auto pilot that never worked very well. But it wasn't my plane so I just didn't use it. Looking back on it now, I probably should have offered to get it fixed since I was using my friends plane for free. I feel like George Costanza!
With the auto pilot's being relatively inexpensive for experimental compared to certified planes, it makes all kinds of safety and convenience reasons to install one. I know several pilots that like to fly with minimal gadgets, but Im all for the extra safety it can provide.
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01-25-2012, 06:04 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Riley TWP MI
Posts: 3,070
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Never eat with the autopilot engaged. :D
Many years ago a pilot turned on the autopilot in his twin engine aircraft and ate his lunch while en-route to an east coast destination. With a full stomach and the drone of the engines, he fell asleep. When the engines quit from fuel starvation, the pilot awoke to find himself over the Atlantic miles from shore. He called mayday, ditched in the ocean, and was rescued.
Joe Gores
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01-25-2012, 09:53 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: La Feria Texas
Posts: 3,822
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Sounds pretty much like something I would do! Won't the Skyview wake me up hollering about low fuel or SOMETHING?
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