REFLECTOR:Navaid Auto Pilot

John Dibble reflector@tvbf.org
Fri, 05 Mar 2004 13:01:55 -0600


--------------7C1C1F7FE55D688B73F0229D
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Ronnie,

I have an STEC 50 and also have been unsuccessful at tracking a VOR or
GPS.  I'll try the trim knob next time out.  My instructions don't
mention the trim knob, but say to be within one needle width of the
course (seems like a tall order) and within 10 degrees of the desired
heading before engaging the AP.  Thanks for the tip.

John

Ronnie Brown wrote:

> For those of you who have the Navaid autopilot, read on.  The rest of
> you can ignore this note. After flying my Velocity for a year, I
> decided to try to improve the operation of my Navaid autopilot. It has
> been working great in wing leveler mode - but I haven't been real
> happy with they way it tracked the GPS signals via the Porcine
> coupler.  (I had already had the Porcine chip replaced because they
> had problems with the aviation data stream that comes out of panel
> mounted GPS's) I finally figured it out (after reading the manuals
> again - for the 10th time!) I had "jinked" the servo for the correct
> trim position. The Navaid's left hand knob is used to trim the plane
> for level flight, the right hand knob is used to make turns. I repeat
> "left hand knob is used to trim the plane for level flight, the right
> hand knob is used to make turns."  If you are trying to fly straight
> and level, DO NOT USE the right hand knob - use the trim knob!!! When
> putting the Navaid in track mode - make sure the right hand knob is
> straight up.  The trim knob is in what ever position is required to
> maintain straight ahead flight.  Then after engaging track mode, use
> the trim knob to put the plane on course if the Navaid is not tracking
> the course as desired.  This last sentence is critically important to
> getting good tracking performance.  I used to cuss the Navaid because
> it didn't seem to be holding the correct track.  If you use the trim
> knob to establish the plane on track, it tracks PERFECTLY!!!! A HAPPY
> NAVAID USER!Ronnie Brown

--------------7C1C1F7FE55D688B73F0229D
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
Ronnie,
<p>I have an STEC 50 and also have been unsuccessful at tracking a VOR
or GPS.&nbsp; I'll try the trim knob next time out.&nbsp; My instructions
don't mention the trim knob, but say to be within one needle width of the
course (seems like a tall order) and within 10 degrees of the desired heading
before engaging the AP.&nbsp; Thanks for the tip.
<p>John
<p>Ronnie Brown wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><style></style>
<font size=-1>For those of you who
have the Navaid autopilot, read on.&nbsp; The rest of you can ignore this
note.</font>&nbsp;<font size=-1>After flying my Velocity for a year, I
decided to try to improve the operation of my Navaid autopilot.</font>&nbsp;<font size=-1>It
has been working great in wing leveler mode - but I haven't been real happy
with they way it tracked the GPS signals via the Porcine coupler.&nbsp;
(I had already had the Porcine chip replaced because they had problems
with the aviation data stream that comes out of panel mounted GPS's)</font>&nbsp;<font size=-1>I
finally figured it out (after reading the manuals again - for the 10th
time!)</font>&nbsp;<font size=-1>I had "jinked" the servo for the correct
trim position. The Navaid's left hand knob is used to trim the plane for
level flight, the right hand knob is used to make turns.</font>&nbsp;<font size=-1>I
repeat "left hand knob is used to trim the plane for level flight, the
right hand knob is used to make turns."&nbsp; If you are trying to fly
straight and level, DO NOT USE the right hand knob - use the trim knob!!!</font>&nbsp;<font size=-1>When
putting the Navaid in track mode - make sure the right hand knob is straight
up.&nbsp; The trim knob is in what ever position is required to maintain
straight ahead flight.&nbsp; Then after engaging track mode, use the trim
knob to put the plane on course if the Navaid is not tracking the course
as desired.&nbsp; This last sentence is critically important to getting
good tracking performance.&nbsp; I used to cuss the Navaid because it didn't
seem to be holding the correct track.&nbsp; If you use the trim knob to
establish the plane on track, it tracks PERFECTLY!!!!</font>&nbsp;<font size=-1>A
HAPPY NAVAID USER!</font><font size=-1>Ronnie Brown</font></blockquote>

</body>
</html>

--------------7C1C1F7FE55D688B73F0229D--