Damn, I can't decide if this idea is crazy or ingenious. Maybe both? It's obviously the passion of some serious electro-mechanical aviation nerds because they are totally clueless on the marketing side. This could be a revolutionary product, yet nary a peep in the aviation press (who will obviously promote just about anything). The demo videos are terrible - you can't even see what is going on. I have to say that I skipped over this thread for days because I just assumed it was about some kind of in-flight 'relief' product. Truly one of the worst names for an aviation product I've ever heard. It's right up there with the guy at KAPV who named his BBQ restaurant "Skidmarks Cafe". C.
One peep… https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/news/2021/07/15/a-bolt-on-yoke-mounted-autopilot-for-your-skyhawk/
This is just up the highway from me. I wonder if I can get a tour or meet some folks because it sounds like a cool concept. I'd love to know more and see it in action myself. Would any of you be interested in listening to an interview or seeing it filmed on a test flight? No, I'm not selling a YT channel and even though I have videos up, they suck so bad I don't watch them.
Agree on the product name situation. It looks to be quite a practical solution to obtaining an economical autopilot for longer duration flights. Maybe if they had called it the "Snap Pilot", or "Eco Pilot" (short for Economy Auto Pilot), or something other than PortaPilot, there would be enough of the units in use, such that the original request for a PIREP would have had some level of response. I'm mildly surprised that someone from the company isn't monitoring these types of discussion boards, and offering some feedback and response to the multiple levels of discussion and questions about their product. Also, the company was not at AirVenture 2022, which is not a good sign. Hoping for some feedback from red4golf, if a visit to the business can be arranged. Otherwise, at this time, the idea of putting down $3 AMU for something that could be a red herring in a short period of time is a bit discomforting.
Bumping this thread to see if anyone has a pirep on the Portapilot autopilot system? Interesting concept for a very inexpensive autopilot, for those longer duration flights.
My grandpa made one for his pickup using threaded rod and an over-center latch to engage. He’d kick the gas pedal to disengage it.
My first paying job was on a neighbor's ranch, where, as low guy on the totem pole, I was given a '52 Ford pickup to drive. The gas pedal was long gone, only the steel peg sticking up through the floorboard remained as the throttle control. The truck would do maybe 50 mph with the 'peg to the metal'. Problem was, with it fully depressed it would sometimes vibrate out of the hole and slip under the floorboard. You'd never know it until you wanted to slow down, and found the engine stuck at full throttle and you had to quickly bend over and poke an index finger through the hole in the floor and fish frantically around for the throttle peg to pull it back through the hole and cut the throttle. Good times. No fancy broomstick cruise control for me!
I was driving my Motorhome and 36' race hauler from Louisiana to Jacksonville FL and lost the control unit for my 'fly by wire' throttle just past Mobile bay at Spanish Fort. After diagnosis the issue on the shoulder/diesel only able to idle I went into McGuyver mode. I grabbed a spool oF 40# monfilament nylon used to string up our chassis to set toe and camber from the tool chest. I ran about 40' of it from the injector rack under the bed in the master bedroom forwrd to the driver's seat. I made a loop hooked around the end of the liftable armrest. Lowering the armrest pulled tension on the line and advanced the fuel lever on the rack. Cajun cruise control was realized by sliding the seat fore/aft with the electric rocker switch. I drove that b**ch to Jacskonville, maneuvered into my pit spot and drove it back to Louisiana a few days later using a slightly perfected version of the system after a trip to Home Depot. We still laugh about that one.
It's 106 miles to Chicago. We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes...it's dark and we're wearing Sunglasses. Hit it!
