Author: "brianrv7a" <brian@...> Time: Mon Dec 10, 2001 8:30 am PST Link
I just learned from my avionics guy that tru trak autopilots, who
make mostly high end autopilots for Lancairs and other expensive
palnes, has come out with a single servo digital model aimed at RVs.
It has a built in digital slaved DG, digital heading, and has a built
in digital compass that you can calibrate for installation error. The
unit is $2575 and can be later upgraded with a second servo for alt
hold. They have an GPS steer option for $375. They even send you the
install kit for the -7 that has a bracket that you mount under your
aileron bellcrank bracket which you mount their servo on. They said
that it is very easy to install in my completed wing. I saw the
servo, and it is small and light. I don't have all of the info yet,
but i am trying to get it.
Brian
-7a (fuse)
N705RV (reserved)
Author: "Daniel Masys, M.D." <dmasys@...> Time: Mon Dec 10, 2001 8:51 am PST Link
At 04:30 PM 12/10/2001 +0000, you wrote:
>I just learned from my avionics guy that tru trak autopilots, who
>make mostly high end autopilots for Lancairs and other expensive
>palnes, has come out with a single servo digital model aimed at RVs.
>It has a built in digital slaved DG, digital heading, and has a built
>in digital compass that you can calibrate for installation error. The
>unit is $2575 and can be later upgraded with a second servo for alt
>hold. They have an GPS steer option for $375. They even send you the
>install kit for the -7 that has a bracket that you mount under your
>aileron bellcrank bracket which you mount their servo on. They said
>that it is very easy to install in my completed wing. I saw the
>servo, and it is small and light. I don't have all of the info yet,
>but i am trying to get it.
I looked around at all of the autopilots available and decided the TruTrak
was the way to go also. I have the DigiFlight 200 (with altitude hold) on
order for my -7A. I was out flying over the weekend keeping my instrument
currency valid, and shot 6 instrument approaches in a C-172 in continuous
moderate turbulence (moderate = negative G's enough to lift you off the
seat) due to strong Santa Ana winds in SoCal. It reminded me that a sport
airplane like an RV-7 that has less pitch stability than a Wichita spamcan
would be a real handful in wet-and-bumpy IFR.
TruTrak also advertises that their digital sensing approach makes it one of
the few autopilots you actually want to turn on in turbulence rather than
turn off.
Dan Masys
RV7A -wings
Author: "Brian Peterson" <brian@...> Time: Mon Dec 10, 2001 10:47 am PST Link
I am glad to hear some postitve feedback. I heard that it works well, especially if you have a plane that is more difficult to fly. not that a -7 is hard to fly, but that speaks highly for the autopilot. I also like the upgradable option. The one i am talkiing about is the Digiflight 100 which i think is like yours only without the alt hold. The little digital display thatthe Digiflight 100 has is nice looking.
Brian
>>> "Daniel Masys, M.D." <dmasys@u...> 12/10/01 11:51AM >>>
At 04:30 PM 12/10/2001 +0000, you wrote:
>I just learned from my avionics guy that tru trak autopilots, who
>make mostly high end autopilots for Lancairs and other expensive
>palnes, has come out with a single servo digital model aimed at RVs.
>It has a built in digital slaved DG, digital heading, and has a built
>in digital compass that you can calibrate for installation error. The
>unit is $2575 and can be later upgraded with a second servo for alt
>hold. They have an GPS steer option for $375. They even send you the
>install kit for the -7 that has a bracket that you mount under your
>aileron bellcrank bracket which you mount their servo on. They said
>that it is very easy to install in my completed wing. I saw the
>servo, and it is small and light. I don't have all of the info yet,
>but i am trying to get it.
I looked around at all of the autopilots available and decided the TruTrak
was the way to go also. I have the DigiFlight 200 (with altitude hold) on
order for my -7A. I was out flying over the weekend keeping my instrument
currency valid, and shot 6 instrument approaches in a C-172 in continuous
moderate turbulence (moderate = negative G's enough to lift you off the
seat) due to strong Santa Ana winds in SoCal. It reminded me that a sport
airplane like an RV-7 that has less pitch stability than a Wichita spamcan
would be a real handful in wet-and-bumpy IFR.
TruTrak also advertises that their digital sensing approach makes it one of
the few autopilots you actually want to turn on in turbulence rather than
turn off.
Dan Masys
RV7A -wings
Van's Air Force - World Wide Wing
www.vansaircraft.net
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Author: "robert_paisley" <robert@...> Time: Mon Dec 10, 2001 12:38 pm PST Link
Is there a URL for the tru trak products?
Robert Paisley
--- In RV7and7A@y..., "brianrv7a" <brian@s...> wrote:
> I just learned from my avionics guy that tru trak autopilots, who
> make mostly high end autopilots for Lancairs and other expensive
> palnes, has come out with a single servo digital model aimed at
RVs.
> It has a built in digital slaved DG, digital heading, and has a
built
> in digital compass that you can calibrate for installation error.
The
> unit is $2575 and can be later upgraded with a second servo for alt
> hold. They have an GPS steer option for $375. They even send you
the
> install kit for the -7 that has a bracket that you mount under your
> aileron bellcrank bracket which you mount their servo on. They said
> that it is very easy to install in my completed wing. I saw the
> servo, and it is small and light. I don't have all of the info yet,
> but i am trying to get it.
> Brian
> -7a (fuse)
> N705RV (reserved)
Author: "Brian Peterson" <brian@...> Time: Mon Dec 10, 2001 12:45 pm PST Link
i have a number fro my avionics guy. he is a dealer.
call him. he will give you the scoop. Larry Corrado 386-426-1213
>>> "robert_paisley" <robert@p...> 12/10/01 03:38PM >>>
Is there a URL for the tru trak products?
Robert Paisley
--- In RV7and7A@y..., "brianrv7a" <brian@s...> wrote:
> I just learned from my avionics guy that tru trak autopilots, who
> make mostly high end autopilots for Lancairs and other expensive
> palnes, has come out with a single servo digital model aimed at
RVs.
> It has a built in digital slaved DG, digital heading, and has a
built
> in digital compass that you can calibrate for installation error.
The
> unit is $2575 and can be later upgraded with a second servo for alt
> hold. They have an GPS steer option for $375. They even send you
the
> install kit for the -7 that has a bracket that you mount under your
> aileron bellcrank bracket which you mount their servo on. They said
> that it is very easy to install in my completed wing. I saw the
> servo, and it is small and light. I don't have all of the info yet,
> but i am trying to get it.
> Brian
> -7a (fuse)
> N705RV (reserved)
Van's Air Force - World Wide Wing
www.vansaircraft.net
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Author: "Phil Birkelbach" <phil@...> Time: Mon Dec 10, 2001 12:45 pm PST Link
http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/
Phil Birkelbach
RV-7 - N727WB (Reserved) - Wings - Fuse ordered
Houston, Texas
http://www.myrv7.com
Takeoffs are optional, Landings are mandatory.
----- Original Message -----
From: robert_paisley
To: RV7and7A@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 2:38 PM
Subject: [RV7and7A] Re: tru trak auto pilot
Is there a URL for the tru trak products?
Robert Paisley
--- In RV7and7A@y..., "brianrv7a" <brian@s...> wrote:
> I just learned from my avionics guy that tru trak autopilots, who
> make mostly high end autopilots for Lancairs and other expensive
> palnes, has come out with a single servo digital model aimed at
RVs.
> It has a built in digital slaved DG, digital heading, and has a
built
> in digital compass that you can calibrate for installation error.
The
> unit is $2575 and can be later upgraded with a second servo for alt
> hold. They have an GPS steer option for $375. They even send you
the
> install kit for the -7 that has a bracket that you mount under your
> aileron bellcrank bracket which you mount their servo on. They said
> that it is very easy to install in my completed wing. I saw the
> servo, and it is small and light. I don't have all of the info yet,
> but i am trying to get it.
> Brian
> -7a (fuse)
> N705RV (reserved)
Van's Air Force - World Wide Wing
www.vansaircraft.net
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Author: "davidd010" <david010@...> Time: Mon Dec 10, 2001 8:10 pm PST Link
Just my 2 cents on experimental autopilots - Navaid vrs auto track.
I have a Navaid in my airplane (a Cozy) and it has worked fine for
over three years. It is coupled to a Lowrance 300 GPS and tracks a
course very well. All this for about half the cost of the auto track.
The auto track does have a digital heading feature which is nice.
However, it apparently can not be coupled to a hand held GPS.
Neither unit is certified or legal for IFR.
An auto track FAQ states "Can I couple the autopilot to a hand-
held GPS? Coupling the autopilot to a hand-held GPS is not
recommended, because a hand-held GPS is not accurate enough to fly
the aircraft as well as we believe it should be flown."
My hand held GPS is very accurate - usually within 30 meters or less.
When I take off, it tracks the center line of the runway.
Both these auto pilots are more than adequate for VFR use and
recommended for safer flight, but I do have a problem with the price
of the auto track vrs Navaid.
dd
RV7 HS complete VS taking shape.
Author: "rp10294648" <rpflanze2@...> Time: Tue Dec 11, 2001 11:22 am PST Link
Your points are valid, but you're comparing apples to oranges. The
Navaid device is a very adequate wing leveler with a price to match
it's features. However, the TruTrac systems are true digital multi-
servo autopilots. I only fly VFR but like the idea that I can
program the autopilot to climb, level off and hold altitude, follow
GPS flightplan, and descend for less than $5K. True, you can't
couple the TruTrac with a handheld, but at the price point of the
TruTrac, the buyer is more likely to have a panel mounted GPS
anyway. I've flown enough cross country to know that I will value
the features that the TruTrac system has to offer and I am more than
willing to pay for it.
Randy Pflanzer
RV-6 (sold)
RV-7A (Empennage)
--- In RV7and7A@y..., "davidd010" <david010@s...> wrote:
> Just my 2 cents on experimental autopilots - Navaid vrs auto track.
>
> I have a Navaid in my airplane (a Cozy) and it has worked fine for
> over three years. It is coupled to a Lowrance 300 GPS and tracks a
> course very well. All this for about half the cost of the auto
track.
>
> The auto track does have a digital heading feature which is nice.
> However, it apparently can not be coupled to a hand held GPS.
>
> Neither unit is certified or legal for IFR.
>
> An auto track FAQ states "Can I couple the autopilot to a hand-
> held GPS? Coupling the autopilot to a hand-held GPS is not
> recommended, because a hand-held GPS is not accurate enough to fly
> the aircraft as well as we believe it should be flown."
>
> My hand held GPS is very accurate - usually within 30 meters or
less.
> When I take off, it tracks the center line of the runway.
>
> Both these auto pilots are more than adequate for VFR use and
> recommended for safer flight, but I do have a problem with the price
> of the auto track vrs Navaid.
>
> dd
> RV7 HS complete VS taking shape.
Author: "Phil Birkelbach" <phil@...> Time: Tue Dec 11, 2001 12:59 pm PST Link
Don't forget that the TruTrak Autopilot is solid state. There are no moving parts to break. With a solid state AHRS of some kind and the TruTrak you can have an entire panel (VFR or IFR) without a single spinning gyro.
Phil Birkelbach
RV-7 - N727WB (Reserved) - Wings - Fuse ordered
Houston, Texas
http://www.myrv7.com
Takeoffs are optional, Landings are mandatory.
----- Original Message -----
From: rp10294648
To: RV7and7A@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 1:22 PM
Subject: [RV7and7A] Re: tru trak auto pilot
Your points are valid, but you're comparing apples to oranges. The
Navaid device is a very adequate wing leveler with a price to match
it's features. However, the TruTrac systems are true digital multi-
servo autopilots. I only fly VFR but like the idea that I can
program the autopilot to climb, level off and hold altitude, follow
GPS flightplan, and descend for less than $5K. True, you can't
couple the TruTrac with a handheld, but at the price point of the
TruTrac, the buyer is more likely to have a panel mounted GPS
anyway. I've flown enough cross country to know that I will value
the features that the TruTrac system has to offer and I am more than
willing to pay for it.
Randy Pflanzer
RV-6 (sold)
RV-7A (Empennage)
--- In RV7and7A@y..., "davidd010" <david010@s...> wrote:
> Just my 2 cents on experimental autopilots - Navaid vrs auto track.
>
> I have a Navaid in my airplane (a Cozy) and it has worked fine for
> over three years. It is coupled to a Lowrance 300 GPS and tracks a
> course very well. All this for about half the cost of the auto
track.
>
> The auto track does have a digital heading feature which is nice.
> However, it apparently can not be coupled to a hand held GPS.
>
> Neither unit is certified or legal for IFR.
>
> An auto track FAQ states "Can I couple the autopilot to a hand-
> held GPS? Coupling the autopilot to a hand-held GPS is not
> recommended, because a hand-held GPS is not accurate enough to fly
> the aircraft as well as we believe it should be flown."
>
> My hand held GPS is very accurate - usually within 30 meters or
less.
> When I take off, it tracks the center line of the runway.
>
> Both these auto pilots are more than adequate for VFR use and
> recommended for safer flight, but I do have a problem with the price
> of the auto track vrs Navaid.
>
> dd
> RV7 HS complete VS taking shape.
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