I agree, an autopilot is a useful tool, which is why I added one to my
airplane. The need for one is, I think, also dependent on the airplane. If
you've got an airplane that is a little squirrelly, you'll need an autopilot
more than if you have one that handles more like a truck. I fly a cherokee Six,
which is incredibly stable for IFR operations...that is to say that it handles
like a sled...it takes a bit of effort to make it turn at all. Given the
stability of this airframe, an autopilot was not as high a priority as some
other things. If it were a Tiger or Bonanza, I'm sure the importance would have
carried more weight.

Tom Sixkiller wrote:



Under a situation of limited funds, one must weigh alternatives. This
article (from a autopilot manufacturer, so take what they say with a grain
of salt) does make some damn good, well reasoned points (in the form of a
decision tree at the end of the article).

www.s-tec.com/pdf/AutoPilotBook.pdf

--
--Ray Andraka, P.E.
President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
email
http://www.andraka.com

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin, 1759