A/P disconnect - stick or panel?

[Clarkie]

Originally Posted by sailvi767

My partner wanted it there so I agreed. It turns out he is much smarter then me

Gee thanks. Now buy me dinner.

[OLDSAM]

Regarding dodging birds & other emergency maneuvers with autopilot on, every autopilot I have ever used could easily be overpowered with the control stick/yoke without disengaging the autopilot. I believe there is a requirement for that to be possible, with the force to overpower the autopilot being not in excess of (some number I don't remember) pounds.

[cfiidon]

Originally Posted by sailvi767

Unless I have a different version of the TT that is not correct. If you push and release the autopilot switch it disengages. No issue there. If you push and hold the button down it does the exact same thing. The autopilot disengages. The difference is that when you have held the button down the autopilot will reengage when the button is released. It never goes into a CWS mode.
George

I cannot speak for TT, but on my Dynon AP it works like this:

Press and hold button, engages autopilot, syncs heading and altitude. Release.

Press and hold: CWS mode, hand fly but does not change the prior selected heading and altitude. Release and it goes back to AP at former heading and altitude.

Press and hold to engage as above. Press and release to disengage. Subsequent press and hold establishes NEW heading and altitude.

So for me it is Control Wheel Steering .... Perhaps the TT works similarly?

Don

[Mike S]

Here is a copy/paste from the TruTrak website, explaining CWS.

BTW, my button is on the stick, and mine works exactly as described.

Q - What is Control Wheel Steering?
A - The control wheel switch is a momentary low contact switch mounted on the control wheel/stick. When the switch is held down for 1.5 seconds or more, the autopilot enters the control wheel steering mode. During the time that the switch is held down, the servo/servos will be disengaged and the pilot can manually fly to the new desired track. Upon release of the switch, the unit will synchronize to the track being flown at the time. All of the multi-axis with vertical speed capability will also synchronize to the vertical speed being flown at the time of control wheel switch release. A momentary push and release of the control wheel switch will disengage the autopilot.

http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/faq.html

[R. Daniels]

It's up to the builder to program the servos for the lightest torque value that will allow the A/P to fly the plane. RV's have light control forces and only need a low torque value. Trial and error here. All the A/P's I've installed in RV's are set really low. It's very easy to control the A/C with the A/P engaged. That said, I have mounted the disengage button in all cases on the stick. My personal A/C (RV-8) has infinity grips. I use the "pinky" finger button for my A/P disengage. When I fully grip the stick and squeeze I automatically hit the switch.

[sailvi767]

Originally Posted by Mike S

Here is a copy/paste from the TruTrak website, explaining CWS.

BTW, my button is on the stick, and mine works exactly as described.

Q - What is Control Wheel Steering?
A - The control wheel switch is a momentary low contact switch mounted on the control wheel/stick. When the switch is held down for 1.5 seconds or more, the autopilot enters the control wheel steering mode. During the time that the switch is held down, the servo/servos will be disengaged and the pilot can manually fly to the new desired track. Upon release of the switch, the unit will synchronize to the track being flown at the time. All of the multi-axis with vertical speed capability will also synchronize to the vertical speed being flown at the time of control wheel switch release. A momentary push and release of the control wheel switch will disengage the autopilot.

http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/faq.html

Mike, I suspect I have not made myself clear. That is how my TT works. It's not however how a true CWS system works. In a true CWS system the servos remain engaged. You supply the input to the autopilot to run the servos from the stick. The aircraft will maintain the exact attitude it's at if the stick is released. It's a expensive system to install because you have to have stick sensors to feed the autopilot inputs. In all the expermental systems I have seen pushing CWS disconnects the servos and your hand flying until you release the button and the servos engage again. With a true CWS system you are not hand flying. Very different feel to the stick in CWS also.

George

[flyinga]

I'm with Alan on this one; put switches in both places, or at least have an alternative method of disabling the autopilot.

[BillFear]

However I am going to add my button on the panel. JUST BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO RUN ANOTHER WIRE THROUGH THAT MAZE UNDER THE SEATS!!!!!!

[n82rb]

i agree with jim. both. my work plane has 5 ways to disconnect the a/p

bob burns
RV-4 N82RB

[RV7A Flyer]

Originally Posted by flyinga

I'm with Alan on this one; put switches in both places, or at least have an alternative method of disabling the autopilot.

Like the autopilot function on the EFIS?

A/P momentary switch on the stick, plus A/P functionality via the EFIS (Dynon Skyview) here.