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12-27-2013, 04:04 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 107
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TruTrak 385
Anyone out there have experience with the TruTrak 385 autopilot?
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12-27-2013, 06:44 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: AL
Posts: 69
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I've been flying with it for 2 weeks and 8 hours and would not want to be without it now. It's very smooth when capturing the altitude and there's no overshoot. There's an additional step not required in many other systems. Any time the autopilot is turned on and whenever the altimeter setting is changed, the 385 altimeter needs to be adjusted to match the primary altimeter. But the Vizion is a very nice improvement over the Digiflight. It's easy to use and has a lot of functionality for a 2 1/4 " controller.
__________________
Bruce G.
RV-8
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12-28-2013, 09:30 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 107
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385
Thanks for the review. Will probably go that way.
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04-28-2014, 12:31 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Carefree Arizona
Posts: 61
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TruTrac 385
Just finished the third test flight of my TruTrac Vizion 385 autopilot. It replaced my aging TruTrac Digiflight 11G.
My experience is similar to bruceg in that I am impressed with how smooth it fly's the airplane and how easy it is to set Alt/VS functions with what is a relatively small display. (round version) The straight and level button gives additional piece of mind to my non pilot girlfriend.
The supplied adapter/connector for the AP head as well as the new pitch servo, which uses the original connector, made it plug and play.
Don Bodnar
RV7A
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04-28-2014, 01:55 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
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Outstanding piece of equipment.
We just made a 280 mile round trip this morning, to South Georgia and back...amazing unit. If you engage it while you're climbing, it syncs to that climb rate and will maintain that rate of climb.
You can preselect altitude and vertical speed before takeoff and in flight, you can program your "descend to" altitude and vs rate of descent....flies the airplane much better than I can.
Best,
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga
It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132
Dues gladly paid!
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04-28-2014, 02:15 PM
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Denver
Posts: 564
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+1 what those guys said. I really liked my II VSVG, but the added altitude features in the 385 Vision are great.
Jim Berry
RV-10
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05-01-2014, 02:17 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Largo, FL
Posts: 1,029
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Does it fly the approach, missed approach
holding pattern, etc. etc. when coupled to a 430W or 650? -- I am going with a Dynon Skyview panel, but I want a stand-alone autopilot -- leaning toward Trio Pro, but have always been happy with my TruTraks.
Ron
__________________
RV-10 Co-built, maintained, flown (sold)
RV-8A Maintained and flown (Sold)
RV-6A Bought and Flying (N177RV), upgrades $$$
IO360, 180HP/CS, AFS 5600T, D10A, G650, G430, G327, ADS-B, VIZ385 AP
Very Happy Contributor
Comm, SMEL, CFII, A&P
Based at KCLW (Clearwater, FL)
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05-01-2014, 02:50 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
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Ron, it will fly a coupled LPV approach and can also do a missed approach by pushing one (Alt) button....into a preprogrammed 500 FPM climb. The manual doesn't say whether or not it will enter the holding pattern. I haven't tried it yet but my gut feeling is that it should enter the hold because I feel that it's part of the approach.
Perhaps TruTrak will chime in.
Best,
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga
It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132
Dues gladly paid!
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05-01-2014, 08:35 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Springdale, AR
Posts: 547
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We have our own missed approach feature, as Pierre described. However, if you suspend the approach on the GNS430 it will command the autopilot into the holding pattern.
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05-01-2014, 09:13 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: AL
Posts: 69
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The Vizion and 430W are a great combination. If there's a holding fix in the flight plan, either at an initial approach fix or a missed approach holding fix, the A/P will fly to that fix, execute the recommended entry and track the holding pattern just as it's depicted on the 430.
If the missed approach procedure requires climbing to an altitude before turning toward the missed approach fix, you may have to use the A/P in ground track mode until reaching that altitude.
Pierre mentioned the coupled LPV. It will also track the advisory glide path that is available on most LNAV approaches (LNAV+V).
Another nice feature: If you lose the GPS during an approach, the Vizion will go to a missed approach mode, holding the bank angle and a 500 fpm climb.
__________________
Bruce G.
RV-8
Last edited by bruceg : 05-01-2014 at 09:40 PM.
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