KR> Inexpensive autopilot
> "As to the other part about stressing the plane, at least in the case of a KR, they are pretty tough and in any case there is always staying below maneuvering speed . . ." As soon as I'd sent the email I realized I'd left out that extremely important point . . . to slow down. I wish my Juno email was more idiot-proof. I followed that first email with an addendum regarding slowing down, something I'd left out of the first email in my haste to hit the "send" button. The second email got sent to my own email instead of KRNET, so that point you make got left out. Yes, getting down to maneuvering speed is extremely important. Re an autopilot and artificial horizon, some of them have an artificial horizon as part their system. That's probably what your Chaptyer president was thinking of. TruTrak had one that incorporated the ADI (which is what I use for attitude reference) and if one of these systems had ever come up used I surely would have bought it, but they're rare. Their other autopilot systems were more popular. In any case, if the autopilot system has an AI included, turning off the servos wouldn't necessarily affect your attitude reference - depends on which system you've got. Having an attitude reference is essential in any case. They're getting amazingly inexpensive - all of the electronics are for we who fly Experimentals. Mike KSEE Sponsored by https://www.newser.com/?utm_source=part&utm_medium=uol&utm_campaign=rss_taglines_more America's 'Virus Hero' Is Suddenly Taking Heat http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb6ea33acec6a32595dst04vuc1 The Coronavirus Gets Closer to Trump http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb6ea332d3a36a32595dst04vuc2 Suspect in Jogger's Death 'Knew Him' From Another Case http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb6ea334fc616a32595dst04vuc3 ___ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
Re: KR> Inexpensive autopilot
Interesting. While training for my IFR, we did a long cross country flight ( for fun and to pick up a family member ) we waited for bad weather to pass on the return trip home. We finally made a decision to go. I was of course PiC. Withing 10 minutes we flew into weather and I continued to hand fly the Cherokee 6-300 by hand. I was then told by 2 CFII's , one being a commercial pilot as well to stop beating myself up and use the autopilot. So I did. I was told if it has it, use it. That hand flying it placed more stress on the pilot which could magnify complications and it would put too much stress on the airplane and possibly result in over controlling the airplane and a good autopliot was smoother and easier on the aircraft. That was probably the worst weather I ever flew in and I couldnt see the prop on the front of the plane. The autopilot sure lowered my stress level . Jeff York KR2 Georgetown Scott Co Airport On Fri, May 8, 2020, 2:42 PM Mike Stirewalt via KRnet wrote: > > " . . .lets say you venture into stormy conditions > and want this unit as a safety . . ." > > Standard procedure with any autopilot is to turn it off in turbulence. > The autopilot will fight what shouldn't be fought in those conditions. > Not only will it stress the servos and other relevant components of the > autopilot system, it will needlessly stress the aircraft structure and > control surfaces. Other than keeping the plane right side up and on > course, when caught in turbulence you let the sky have the plane. > > Mike > KSEE > > > > Sponsored by > https://www.newser.com/?utm_source=part&utm_medium=uol&utm_campaign=rss_taglines_more > > 2nd White House Staffer Tests Positive This Week > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb5a7d0730cd27d01e64st02vuc1 > Trump: I Learned a Key Lesson From Nixon > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb5a7d09622027d01e64st02vuc2 > Conspiracy Video 'Plandemic' Gets Yanked, but Persists > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb5a7d0b87f727d01e64st02vuc3 > > ___ > Search the KRnet Archives at > https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. > Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org > ___ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
Re: KR> Inexpensive autopilot
Thanks Mike. You know, I didnt know that standard procedure was to turn it off in rough conditions. But my mindset was created as follows, when I bought that plane, i asked my EAA chapter president, and experienced builder aviator, about getting an electric horizon in case of an unexpected loss of visibility, top stay right side up and fly out of it. he suggested why not go right to an autopilot, I didnt give it much more though and went with it. Installing it and having it work first try was a real achievement. I am careful and weather-respecting, so never had that contingency (or even come close). But when I eventually have a KR, I always thought that an AP would be the safety net for such a loss of visibility situation. When this cheaper trim tab solution came up here, I wondered if it would have the authority needed to be that safety net. Now you've got me questioning the original premise although an AP certainly could help if visibility became an issue with not so much rough air. As to the other part about stressing the plane, at least in the case of a KR, they are pretty tough and in any case there is always staying below maneuvering speed in which mode supposedly then plane cannot be broken with control inputs. That's why I love this group, I learn new things with each post! ___ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
KR> Inexpensive autopilot
> " . . .lets say you venture into stormy conditions and want this unit as a safety . . ." Standard procedure with any autopilot is to turn it off in turbulence. The autopilot will fight what shouldn't be fought in those conditions. Not only will it stress the servos and other relevant components of the autopilot system, it will needlessly stress the aircraft structure and control surfaces. Other than keeping the plane right side up and on course, when caught in turbulence you let the sky have the plane. Mike KSEE Sponsored by https://www.newser.com/?utm_source=part&utm_medium=uol&utm_campaign=rss_taglines_more 2nd White House Staffer Tests Positive This Week http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb5a7d0730cd27d01e64st02vuc1 Trump: I Learned a Key Lesson From Nixon http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb5a7d09622027d01e64st02vuc2 Conspiracy Video 'Plandemic' Gets Yanked, but Persists http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb5a7d0b87f727d01e64st02vuc3 ___ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
Re: KR> Inexpensive autopilot
this is cool. having installed a ~3500 trio autopilot in my avid flyer for a transcontinental ferry trip, (excellent product with lots of smart features), my first thought is whether this unit has enough authority. In other words, lets say you venture into stormy conditions and want this unit as a safety to prevent unusual attitude emergency, lets say. would a trim tab approach have less ability to handle the situation? if this unit only useful for relatively calm air, would still be useful to take hands off for tending other things or simply reduce fatigue on long xc legs... ___ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
KR> Inexpensive autopilot
> "This is the auto pilot being talked about on the Thatcher talk group. It doesnt attach to the ailerons or elevator, it attaches to small trim tabs added to elevator or ailerons. As talked about on the other group." TruTrak was working with this concept. They were going to charge $1000 for it and since I like their company I wanted to be first in line. I think it worked well, the problems came with having to develop a "kit" for every different aircraft and the project got bogged down and, now that we know they've been bought, there were clearly some other irons in the fire more important than this autopilot they were developing. I think they did get a kit developed for the RV-4 so there's probably a few of them flying. Considering they (TruTrak) were going to have to do this with a ton of different planes, it's no surprise the idea was dropped. Somebody else has picked the idea up though and it seems to me it can't miss. At only $200 for a wing leveler w/altitude hold, it's bound to be very popular. Perfect for the KR both in terms of price (of course) and the KR's light control forces. We fly these planes more by thought than by actual manipulation of controls so this thing will probably work better on KR's than on Thatchers or anything else. In a plane one can steer just by leaning from side to side, it doesn't need powerful servos. The KR started out as a model airplane, after all. It's not a stretch to think these lightweight and inexpensive components will work just fine. Mike KSEE Sponsored by https://www.newser.com/?utm_source=part&utm_medium=uol&utm_campaign=rss_taglines_more Pence: We're Talking About Doing Away With Task Force http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb1dc9ce5695c9c5fd0st04vuc1 Meat Shortage Affecting One Fast-Food Chain's Menus http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb1dc9c313f25c9c5fd0st04vuc2 Chris Christie: We Must Accept Deaths to Save America http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb1dc9c53ee75c9c5fd0st04vuc3 ___ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
Re: KR> Inexpensive autopilot
This is the auto pilot being talked about on the Thatcher talk group. It doesn’t attach to the ailerons or elevator, it attaches to small trim tabs added to elevator or ailerons. As talked about on the other group. Larry H > On May 4, 2020, at 7:23 PM, Mike Stirewalt via KRnet > wrote: > > > Just stumbled across this. Top of the line model with all the options > seems to be about $700 whereas just a wing leveler with altitude hold > appears to be less than $200. > > Worth exploring I think: > > https://www.xflighttech.com/ > > Mike > ___ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
KR> Inexpensive autopilot
Just stumbled across this. Top of the line model with all the options seems to be about $700 whereas just a wing leveler with altitude hold appears to be less than $200. Worth exploring I think: https://www.xflighttech.com/ Mike KSEE Sponsored by https://www.newser.com/?utm_source=part&utm_medium=uol&utm_campaign=rss_taglines_more A New Troubling Projection Emerges on US Virus Deaths http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb0b1e812e1531e74070st01vuc1 Nashville Singer Cady Groves Dead at 30 http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb0b1e83696f31e74070st01vuc2 In This Country, Virus Doctors Are 'Falling' Out of Windows http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5eb0b1e85989631e74070st01vuc3 ___ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
