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#21
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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 http://www.andraka.com "They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Benjamin Franklin, 1759 |
#22
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"Ray Andraka" wrote in message ... 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 And as you and the article state it should be only a TOOL, not a crutch. IN a similar vein, it should be used like cruise control in a car; it should not cause a deterioration in the ability to drive (and no, I'm not referring to the Urban Legend® of the guy in the motor home that turned on cruise control and went back to fix a sam'ich. ) :~) |
#23
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FWIW, although both my cars are equipped with cruise control, I don't use it at
all. Anyway, I think we are pretty much in agreement that an autopilot is a useful tool and should not be depended on as a surrogate for pilot ability. If I can't fly as well as the autopilot, I have no business being there. That said, my point was that (for me anyway) an autopilot is not a must have, but it is fairly high on the list of desirables. And as you and the article state it should be only a TOOL, not a crutch. IN a similar vein, it should be used like cruise control in a car; it should not cause a deterioration in the ability to drive (and no, I'm not referring to the Urban Legend® of the guy in the motor home that turned on cruise control and went back to fix a sam'ich. ) :~) -- --Ray Andraka, P.E. President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc. 401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950 http://www.andraka.com "They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Benjamin Franklin, 1759 |
#24
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"Ray Andraka" wrote in message ... FWIW, although both my cars are equipped with cruise control, I don't use it at all. Anyway, I think we are pretty much in agreement that an autopilot is a useful tool and should not be depended on as a surrogate for pilot ability. If I can't fly as well as the autopilot, I have no business being there. That said, my point was that (for me anyway) an autopilot is not a must have, but it is fairly high on the list of desirables. Out here in the West, where drinving distances are ENORMOUS (even in town), CC is a necessity. For one thing, it'll hold the speed better than a human can and thus provide better fuel economy. I shudder to think of driving through Kansas without CC, especially with highway patrol hiding in the bushes. :~) |
#25
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Jon Kraus wrote:
I never said you couldn't fly IFR without an autopilot. For myself being new to IFR flying I wouldn't chance IMC without the autopilot working. Since my club only has newer planes, they all have two axis autopilots, that way if something happens (spacial disorientation) I'm covered. I think I'll bring up this topic in a new thread and see what kind of responses I get. Thanks for the enlightenment. I know you didn't say that, hence the smiley after my statement. However, and this is a serious statement, I would never fly IFR if I even thought I'd have to depend on the AP to rescue me from spatial disorientation. Matt |
#26
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Ray Andraka wrote:
FWIW, although both my cars are equipped with cruise control, I don't use it at all. Anyway, I think we are pretty much in agreement that an autopilot is a useful tool and should not be depended on as a surrogate for pilot ability. If I can't fly as well as the autopilot, I have no business being there. That said, my point was that (for me anyway) an autopilot is not a must have, but it is fairly high on the list of desirables. I use my CC all the time, but then driving is a lot more boring than flying IFR. And if my CC dies, it likely won't crash my car!! :-) Matt |
#27
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I live in the Northeast. If I used my CC, I'd likely crash my car ;-)
"Matthew S. Whiting" wrote: RI use my CC all the time, but then driving is a lot more boring than flying IFR. And if my CC dies, it likely won't crash my car!! :-) Matt -- --Ray Andraka, P.E. President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc. 401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950 http://www.andraka.com "They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Benjamin Franklin, 1759 |
#28
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We'll we don't go up into the clag saying "I think I'll get spatially
disoriented today" do we... You don't have to depend on it but - "what your facial expression would be after you were mixed up in the clag and the AP helped you out" PRICELESS.. :-) Matthew S. Whiting wrote: Jon Kraus wrote: I never said you couldn't fly IFR without an autopilot. For myself being new to IFR flying I wouldn't chance IMC without the autopilot working. Since my club only has newer planes, they all have two axis autopilots, that way if something happens (spacial disorientation) I'm covered. I think I'll bring up this topic in a new thread and see what kind of responses I get. Thanks for the enlightenment. I know you didn't say that, hence the smiley after my statement. However, and this is a serious statement, I would never fly IFR if I even thought I'd have to depend on the AP to rescue me from spatial disorientation. Matt |
#29
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Jon Kraus wrote:
We'll we don't go up into the clag saying "I think I'll get spatially disoriented today" do we... You don't have to depend on it but - "what your facial expression would be after you were mixed up in the clag and the AP helped you out" PRICELESS.. :-) It is the expression I'd get when I lose proficiency and my failed AP takes me into an attitude that I no longer have the skills to recover from that I worry about. That's priceless also, but in a much more permanent way... :-) Although, your wife might be happy if your life insurance is paid up! Matt |
#30
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Ray Andraka ) wrote:
FWIW, although both my cars are equipped with cruise control, I don't use it at all. The day an automobile's cruise control will track the lane without drifting to either side is the day I consider the CC similar to an aircraft's AP. In its current incarnation, the CC is analogous to the aircraft's locking throttle. -- Peter ----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups ---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =--- |
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