 |
Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
alnanarthur(at)sbcglobal.
Guest
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:20 pm Post subject: Trutrak |
 |
|
Hi Michel,
Now that you have been using the Trutrak Turn and Bank for a while,
how do you like it? Have you noticed any anomalies or strange
behavior. I'm day VFR , but I would like to have a gyro of some
kind. I am looking at the Trutrak ADI at $1095. Any comments?
Allan Arthur
Kitfox 5, N40AA
Rotax 912s, Warpdrive 3 blade
Byron Airport, CA (C83) Hanger C8
On Dec 11, 2005, at 6:16 AM, Michel Verheughe wrote:
| Quote: |
Hello Kitfoxers,
Last September, Clif wrote the following:
On Sep 21, 2005, at 5:20 PM, Clifford Begnaud wrote:
> Have you seen this:
> http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/ttfsinstruments.html
Yes Clif, I saw it, I bought it and I love it! Actually it was
supposed
to be my Christmas present but ... as a spoiled kid, I had to try it
now! So, I installed it in five minutes and went flying today. It
works
super-duper, it's cheap, very light and does a splendid job at showing
my bank and turn rate. Here is a photo taken today:
http://home.online.no/~michel/tmp/bank.jpg
Note that the only moving part is the blue (sky) half-circle.
Cheers,
Michel
|
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Michel
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:29 am Post subject: Trutrak |
|
|
On Mar 22, 2006, at 1:17 AM, alnanarthur wrote:
| Quote: | Now that you have been using the Trutrak Turn and Bank for a while,
how do you like it?
|
Hello Allan, sorry for the late answer, I was in Poland for business,
and couldn't check my email before now.
I am very pleased with my TruTrak Pictorial turn coordinator. It's the
small one (2 1/4") as it is what fitted my panel. Like they say, the
moving sky (vs. the moving plane in a traditional turn coordinator) is
easier to interpret (in reality your plane is the instrument and
doesn't move). I have tried it with a hood and it is very easy to keep
the plane on a straight level as the instrument is very, very sensitive
to roll. It has no moving part (solid state) and only a step motor that
moves the background blue (sky) half circle. At US$ 445, it is worth
it.
Cheers,
Michel
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
|
_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
alnanarthur(at)sbcglobal.
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:12 am Post subject: Trutrak |
|
|
Hi Michel,
Thanks for your reply. I also got and off list description of the
Trutrak ADI from Bruce Lina which was very helpful.
I still don't understand solid state gyros.
I assume that it responds to both roll and yaw, as does a mechanical
turn coordinator.
Is it calibrated to do a 180 deg turn in one minute with the red dot
at the top in a "dog house".
Is there any problem in turbulence? How does it respond to a 360
deg. turn at a 45 or 60 deg bank angle?
I apologize for all these questions. I should just go buy one and
try it.
Allan Arthur
Kitfox 5, N40AA
Rotax 912s, Warpdrive 3 blade
Byron Airport CA (C83) Hanger C8
On Mar 26, 2006, at 10:25 AM, Michel Verheughe wrote:
| Quote: |
On Mar 22, 2006, at 1:17 AM, alnanarthur wrote:
> Now that you have been using the Trutrak Turn and Bank for a while,
> how do you like it?
Hello Allan, sorry for the late answer, I was in Poland for business,
and couldn't check my email before now.
I am very pleased with my TruTrak Pictorial turn coordinator. It's the
small one (2 1/4") as it is what fitted my panel. Like they say, the
moving sky (vs. the moving plane in a traditional turn coordinator) is
easier to interpret (in reality your plane is the instrument and
doesn't move). I have tried it with a hood and it is very easy to keep
the plane on a straight level as the instrument is very, very
sensitive
to roll. It has no moving part (solid state) and only a step motor
that
moves the background blue (sky) half circle. At US$ 445, it is worth
it.
Cheers,
Michel
|
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
morid(at)northland.lib.mi
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:19 am Post subject: Trutrak |
|
|
Over the winter I purchased the Trutrak ADI artificial horizon. I believe
what Michel has is the turn coordinator that doesn't give pitch info.
Correct me if I'm wrong on this Michel. I haven't flown it yet as the snow
has just finally left my runway, but will check it out soon and give the
list an opinion. I've read several testimonials from the RV list from
members with substantial instrument time. All of them liked it. Price is
around $1050 plus shipping. I have mine interaced with my Garmin 196 for
track info, but not flight check yet. Best of all, it weighs almost nothing
so WB needn't be a concern. So far, tech support has been outstanding.
Will be happy to answer any questions.
Deke
---
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Michel
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:46 am Post subject: Trutrak |
|
|
On Mar 27, 2006, at 6:10 PM, alnanarthur wrote:
| Quote: | I still don't understand solid state gyros.
|
Nor do I, Allan, and I wish someone could explain it to me. From the
days before I became a pilot, and was simply an aviation aficionado, I
remember reading that the old mechanical gyro was being replaced by
laser gyros in big expensive aircraft. This must be something entirely
different. I wonder if it works like a flux gate compass that senses
the variation in magnetic fields.
| Quote: | I assume that it responds to both roll and yaw, as does a mechanical
turn coordinator.
|
Er, rather the rate of yaw and roll, Allan. From what I understand,
there are two types of gyroscopic turn indicators. The first one, the
"12 o'clock" needle moving left or right, is based on a horizontal gyro
that indicates only the turn rate, i.e. at which speed the turn is
effectuated in degrees per second. Then, in the 60s or 70s came the
gyro that was tilted about 30 degrees with the horizon. That gyro would
detect both the turn rate but also the rate of roll. The display was
then the horizontal aircraft symbol moving on one side or the other.
| Quote: | Is it calibrated to do a 180 deg turn in one minute with the red dot
at the top in a "dog house".
|
Although it is not documented, my testing seems to indicate that it is
indeed the 1 min for 180 degrees, or often called the standard two
minutes turn.
| Quote: | Is there any problem in turbulence? How does it respond to a 360
deg. turn at a 45 or 60 deg bank angle?
|
I haven't yet been flying in very turbulent air nor taken turns more
that 45 degrees but, with a bit of turbulence and the plane rolling on
one wing then the other, the instrument is following extremely quickly
all small variations. Turning 180 or 160 at say 45 degrees bank, you
may overshoot but it may simply be me not being a very good pilot.
When I got the instrument, at home, I connected it to a 12 V power
source. I then rolled the instrument keeping the same heading and it
showed the horizon keeping horizontal. I then turned the heading
without banking, and it showed the horizon moving, as it does when e.g.
I turn when taxiing on the runway. However, when flying and going into
a sideslip, it kept horizontal. My conclusion was then this: It shows
the rate of turn (yaw) and the rate or roll. But it doesn't show the
actual banking if it is sustained as it is in a side slip. Does it
makes sense? I don't know enough about gyro instrument and if anyone
else can shed some more light on this, I'd be as grateful as you.
Cheers,
Michel
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
|
_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Michel
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:55 am Post subject: Trutrak |
|
|
On Mar 27, 2006, at 7:16 PM, Fox5flyer wrote:
| Quote: | what Michel has is the turn coordinator that doesn't give pitch info.
Correct me if I'm wrong on this Michel.
|
That is correct, Deke. My main concern was the fear to end up in a
deadly spin if I was to encounter IMC against my will. I feel I can
still check my pitch from the VVI and the Pictorial Turn and Bank was
good enough to keep level wings.
Cheers,
Michel
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
|
_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
alnanarthur(at)sbcglobal.
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:20 pm Post subject: Trutrak |
|
|
Hi All,
Here is a website that describes laser gyros and MEMS.
http://www.xbow.com/General_info/gyro_guide.htm#background
They state that the MEMS uses:
" a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis rate sensor to make a complete
measurement of the dynamics of your system. The addition of a 3-axis
magnetometer inside the Crossbow AHRS allows it to make a true
measurement of magnetic heading without an external flux valve"
Possibly Trutrak units use a similar system.
Allan Arthur
Kitfox 5, N40AA
Rotax 912s, Warpdrive 3 blade
Byron Airport CA (C83) Hanger C8
On Mar 27, 2006, at 9:45 AM, Michel Verheughe wrote:
| Quote: |
On Mar 27, 2006, at 6:10 PM, alnanarthur wrote:
> I still don't understand solid state gyros.
Nor do I, Allan, and I wish someone could explain it to me. From the
days before I became a pilot, and was simply an aviation aficionado, I
remember reading that the old mechanical gyro was being replaced by
laser gyros in big expensive aircraft. This must be something entirely
different. I wonder if it works like a flux gate compass that senses
the variation in magnetic fields.
|
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:55 pm Post subject: Trutrak |
|
|
I also don't have a clue how they work, but have checked the solid state
gyros available to the RC modelers - specifically the helicopter guys. For
about $70 you can interface an RC servo with a gyro and it helps maintain
attitude. Cool stuff.
Lowell
---
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
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
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
Get Email Distribution Too!
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
