MikeS
Pre-takeoff checklist
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- Oct 16, 2014
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MikeS
Poor choice of titles. I realized later that LSA's are certificated aircraft, whether S-LSA's or E-LSA's. So, I guess one can't put one in an LSA - but I know little on this subject. There may be a way.
Meanwhile, it's certainly usable on all the Experimentals out there.
I recommend you turn the sound off for much of this video - some people think backing things with some musical racket somehow enhances things. Also, the speaker, towards the end of the video, admits that at the end of his flights he "sees trees" and often "gets lost". It was painful to listen so I'd suggest you skip generously until you get to the fellow with the Hummel.
Parts of it are also somewhat tedious for this fast-moving crowd on POA - at least I found it so. The real interest comes at the end when he shows the components. This use of high-torque servos designed for (BIG) model airplanes and UAS's (I think) tabs which do not necessarily connect to flight controls (you can put them where you want) make this what you want of it. Just a wing leveler and altitude pitch hold (poor man's altitude hold) is less than $200. For the full Monte - navigator-driven approaches, etc. the price climbs dramatically . . . well into the hundreds. I think as much as $600!
TruTrak was working on this same concept and actually got several out the door before the sale to BK. Also a factor that killed it, probably THE factor that killed it, was TT deciding to only sell the autopilot with some "kit" designed for each separate aircraft design. The concept itself was brilliant but whoever was calling for the "kit" either wanted to kill the project or would just as well be working for John Deere. They did get a "kit" developed for the RV-4 I think so there's perhaps a few of those flying around with TruTrak's low cost autopilot that died on the vine.
But . . . someone has apparently picked the idea up and that's what you see below. I've no doubt this will really evolve quickly - first thing probably being the screen. It doesn't look very sunlight readable, may or may not have a rheostat for night flying, doesn't look quite as brilliant as it should. Hopefully it's a plug-/on screen, replaceable with something really nice. I'm sure he'll soon find a better screen and use it as an excuse to push the price up another $5. Being open source and the low cost of electronics, anything can be made of these devices and it's a great freedom to be able to do what one wants with ones own airplane.
Company Website:
https://www.xflighttech.com/
Meanwhile, it's certainly usable on all the Experimentals out there.
I recommend you turn the sound off for much of this video - some people think backing things with some musical racket somehow enhances things. Also, the speaker, towards the end of the video, admits that at the end of his flights he "sees trees" and often "gets lost". It was painful to listen so I'd suggest you skip generously until you get to the fellow with the Hummel.
Parts of it are also somewhat tedious for this fast-moving crowd on POA - at least I found it so. The real interest comes at the end when he shows the components. This use of high-torque servos designed for (BIG) model airplanes and UAS's (I think) tabs which do not necessarily connect to flight controls (you can put them where you want) make this what you want of it. Just a wing leveler and altitude pitch hold (poor man's altitude hold) is less than $200. For the full Monte - navigator-driven approaches, etc. the price climbs dramatically . . . well into the hundreds. I think as much as $600!
TruTrak was working on this same concept and actually got several out the door before the sale to BK. Also a factor that killed it, probably THE factor that killed it, was TT deciding to only sell the autopilot with some "kit" designed for each separate aircraft design. The concept itself was brilliant but whoever was calling for the "kit" either wanted to kill the project or would just as well be working for John Deere. They did get a "kit" developed for the RV-4 I think so there's perhaps a few of those flying around with TruTrak's low cost autopilot that died on the vine.
But . . . someone has apparently picked the idea up and that's what you see below. I've no doubt this will really evolve quickly - first thing probably being the screen. It doesn't look very sunlight readable, may or may not have a rheostat for night flying, doesn't look quite as brilliant as it should. Hopefully it's a plug-/on screen, replaceable with something really nice. I'm sure he'll soon find a better screen and use it as an excuse to push the price up another $5. Being open source and the low cost of electronics, anything can be made of these devices and it's a great freedom to be able to do what one wants with ones own airplane.
Company Website:
https://www.xflighttech.com/
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