Matronics Email Lists :: View topic

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Trutrak autopilots

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> RV10-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

drfred(at)suddenlinkmail.
Guest

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 7:10 am Post subject: Trutrak autopilots

I need a little advice from those who are IFR rated and flying.  

Unfortunately, my panel shop, Accuracy avionics just went belly up this 

am.  (I wouldn't advise sending them any more checks)  I've been stiffed 

out of an autopilot that I still haven't received yet.  Now that I get 

to pay double for it, I'm reconsidering how may features I need.  I 

planned on a Trutrak digiflight IIVSGV.



I would like to know how  often one needs the  vertical  GPS steering  

feature.  Does it help eliminate setting your power and trim for a 

climb/descent?  I have minimal IFR training, but doesn't one set up 

basically a table with power settings to see what your airplane will do 

to get say a 500 ft/min descent?  Looks like I could save about $400-500 

by not getting that feature. 



Little miffed this am......

Trying to regain composure and just fly the airplane.......



Thanks in advance for the replies. 

Dr Fred

40515

Now in panel assembly hell.

n212pj(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 7:48 am Post subject: Trutrak autopilots

What's in the water at Bend!  Good grief.  So sorry to hear this, Fred.  



John J



Do not archive 



--

Tim Olson

Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2872

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 7:50 am Post subject: Trutrak autopilots

It would depend on the rest of your panel.  If you have an

EFIS that will drive the vertical steering, you will love

the AP being able to do it.  Keep in mind that LOTS of

accidents happen IFR because a pilot dropped below the

approach slope....and then end up in the trees, towers, or

mountains.  So it's kind of a nice feature in that if you

have the right avionics behind it, it'll just drive you

on down.  No, it doesn't excuse you from making power

and trim adjustments (although there is auto-trim

available on some), but it's real easy to pull the power

back and the AP will let you know if you need to re-trim.



Personally, I'd say it's well worth it if you're going

to fly other avionics that can drive it.  If you only

have a real basic EFIS that is more of a 6-pack replacement,

or you don't have a 430W/480 type system, then you

may as well skip on the Vertical.  BTW: You can always

upgrade it later, for I *think* no additional cost beyond

the price difference, so you're only a TruTrak software

upgrade away from it if you decide to start without

the "V".



The avionics business is tough, so it's important to try

to pick those vendors that have been reliable for their

customers.  If this were eBay, you'd want to verify the

"postive feedback" count, and shop for a power seller

with a good rating.  Accuracy wasn't necessarily a place

out to screw anyone, but if there were a feedback system

like eBay, I bet you'd find there wasn't much to be had

to know what the track record was.



Would be cool if there were such a rating system for our

vendors, don't you think?



I just got done getting some HD Camcorder stuff....and one

of the things I did before buying was check

resellerratings.com on every vendor I was interested in.

You find out fast who's reliable.



Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying

do not archive

Fred Williams, M.D. wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <drfred(at)suddenlinkmail.com>

 

 I need a little advice from those who are IFR rated and flying.  

 Unfortunately, my panel shop, Accuracy avionics just went belly up this 

 am.  (I wouldn't advise sending them any more checks)  I've been stiffed 

 out of an autopilot that I still haven't received yet.  Now that I get 

 to pay double for it, I'm reconsidering how may features I need.  I 

 planned on a Trutrak digiflight IIVSGV.

 

 I would like to know how  often one needs the  vertical  GPS steering  

 feature.  Does it help eliminate setting your power and trim for a 

 climb/descent?  I have minimal IFR training, but doesn't one set up 

 basically a table with power settings to see what your airplane will do 

 to get say a 500 ft/min descent?  Looks like I could save about $400-500 

 by not getting that feature.

 Little miffed this am......

 Trying to regain composure and just fly the airplane.......

 

 Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

 Dr Fred

 40515

 Now in panel assembly hell.

pascal(at)rv10builder.net
Guest

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:21 am Post subject: Trutrak autopilots

The avionics business is tough, so it's important to try to pick those 

vendors that have been reliable for theircustomers.  If this were eBay, 

you'd want to verify the "postive feedback" count, and shop for a power 

seller with a good rating.



I think this is pretty easy actually. We know Steinair, Stark are rated well 

by many, all one needs to do is ask what others recommend and that would be 

like a "power seller".

I am all for saving a few bucks and I know there is someone on this forum 

that would be able to get me the best deals on Trutrak, AFS and some other 

companies. I know because I asked for a good place to get these things and 

that person sent me some suggestions.. The good thing about all of us is 

that we are building the same plane so it makes it actually better than ebay 

in a way.



I always heard good things about Accuracy so I am surprised to hear they 

were not able to succeed with the Lancair backers and their reputation.

 Sorry to hear about your dilemma..



Pascal



--------------------------------------------------

From: "Tim Olson" <Tim(at)MyRV10.com>

Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 8:48 AM

To: <rv10-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Re: Trutrak autopilots



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 It would depend on the rest of your panel.  If you have an

 EFIS that will drive the vertical steering, you will love

 the AP being able to do it.  Keep in mind that LOTS of

 accidents happen IFR because a pilot dropped below the

 approach slope....and then end up in the trees, towers, or

 mountains.  So it's kind of a nice feature in that if you

 have the right avionics behind it, it'll just drive you

 on down.  No, it doesn't excuse you from making power

 and trim adjustments (although there is auto-trim

 available on some), but it's real easy to pull the power

 back and the AP will let you know if you need to re-trim.



 Personally, I'd say it's well worth it if you're going

 to fly other avionics that can drive it.  If you only

 have a real basic EFIS that is more of a 6-pack replacement,

 or you don't have a 430W/480 type system, then you

 may as well skip on the Vertical.  BTW: You can always

 upgrade it later, for I *think* no additional cost beyond

 the price difference, so you're only a TruTrak software

 upgrade away from it if you decide to start without

 the "V".



 The avionics business is tough, so it's important to try

 to pick those vendors that have been reliable for their

 customers.  If this were eBay, you'd want to verify the

 "postive feedback" count, and shop for a power seller

 with a good rating.  Accuracy wasn't necessarily a place

 out to screw anyone, but if there were a feedback system

 like eBay, I bet you'd find there wasn't much to be had

 to know what the track record was.



 Would be cool if there were such a rating system for our

 vendors, don't you think?



 I just got done getting some HD Camcorder stuff....and one

 of the things I did before buying was check

 resellerratings.com on every vendor I was interested in.

 You find out fast who's reliable.



 Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying

 do not archive

 Fred Williams, M.D. wrote:

> 

> <drfred(at)suddenlinkmail.com>

>

> I need a little advice from those who are IFR rated and flying. 

> Unfortunately, my panel shop, Accuracy avionics just went belly up this 

> am.  (I wouldn't advise sending them any more checks)  I've been stiffed 

> out of an autopilot that I still haven't received yet.  Now that I get to 

> pay double for it, I'm reconsidering how may features I need.  I planned 

> on a Trutrak digiflight IIVSGV.

>

> I would like to know how  often one needs the  vertical  GPS steering 

> feature.  Does it help eliminate setting your power and trim for a 

> climb/descent?  I have minimal IFR training, but doesn't one set up 

> basically a table with power settings to see what your airplane will do 

> to get say a 500 ft/min descent?  Looks like I could save about $400-500 

> by not getting that feature.

> Little miffed this am......

> Trying to regain composure and just fly the airplane.......

>

> Thanks in advance for the replies.

>

> Dr Fred

> 40515

> Now in panel assembly hell.

>

ricksked(at)embarqmail.co
Guest

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 3:54 pm Post subject: Trutrak autopilots

What really bothers me is I have my panel from Accuracy, one of their first. I gave out glowing recommendations for their quality and service because that was my experience. I have not heard from Tony or Eric and this came as a complete surprise to me after talking to them at Sun n Fun. If anyone has suffered a loss as a result of my recommendation for Accuracy, please understand that I had a very good experience with them, if I hadn't, those that know me would tell you I usually don't hold any punches when it comes to service, value and other traits we hold close.



Rick Sked

40185

---

ricksked(at)embarqmail.co
Guest

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject: Trutrak autopilots

PS- Fred, I know e have chatted about assembling your panel.....If I can help you sort out that panel let me know...I have a pretty complete library of AA's wiring diagrams, manuals etc. Sorry this has happened to you.



Rick Sked

---

coop85(at)cableone.net
Guest

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject: Trutrak autopilots

Dr Fred,

   Sorry to hear about your experience, that is terribly frustrating on top

of all the financial issues.



I'd like to mimic Tim's comments about the autopilot.  I have the model you

were planning on tied to the GRT EFIS and a Garmin 480.  It works great and

having the pitch controls driven by the EFIS really makes life simple.  Be

it holding an altitude, climbing/descending at a certain rate/airspeed, or

flying the glideslope it really helps.  As Tim also mentioned, you can't

trust it implicitly though as you can exceed its ability if you get too

fast/slow relative to the current trim setting and there's the old garbage

in garbage out syndrome if you set it wrong and aren't paying attention.



Compared to the other Trutrak models my opinion is the difference in money

spent will be long forgotten by the time your first flight occurs but

benefiting by the extra capabilities will be there forever.  Having said all

that, if you are not going to install an EFIS of some kind capable of

driving the autopilot then the answer may change a lot.

Good luck,



Marcus

40286



Do not archive



--

flywrights(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 6:20 pm Post subject: Trutrak autopilots

Even on my limited budget I've been reminded on occasion that 400-500 is a fairly small amount if that's the only differential factor.  I understand if you're trying to trim a bunch of new increased prices, but if you like the original feature then it's pretty much a wash.

  

 Rob

 #392

 Making a negative fortune in aviation!

 ---

Bill Schlatterer

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 195

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject: Trutrak autopilots

Fred, that is one of the best things about the AP.  Plus when you are in the

soup or just buzzing on an IFR plan, the altitude preselect and capture is a

huge benefit.  Not that it's hard to do without but I love being able to

just pick the altitude and grab  xxx feet per minute and let it do the work.

It's real easy when you are going into someplace busy to get sidetracked and

miss a approach or descent altitude.  If you are single pilot IFR for real,

you will really want the VSGV and not so much for the approach itself as for

the overall convenience that it gives you.  Now if you also have the 430W or

an EFIS that will give you a Glideslope, you will really appreciate a fully

coupled approach.



It's not great to use the word "ALL" but virtually ALL charter pilots fly

the full IFR procedure including climb and descent on the AP because it

gives them an extra pair of hands and "eyes".  Let the AP fly the plane and

you watch the AP and watch for other airplanes if you can see at all. That

also gives you lots of time to stay ahead of the airplane which is a problem

in the soup. I very seldom ever fly a coupled approach when practicing but

always fly one if it is really IMC because that is the safer (less

challenging) way to do it,....the manual practice is just in case the AP

goes TU!



It's not necessary but it's well worth the money in my mind.  BTW, I did the

VSVG upgrade with TT earlier this year about a year after I bought the VSII

model.  Sent it to them with a check and they had it back in three (3) days.

Great folks to deal with.



Bill S

7a finishing



Do not archive



--

gengrumpy(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 5:30 am Post subject: Trutrak autopilots

I echo Marcus and Tim's comments.



I have the same model and really like it and the vertical climb and 

descent mode is flexible (if you want auto-throttle, gotta go be an 

airline jock).



I'm still fine tuning my turn rates, but that's what's nice about it.



If you don't like the settings for you, just change them.



grumpy

n184jm



do not archive

--

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> RV10-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum