lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

What all are you putting in? Sent from my iPhone On Dec 31, 2013, at 14:29, "Jay Phillips" <jayph@fastairplane.net> wrote: David Buckwalter is doing the build. Brad Simmons is doing the installation. Jay Phillips -----Original Message----- From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Steven Bradford Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 11:22 AM To: lml@lancaironline.net Subject: [LML] Re: Advanced flight systems s-TEC GPSS interface Who is doing the installation work for you? Steven On Dec 30, 2013, at 11:20, "Jay Phillips" <jayph@fastairplane.net> wrote: I'm having this installed in my 4P as we speak (email?). Should have it back in a couple of weeks. Be happy to report once I have something to report. Jay Phillips -----Original Message----- From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Todd Long Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 8:55 AM To: lml@lancaironline.net Subject: [LML] Re: Advanced flight systems s-TEC GPSS interface Does anyone have the G3X and the newest Garmin autopilot instated in a 4 or 4P? And want to share their experience. I know a few people are looking at maybe switching to that and would like some feed back. Sent from my iPhone On Dec 29, 2013, at 14:10, George Wehrung <gw5@me.com> wrote: We have the AFS 4500S in our ES with the TruTrak Autopilot. TruTrak manufactures the autopilot for AFS. I agree with the display being too busy and would also prefer a separate HSI vs being overlaid on top of the ADI. Our autopilot needs adjustment either in the servos or software as it pitches and hunts in turns of greater than 10˚. Just another thing I need to get to. I am also having trouble controlling the autopilot through the AFS EFIS. The early installs had a two position rocker switch where the autopilot took its input directly from a garmin GPS (GNS430W in our case) or from the EFIS. I can only go directly from the Garmin at this point. From talking with AFS tech support they have tried giving me directions on how to take the switch out of the loop. But if I can’t have the EFIS give direction from the autopilot it will become just a wing leveler and altitude hold autopilot. I am also very interested to see where the Garmin G3X goes. I would like to have a single unit over on the right side so they can fly and then two units having a ADI/HSI on one panel and a moving map Panels together. This would compliment my Garmin stack (340, MX20, GNS430W, and SL30). And when I do replace the 430 I could do that with the GTN 650. My other complaint with the AFS is that I can not see the second bearing pointer. I use #1 for the GPS enroute pointer and the HSI but I can’t see the bearing that my SL30 is locked onto. Ok, that’s my rant for now. George On Dec 29, 2013, at 11:35 AM, Todd Long <toddlong1@gmail.com> wrote: Do you already have an afs EFIS? I currently have the 3500S. It interfaces with the AFS Pilot to control everything. It does have ALT preselect. I think the user interface is way better with the 5000 series. In my 3500 there is way too much button pushing to just change heading and altitude. The 5000 has pretty much dedicated knobs for each altitude and heading select. So I'm sure that makes it way nicer to use. The 5000 so makes entering crossing point altitudes easy. The altitude and pitch has given me no trouble. So far it works well and holds altitude nicely even in in light to moderate summer bumps. The lateral is another story. It tends to hunt until it finally gets its self dialed in. I think the servo they recommended doesn't have enough torque. If I was to do a new install I would use the recommended pitch servo and the high torque on roll. Also when disturbed in roll by turbulence in starts oscillating. A kind of tick tock motion. Doesn't get worse but doesn't get better. If I grab the stick and hold it steady for a second it stops. No idea why it does that but I have heard I'm not the only one with this problem. So far I have not been able to come up with a combination of settings in the autopilot and EFIS to correct the problem. Install was fairly straight forward. Took 2 days. Half of it was disassembling the panel and interior. The stec servos will not work. And a few new wires will need to be run. The afs takes 9? for pitch I think. I really dislike the 3500 interface so far as usability. And the HSI overlayed on the ADI annoys me. Too much clutter in one space. I have considered upgrading to the 5000 series for a bigger screen and all the extra knobs and buttons. But to be honest I want to see what Garmin does with the G3X next. Maybe a bigger or touch screen? If so I'd pull all the AFS stuff out and go all Garmin autopilot included. The Garmin autopilot servos have more torque than the AFS does except for the high torque. Plus Garmin isn't going anywhere soon or being bought out. And if you have any problems with compatibility it's most likely a one stop shop for tech support. Because what else would you install but Garmin GPS and radios. Garmin does charge more for data updates. But over all in total costs, flying and insuring a 4P isn't cheap to start. Playing with both the Garmin and AFS at Oshkosh this summer I'm sold on Garmin. But since my system is workable now I'm going to wait to see what comes out next. My wishes really only include a bigger screen and maybe touch screen. Garmin has the screen technology in their portables at that size and is going touch on about everything else. Sent from my iPhone On Dec 28, 2013, at 10:38, Douglas Johnson <lancair1@bellsouth.net> wrote: How do you like the afs autopilot? Does it have altitude preselect and hold? Good lateral and vertical precision? Did you have to switch out all your stec servos and wiring? Douglas Johnson MD Sent from my iPad On Dec 27, 2013, at 7:28 AM, Todd Long <toddlong1@gmail.com> wrote: I screwed around for a year with an stec 55x and the afs. Don't waste your time. You will have headaches and be disappointed. Rob will even tell you the stec works with limited functionality and only has had a few partial successes. It's not a sales ploy. Stec tech support tried to help but have almost zero knowledge of afs equipment. Also the interface for operation will be a pain. I ended up putting in the afs pilot and should have from the start. Took about 2 days to install. I had the stec in the plane when I bought it. And tried to make it work with the afs. FAIL. Sent from my iPhone On Dec 26, 2013, at 16:23, Tom <n20087@yahoo.com> wrote: Folks I am interested in hearing from anyone with experience interfacing an advanced flight systems efis with an Stec autopilot using the st901 GPSS module. I would like to upgrade my panel incrementally and keep the basic autopilot in place. I believe I could still operate coupled approaches with little or no change to my existing wiring but where things get a little fuzzy is around the heading guidance selection from the efis source. The af5000 has an Stec selection for auto pilot type. I am not certain if it is providing the right ARINC tags to the GPSS. Ie ground speed and commanded roll rate. Again I would love to hear from anybody having experience with this arrangement Thanks Tom -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html