X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:55:12 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from smtp-auth-02.mx.pitdc1.expedient.net ([206.210.66.135] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.3.7) with ESMTPS id 4348292 for lml@lancaironline.net; Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:42:12 -0400 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=206.210.66.135; envelope-from=rpastusek@htii.com Received: from HTBOB001 (unknown [65.202.210.118]) by smtp-auth-02.mx.pitdc1.expedient.net (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id 677C68BF2 for ; Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:41:37 -0400 (EDT) From: "Robert Pastusek" X-Original-To: "'Lancair Mailing List'" References: In-Reply-To: Subject: RE: [LML] Adding an auto pilot X-Original-Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:41:34 -0400 X-Original-Message-ID: <008501cb0c98$dc297d60$947c7820$@com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0086_01CB0C77.5517DD60" X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook 12.0 Thread-Index: AcsMJEGmlNJaXKnBT7WAOGE0BvgMXQAboWtg Content-Language: en-us This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0086_01CB0C77.5517DD60 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Danny Miller wrote: =20 I'm looking at a nice 320 to buy for about $60k but it has no auto = pilot. If anybody here can give an idea as to the amount of work I = could expect to install a 2-axis A/P (pitch & roll) it would be greatly = appreciated? Recommendations for type would also be appreciated as well = as any cost estimates. Dan,=20 I consider the autopilot an essential part of my airplane. Flew from = Manassas to FL and back a couple of weeks ago without the = autopilot=E2=80=A6it was a good reminder of the workload involved in = flying one of these slippery airplanes IFR for long periods! Good = decision to install one=E2=80=A6even if you only use it to reduce = workload during VFR flying. =20 I don=E2=80=99t know about the installation work involved; several other = 300-series owners could advise on this, but I suspect the work would be = about the same for any autopilot you chose. You=E2=80=99ll need to mount = and attach pitch and roll servos to your flight controls, mount the = control head on the instrument panel and run power and control wiring = for these units.=20 =20 I can recommend TruTrak autopilots=E2=80=94especially if you have any = digital EFIS systems in your airplane, or intend to install these in the = future. Several models/capabilities to chose from. I have a Digiflight = II VSGV in my IV-P. This model is specifically designed to integrate = with an EFIS; may not be suitable for your airplane, but it works = flawlessly, and I love it! I considered but did not install the yaw axis = part, giving me pitch and roll control only. The autopilot, when coupled = to my EFIS, will (I think) fly the airplane literally onto the end of a = runway. I say =E2=80=9Cthink=E2=80=9D only because I=E2=80=99ve always = =E2=80=9Cpaddled it off=E2=80=9D on short final=E2=80=94the autpoilot = won=E2=80=99t flare at all=E2=80=A6 Still, the TruTrak=E2=80=99s ability = to control the aircraft in both pitch and roll during initial approach = set up and then descent phase of a GPS approach is impressive.=20 =20 These units take some time to set up/configure/tune for optimum control = of each type of airplane, but there is enough experience with these in = the Lancair community to make this relatively painless. Good Luck! =20 Bob ------=_NextPart_000_0086_01CB0C77.5517DD60 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Danny Miller wrote:

 

I'm looking at a nice = 320 to buy for about $60k but it has no auto pilot.  If anybody here can give = an idea as to the amount of work I could expect to install a 2-axis A/P (pitch = & roll) it would be greatly appreciated?  Recommendations for type = would also be appreciated as well as any cost estimates.

Dan,

I consider the autopilot an essential part of my = airplane. Flew from Manassas to FL and back a couple of weeks ago without the = autopilot=E2=80=A6it was a good reminder of the workload involved in flying one of these slippery airplanes IFR=C2=A0 for long periods! Good decision to install = one=E2=80=A6even if you only use it to reduce workload during VFR flying.

 

I don=E2=80=99t know about the installation work = involved; several other 300-series owners could advise on this, but I suspect the work would be = about the same for any autopilot you chose. You=E2=80=99ll need to mount and = attach pitch and roll servos to your flight controls, mount the control head on the = instrument panel and run power and control wiring for these units. =

 

I can recommend TruTrak autopilots=E2=80=94especially if = you have any digital EFIS systems in your airplane, or intend to install these in the future. Several models/capabilities to chose from. I have a Digiflight = II VSGV in my IV-P. This model is specifically designed to integrate with an EFIS; = may not be suitable for your airplane, but it works flawlessly, and I love it! I considered but did not install the yaw axis part, giving me pitch and = roll control only. The autopilot, when coupled to my EFIS, will (I think) fly = the airplane literally onto the end of a runway. I say = =E2=80=9Cthink=E2=80=9D only because I=E2=80=99ve always =E2=80=9Cpaddled it off=E2=80=9D on short final=E2=80=94the = autpoilot won=E2=80=99t flare at all=E2=80=A6 Still, the TruTrak=E2=80=99s ability to control the aircraft in both pitch and = roll during initial approach set up and then descent phase of a GPS approach is impressive. =

 

These units take some time to set up/configure/tune for optimum control of = each type of airplane, but there is enough experience with these in the Lancair = community to make this relatively painless.


Good Luck!

 

Bob

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