Recently I was able to test a new version of Trio's single roll axis
autopilot. I have been running the Navaid for 1000hrs and was pretty happy with
it. It WAS the only game in town so I really did not have any comparisons. Here
are some things that have always annoyed me about the Navaid unit.
1. I had have the gyro rebuilt
2. When you engaged the unit you had better hold on. There is no telling what it
might do. IT could roll into a 60 degree bank and scare the bejesus out of you
and your passenger before it gets stable and presses on.
3. It was stable in turbulence, but not real stable.
4. Tracking was always off one way or another. Not by a lot, but always off.
More annoying than anything.
5. When I keyed up the mic, again you had better hold on. It could roll you
upside down.
6. When intercepting a course, it would overshoot, undershoot, overshoot,
undershoot until it got on course. IT would never nail it. If you had an
approach loaded, it would shoot you right through the FAF and there was no hope
of making the runway unless you got on the final approach course miles before
the FAF.
7. Every conversation with Navaid for the past 3 years about improving their
unit resulted in me ending the conversation with a feeling that these guys will
not be in business much longer.
So when I heard about this unit from Trio I contacted them immediately and asked
how I could get a hold of one. Jerry Hansen answered and we hit it off right
from the start. They were nearing readiness for a beta test of their new 2 gyro
unit and were looking for flyers. I had to pay for the unit, but that was fine
with me. I entered the beta program and received the unit in the mail. Out of
the box impressions were this:
1. It is small. It weighs less than 8oz(yes 8!)
2. The direct plug into my existing Navaid servo really was the right plug!
3. It's small. Less than 3" deep.
After a recent complete panel overhaul (ripped out vacuum, installed 2nd EI and
ripped that ole last mag out, installed
Dynon, Garmin 430, and some other
nifty items) I was ready for this new solid state gyro technology. No gyros to
replace, no tumbling the unit, no electric whine to listen to. Just quiet
reliable computer chips to crank away at the data to fly me along. As a young
guy, it just seems to make sense to me. Electronic failures are almost unheard
of with this type of equipment. I have rebuilt my horizon 3 times, DG twice, and
Navaid once in 1000 hours. I mean come on! This electronic solid state gyro
stuff is the future, and the future is now. Here are some of the cool features
this unit has:
1. A display has has data on it. At first I did not see this as any real benefit
until I flew it. My 430 moving map, and I am sure yours too, displays important
data fields that you use and need constantly. Ground speed, track, distance to
waypoint etc are all important. What is also important is the moving map real
estate space. Those fields take up valuable real estate on the moving map. This
trio displays those fields, and cycles through others freeing up the moving map
to use up all the screen. This is extremely valuable. In fact, in my report to
trio, I recommended then add more display lines for more data to display.
2. Intercept mode. You can read the web site for what it does. Ill just say it
works just as advertised and is extremely accurate. Even if the direction you
need to go is behind you, it makes a real nice teardrop course reversal and
nails the course line. Obviously this thing is smart and doing some pretty good
math to handle that maneuver. Navaid would not even drop me in the same county
if tried that.
3. Adjustable course track. Dial in .97 deg. heading, and that's what you will
fly. In either the TRK or CRS mode, if the remote servo disconnect switch is
activated, you can fly to any new course desired and, upon releasing the switch,
the autopilot will enter the CRS mode and track the new course over the ground.
SO the next time you are told turn 10 degrees left, you can either dial in 10
degrees left, or release the servo, turn manually 10 left, and reengage the
servo.
4. Excellent turbulence performance. It reacts so quickly, a noticeable
improvement over the Navaid.
5. Plugs in quickly to an existing Navaid servo. I am not kidding you when I
tell you that installation took less than 3 minutes. 4 screws and the navaid
dropped right out of the panel, and 4 screws and the Trio was in and running. I
already had a remote servo disconnect I used for the Navaid. I moved 2 moles
pins to take advantage of this feature in Trios box and that was it. In minutes
I was playing with running.
6. It accepts an "Aviation" data stream, as well as the NMEA format. But the
aviation data stream has much more info contained in it. Like waypoint name etc.
All can now be displayed on-screen, freeing up the moving map space. This is
great.
7. Communication and service has been very very good. They have already
implemented mine, and others recommendations. Some features now available that I
have not tried are: (taken from their website)
======
Selectable Track Offset Position (TOP)
While flight testing the autopilot and flying flight plans using published
airways, we often encountered other airplanes using the same airway. While this
was usually during climb or descent (for either us or the opposing aircraft) it
was a potential safety issue. As more aircraft are using precision GPS
receivers to navigate, and many are coupled to autopilots, such close encounters
are likely to increase. For this reason, the EZ Pilot incorporates a Track
Offset Position (TOP) feature that allows the pilot to select a track offset of
up to 1 mile. This places the aircraft away from the course centerline where
much of the traffic might be found. It is interesting to note, that if all
aircraft positioned themselves to the right of the published course centerline
(for instance), opposing traffic would always be on the opposite side of the
centerline.
Speed Controlled Bank Angle
A “standard rate turn” of 3 degrees per second may result in a comfortable bank
angle at 130 knots, but as speed increases the bank angle must be increased to
achieve the standard rate of turn. In faster aircraft this steeper bank may be
uncomfortable to some pilots and, indeed, may exceed the capability of an
altitude hold system to maintain altitude properly in the turn. To remedy this,
the EZ Pilot has a means whereby the users can adjust the maximum rate of turn
to their personal satisfaction. When shipped, the EZ Pilot is defaulted to an
“automatic” mode where the actual turn rate is automatically adjusted based on
groundspeed (as measured by your GPS). For aircraft cruising at groundspeeds of
140 knots or greater the automatic mode will decrease the allowable turn rate to
keep the aircraft bank angle at a comfortable maximum of approximately 15
degrees. Slower speeds will allow a standard rate turn of 3 degrees per second.
Adjustable Bank Angle Limit
If your cruise groundspeed is typically less than 150 knots, or if you do not
mind the higher bank angles at the higher groundspeeds, you may want to select
the MANUAL mode. In the MANUAL mode you can set the maximum turn rate to a
fixed limit. It is adjustable from 1 degree/sec to as high as 3 degree/sec, in
increments of 1/10th degree/sec.
Emergency Course Reversal
In an effort to increase safety and save lives, this mode may be implemented as
an emergency aid to the VFR pilot who inadvertently enters IMC conditions and
needs to execute an immediate course reversal. It is important to realize that
the autopilot must be turned on and receiving a good GPS data signal for proper
operation. You may be tracking a flight plan but a sudden IMC encounter may not
leave you with an opportunity to reprogram your GPS to invert the flight plan.
This procedure does not require you to adjust your GPS receiver. If you are
manually flying your aircraft, this procedure will also work because the servo
does not have to be engaged to initiate this emergency procedure.
The procedure is simple and straightforward. Press and hold the MODE button
for three seconds. That’s all you need to do! After three seconds the
following will occur:
1 The servo will be energized (if off) and the wing leveler function
will engage.
2 The upper right display line will read “TRN 180”
3 The lower right display line will be forced to the turn
coordinator display
4. A 175 degree right course reversal will be executed
========
(Back to Mike Stewart's comments) All in all this is a tremendous value. I'll be
sending my unit in soon for the recent changes. There is one notable item that
is absolutely terrible, and that is the screen goes completely blank in direct
sunlight. I mean you can not read one item. A quick hand over the unit and all
is fine, but they will no doubt need to address this soon. From Jerry here is
what is in the works:
======
In the works:
Turbulence penetration enhancement incorporating a full roll coupled gyro –
Expected late 1st quarter 2004
LCD display option – Expected 1st quarter 2004
Altitude hold system +/- 20 feet vertical tracking – Expected 3rd quarter 2004
========
(back to Mike Stewart's comments) Sam Buchanan and I are both real happy with
this thing and its performance.
Sam has already spoken to his interest in this unit in RV-list message
number #116018. Electric spinning gyro's are history and this company has a roll
axis autopilot at a price point that will put all others to shame. (Navaid are
you listening? I tried to tell you over the past 3 years you needed to look at
this stuff, and here it is!) I can't wait to see the new display and integrated
vertical guidance. One thing I don't have and wish I did was altitude pre-select
at a reasonable price. Altrak watch out, these guys are knocking on your door.
If I were your mother, and you are flying your rv in anything other than severe
clear local flights, I would make you put one of these things in your plane. Not
only will it take some workload off, but it might save your A#@! one day.
Update April 2004
I have the new screen and features as of the April release. The new screen work great and is easily sunlight readable. There are only 2 features I now wish I had on this unit.
First, I would like the turn coordinator display to have the ability to take up an entire line for easier readability. Should I loose the Dynon in IMC, this would get me down. I have spoken to chuck about this and he is looking into this option
Second, the Navaid head had a knob that allowed me to make a turn at any rate and hold. I have spoken to chuck about this and he is looking into this option also.
Also Doug Reeves is installing his too.
Mike Stewart
6A 1100 hours
last updated
04/19/2004