jthocker
Well Known Member
Finally got a chance to fly my RV8 next to it's twin and compare autopilot performance.
My RV8 s/n 82689 and my friends RV8 s/n 82688 were built as twins last year and are identical except for mine has a Dynon autopilot and Larry Wolf has a TruTrak ADI II.
Flying side by side and 200 feet apart, we both selected "direct to" KRID,then selected "NAV" and "Alt Hold". We were at 3500 ft. and in smooth air.
For 10 minutes we flew in formation on autopilot without converging or diverging. Occasionally Larry's plane appeared to be sometimes slightly above the horizon and sometimes slightly below the horizon. Checking the Dynon altitude showed it locked into the little yellow alt. bug.
I'm guessing we both were oscillating within the 10 ft. resolutions of our Dynon altimeters.
It appears to me that Dynon "oscillation" issues might be due to loose shear screws, as, at least for me, fixing that, has made my autopilot equal to or better than the Tru Trak. When I say better, I'm referring to features and bang for the buck, not performance.
My RV8 s/n 82689 and my friends RV8 s/n 82688 were built as twins last year and are identical except for mine has a Dynon autopilot and Larry Wolf has a TruTrak ADI II.
Flying side by side and 200 feet apart, we both selected "direct to" KRID,then selected "NAV" and "Alt Hold". We were at 3500 ft. and in smooth air.
For 10 minutes we flew in formation on autopilot without converging or diverging. Occasionally Larry's plane appeared to be sometimes slightly above the horizon and sometimes slightly below the horizon. Checking the Dynon altitude showed it locked into the little yellow alt. bug.
I'm guessing we both were oscillating within the 10 ft. resolutions of our Dynon altimeters.
It appears to me that Dynon "oscillation" issues might be due to loose shear screws, as, at least for me, fixing that, has made my autopilot equal to or better than the Tru Trak. When I say better, I'm referring to features and bang for the buck, not performance.