autopilots

[prkaye]

I'll be starting the Fuse soon, and was watching the Orndoff's fuse video. They recommend some things that should be done early in the fuse construction because it's much harder later. One is the powerpack for the strobe lights, and the other is the mounting bracket for an autopilot like the trutrak. So here comes my questions - I don't know anything about autopilots, and I find the product descriptions on Trutraks website a little less than clear.

I'm thinking what is suitable for me is a basic autopilot that i can set a heading and say "hold this heading". I think the "single-axis" autopilots will do this just through aileron control, and that seems fine for my needs. It would also be nice if I could say "hold this altitute", but I can probably do this adequately with trim, except on really bumpy days.

So which one of the Trutrak products do I want? One of the "single-servo autopilots" like "digitrak" ? Or is there something even simpler/cheaper?

http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/...s_digitrak.htm

Is the Orndoff video correct that I should install this while constructing the fuse, rather than wait till later?

[jcmcdowell]

gps/sl30 nav, doubles as art horiz.- one less vacuum gauge needed.

Nice thing about Tru Trak- you can upgrade down the road for the price delta.

[Mike S]

I think you could probably buy a control head that can handle dual axis, and only put in the roll servo--------then if you want it later, add the pitch servo.

Better check with TruTrack though, just in case the control head would get confused by not having the pitch installed.

Or, IIRC, TruTrack lets you up grade and it only costs you the difference, you get full credit for original purchase price.

Mike.

P.S., get a ride in a dual axis equipped plane before you decide????

[frankh]

For a single axis A/P the Pictorial Pilot is hard to beat. It gives you a turn coordinator output that actually agrees with the horizon (imagine that!) in addition to being an autopilot....This can be viewed as an upgrade to the Digitrak which has no TC display.

So if you were thinking of adding a TC, now you just buy the PP and forget the TC. Lots of us who fly IFR use the PP as both the autopilot and the backup attitude indicator ...In other words of my Dynon quits I'm still happy even in clouds.

Now if you want altitude hold...I.e fly to your desired altitude trim it up for cruise and now you want to stay there, then the cheapest simplest way is to add an ALtrak.

This is the setup I have for IFR.

If i was doing it again I would go for the thing that combines the two into a single unit and gives a full artificial horizon in both roll and pitch...I just can't think of the name off hand...But this sounds like more than you want anyway?

If you intend to have pitch control (ALtrak..or the two in one deal) then it would be wise to make your elevator belcrank with the additional hole required and to install the servo bracket before you put the rear top skins on the fuse.

The Pictorial pilot (or Digitrack) uses a wing mounted bracket which was quite easy to fit to the completed airplane...Just make sure you run the wires...same for the ALtrak)

Frank

[prkaye]

Lots of us who fly IFR use the PP as both the autopilot and the backup attitude indicator ...In other words of my Dynon quits I'm still happy even in clouds.

Except what do you do for backup pitch information? This provides only turn and bank, right?

[frankh]

But I was less than impressed by Dynon's rate of trun coordinator as it kept rescaling...I believe they have fixed this with the latest firmaware update.

If your Dynons are truly redundant units (i.e your not simply swapping the display (cus the second one will go blank if the first Dynon fails) . Then you don't need the PP IMO

Frank

[frankh]

Originally Posted by prkaye

Except what do you do for backup pitch information? This provides only turn and bank, right?

Well of course if we were flying ancient spam cans I would wax lyrical about how I would be trained to watch my primary instruments of airspeed and altitude and all that nonsense...Well its not really nonsense but its not an ideal way to fly.

I still have my ALtrak so i can fly straight and level, and to be honest as long as I can keep the wings level then adjusting altitude with reference to the ASI and ALT is not that big of a deal.

Frank

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by prkaye

Except what do you do for backup pitch information? This provides only turn and bank, right?

I primarily use airspeed for picth...that, and I have the AlTrak to hold altitude. FrankH said everything else that I would have ....I really wouldn't want to fly IFR very long in my RV without an altitude hold and at an autopilot that will hold heading and/or track the Nav signal.

VFR only? Different requirements! (But adding the bracket at the bellcrank will only cost a couple of bucks, and save hours of sweaty labor later if you change your mind...)

Paul

[prkaye]

Actually, it looks like the ADI Pilot I does give you pitch information too, correct??
This looks like the ideal solution... put a steam alt and airspeed guage with this and that gives me me redundant flight instruments for IFR... cheaper than buying two dynons!
Autopilot with GPS nav, and an artificial horizon/turn-coordinator all in a small package for under three grand. Pretty incredible what you can get these days if you ask me.

(But adding the bracket at the bellcrank will only cost a couple of bucks, and save hours of sweaty labor later if you change your mind...)

Is the bracket universal (the same for a variety of Trutrak products)? If so, maybe it would be a good idea to throw the bracket in there in case I ever upgrade.

[bullojm1]

I installed the pitch servo bracket in my -7 very recently. It was a piece of cake to put in. I bought mine for $50 (+8.50 S/H) from Stein. Supposedly, when you buy the rest of the AP, you get the 50 bucks back. So, for the cost of shipping, you basically get the bracket for free when it is easy to put in. I documented the install at http://rvplane.com/?categoryid=4&dayid=379 .