red4golf
Line Up and Wait
What do you think about auto lean taking care of business for you?
I have the Auto-ROP feature instead.I flew a Super Cub once that had auto lean. As you flew, and climbed, the plane vibrated and the lean knob would vibrate out automatically!
but realistically that red knob needs to be tended to by the pilot.
or a computer. And that is not widely available.
It's actually very widely available. Just not in piston airplanes.
Considering the age of the typical piston airplane being flown, is it any surprise?
Back on the topic however, there have been mechanical auto-lean systems around for years. I've never flown an airplane with one of the systems but the reports I've heard have been generally favorable.
Heh. Autopilots are generally seen as favorable too, but then again, we don't get to ask the dead folks killed by them. They might have said they'd hand fly that day, if they'd have known it was going to misbehave. Ha.
A few Prius drivers got some high speed "fun" early on, too... courtesy of those out of control throttle issues.
Just another system to keep an eyeball on for failure to do what the pilot could be doing. Nice when it's working, not nice when it's not. Mixture isn't that hard to set, so it adds very little value.
But yeah, we're well past where we should be needing to set mixtures at all in the era of cars running tens of years with no ignition maintenance other than changing spark plugs, and no interaction from anyone for fuel-air ratios, and pushbutton keyfob starters.
Think I'd skip the mechanical thingy and hope for something a little smarter built directly into the fuel-air system.
But it does show how heavy and perhaps overbearing regulation will not only stifle innovation but also generate strange side businesses like making what's essentially a panel mounted robot to pull a handle instead of integrating the same tech right into the fuel-air system.
Rob, why would you not use an O2 sensor in the exhaust stream instead of EGT? It's been automotive technology since the mid 1980's for air-fuel mixture control. We use it in racing applications too. Even though we watch EGTs, we don't use them in any kind of control loop. There has to be a good reason this tech has not been applied to piston airplanes, and that's why I'm asking.
I think any type of manual human intervention leaning after the 1980's is kind of silly.
Yes, indeed, welcome.
My experience is with the EFI turbo V6 Buicks, but I am no expert. There are multiple feedback loops, including air temp, mass air flow, throttle position, etc. and spark advance control as well. I've toyed with aftermarket units from FelPro/F.A.S.T.
I'm just surprised new certified aircraft don't have fuel mixture electronically controlled; I assume there is a good reason, but wish I knew what that reason was. If a Cirrus can be operated without a prop lever, it should be able to fly without a mixture lever, technologically speaking.
Lead fouling is a concern, true. Might that be the sole reason? Heck, for the cost of an O2 sensor, you could replace at each oil change, or sooner.
Ditto... thus the reason most FADEC systems are on experimental and home-built aircraft. The Lancair Evo is a good example.Well for one the process to certify any component in a certified aircraft is expensive and time consuming...
Yes, indeed, welcome.
My experience is with the EFI turbo V6 Buicks, but I am no expert. There are multiple feedback loops, including air temp, mass air flow, throttle position, etc. and spark advance control as well. I've toyed with aftermarket units from FelPro/F.A.S.T.
I'm just surprised new certified aircraft don't have fuel mixture electronically controlled; I assume there is a good reason, but wish I knew what that reason was. If a Cirrus can be operated without a prop lever, it should be able to fly without a mixture lever, technologically speaking.
Lead fouling is a concern, true. Might that be the sole reason? Heck, for the cost of an O2 sensor, you could replace at each oil change, or sooner.
Ditto... thus the reason most FADEC systems are on experimental and home-built aircraft. The Lancair Evo is a good example.
Yep... and eventually the systems will be offered in a few select models of new GA aircraft.The vast majority of modern commercial jets, business jets and turboprops are FADEC.
Yep... and eventually the systems will be offered in a few select models of new GA aircraft.
Aren't most/all Diamonds diesels? I don't know, I don't keep up on that company.But if you mean smaller aircraft with piston engines, I thought the Diamond DA-42 and DA-62 already had FADEC. I believe there might be others as well.
I think part of the downside of a full FADEC is the need for an electronic back-up, often in the form of a second alternator. Maintaining the manual controls as a back-up saves weight in that case.