Eric,
I am using your question to answer two additional queries about AOA systems that I received during Oshkosh.
First of all, AOA systems, when properly installed and calibrated, are a great stall warning system--better than the
traditional vanes and airspeed-only based systems. The newer systems available are reported to be both reliable and accurate. AOA was a “required equipment” item in the USAF aircraft that I flew before retirement, and I became a devotee long ago. LOBO, the
FAA and the NTSB have all recently looked at the available accident data and have stated that a calibrated AOA system could have prevented at least some of the loss-of-control accidents now on our books.
LOBO has not endorsed any specific system, but strongly believes that any properly-installed system, to include stall
strips, are a significant addition to the airspeed indicator for stall warning and avoidance. This is particularly true for our
Lancairs that don’t change control “feel” forces over rather large airspeed changes, and exhibit little to no warning of an incipient stall without some type of AOA sensing/warning.
I installed the Advanced Flight Systems AOA Pro in my IV-P when I built it, and have been extremely pleased with its
faultless performance over the past 5 years. I can highly recommend this system, and the people behind it, from Jim Frantz who originally developed it, to Rob Hickman and the folks that manage the company today.
http://www.advanced-flight-systems.com
(503) 263-0037.
My recommendation comes from a well satisfied customer; but I have no experience with any of the other AOA systems available
for GA aircraft. I have also never had it “alert” in the air except during intentional maneuvering to test the system, and just before touchdown. That’s one of the reasons I like it a lot…I am pretty confident that it will warn me if I get too slow, but it’s
never given a false alarm…which would concern my ever-vigilant co-pilot/wife.
I am sure there are other good AOA systems available, but this one is top of the line as far as I am concerned.
Thanks,
BOB
From: Lancair
Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Erik Larson
Sent: Saturday, August 10, 2013 12:02 AM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Adding AOA to a Legacy?
I am considering adding AOA to my Legacy and was wondering if I can get some feedback from anyone who has done this.
Is there any consensus out there as to what system is preferred, from a performance standpoint and secondarily, ease of installation.
I was looking at the Alpha Systems DSTR-AOA-9000EK which just happens to be named
Legacy.
Any experience about this or any other systems would be greatly appreciated!