Return-Path: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 01:43:23 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-2472649@logan.com>
X-Original-Return-Path: <mmichaelian@comcast.net>
Received: from rwcrmhc12.comcast.net ([216.148.227.85] verified)
  by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.1b9)
  with ESMTP id 2472645 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sat, 12 Jul 2003 01:38:16 -0400
Received: from c1176431a (12-236-205-95.client.attbi.com[12.236.205.95](untrusted sender))
          by comcast.net (rwcrmhc12) with SMTP
          id <2003071205374601400luuate>; Sat, 12 Jul 2003 05:37:46 +0000
Reply-To: <mmichaelian@comcast.net>
From: "Marshall Michaelian" <mmichaelian@comcast.net>
X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" <lml@lancaironline.net>
Subject: RE: [LML] Re: Best Autopilot for the Turbine
X-Original-Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 22:39:37 -0700
X-Original-Message-ID: <NEBBIKIMFAKBFHDGKMILOEIFCJAA.mmichaelian@comcast.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Priority: 3 (Normal)
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0)
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106
Importance: Normal
In-Reply-To: <list-2472153@logan.com>

<I know it is like asking the fox if one is a hen, but Jim Younkin at
TruTrak>
<can explain why his is better. He explained it patiently to me at OSH and
as I>
<recall, it is based on Scott's observation/experience with the 55.>

I had a similar conversation with Jim several years ago.  My concern now is
not that TruTrak does not have all of the latest bells & whistles, but will
the product and the service provide the reliability which I want more than
having the latest "gee whiz" features.  For example, if during
installation/early testing the servo's or computer need servicing or just
customer service, will I be able to phone the company and get someone on the
line to walk me through a possible solution? If I need to return the unit,
how long will it take to get a working replacement part?  Is STEC (now owned
by Meggitt) still interested in  the Lancair market?  Has anyone recently
seen a degradation in service since the Meggitt purchase?  So what does it
really mean to us as pilots if their autopilot is rate based and the TruTrak
is positioned based.  Can I tell the difference and if so, how?  Will either
one really get an altitude nailed, without porpoising?  Will TruTrak be
around in years ahead to provide service and product updates? This list
could go on and on but my purpose is not to find definite answers to these
questions but to find a good autopilot which will provide rock steady flight
characteristics and not be in the shop every year.

Marshall Michaelian