Trutrak Vizion Autopilot in a Cherokee | Review and Tutorial | LPV Approach |BendixKing Aerocruze100 

Thanks for the compliments! I’m glad you enjoy the videos and find them useful. Definitely read those manuals! And have fun with your new panel. Fly safe!

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SoCal Flying Monkey 1

Being smart enough to know you're too stupid to comment will be the next level for you to achieve.

Glad the video is helpful for you and thanks for the sub! Hope you enjoy the future videos. :)

Glad it was helpful. Your plane sounds super cool!

Thanks!

Hope it’s useful for you. :)

Glad it was helpful!

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks! I think it is a really solid option and have been enjoying it.

I hope it was helpful for you and you get your Trutrak worked out. I think when the settings are dialed in nicely it seems to work great.

Thanks for the encouragement!

Oh yeah the new stuff is really incredible. Good luck in your plane search!

Thank you! Glad it was helpful for you.

Stop by and say hi anytime in the Delta row hangars at Whiteman. I hear the 182s are great - I have only flown 172s. The GFC500 is a great autopilot and has more capabilities and features than the Trutrak. It should serve you well!

Thanks so much!

It’s a good autopilot as long as you understand it’s limitations (mostly regulatory)

Great to hear!

Glad it was helpful!

Glad it helped

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment with feedback. It's great for me to know that I'm covering things in a clear, understandable way.

Glad it was helpful!

Glad you enjoyed it!

So glad the videos could be useful for you. It is nice to know they can make a difference for someone and their aviation journey!

It's a great little autopilot and works well.

Thanks a lot!

Glad you enjoyed it!

glad you like it!

Glad you like them! Thank you for the comment.

Yes it sure would be nice to have a lower limitation and no restriction on coupled procedures. I believe TT made a conscious decision for easier (faster) certification to get this product to market ahead of some others. They are definitely aware that we would like these limitations changed but they seem to barely be able to keep up with orders so I am not optimistic that it would happen anytime soon. It definitely is a product that fills a certain need for a certain type of pilot/flying and I think if one is aware of that going in to it then that person would be happy with the unit. Thank you for the positive comment about the video!

Thanks for the encouragement!

Thanks for watching!

Glad you enjoyed it!

You can email me at flyingmonkeysocal@gmail.com and we can talk buying planes...

Glad it was helpful!

Glad you enjoyed it

you're a controller on Joshua Approach? That's awesome. All the controllers that handle the SoCal area have been so great over my short 5 year flying career around here. Always appreciate it.

I am at Joshua! It’s a fun facility. Flew a lot before my time at Joshua too, about 10 years ago. We’d have you for a visit if we ever open for tours again!

Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks! Great work on the install!

Glad you enjoyed it

The video has a whole section where the TT flies an LPV approach that the Avidyne is navigating. It is capable of this but technically not certified for "coupled instrument procedures." I also cover this in the video. The description has clickable timestamps. The TT will not follow analogue nav signals like VORs or ILS, but it will follow GPS overlays of these things. Most airports that have an ILS have a complementary LPV.

Awesome! Thank you!

Thank you so much! Your comments and insight on Piper Forum have been super helpful in preparing to create this video.

Thank you! Cheers!

It definitely helps!

I used to own N55585!

Small airplane world. ;)

I think you could do that as long as above 700 feet.

Not specifically but I have a lot of instrument flying videos as part of a series on the Flying Monkey Patreon. They just added a couple free options so check it out at www.patreon.com/socalflyingmonkey

@@SoCalFlyingMonkey Thanks. I have signed up for Patrion. Will watch them

Thanks!

If the selector line is under altitude value when you turn the knob it will adjust by 500 foot increments. If you push and turn the knob it will adjust by 100 foot increments. In this case I pushed and turned.

Thank you!

Matthew Miller Cherokee six is great but the 235 is a bit of a sleeper and a real value airplane.

@@josesbox9555 I see that! I hold a civilian commercial IFR SE & ME land so I'm gitty about planning a personal plane purchase one day. Difficult to decide multi use vs. like singular use of an airframe

thats an interesting one. The AP will only go in to GS ARM mode when a few conditions are met - you have to be in ALT HOLD mode a certain distance from the FAF and it has to have acquired the signal (and you be below the glide path I think). I'm wondering if once it displayed GS arm you did nothing, would it just fly the vertical guidance starting at 3000' a little farther out from the FAF? My guess is yes. If you try it email me the follow up at flyingmonkeysocal@gmail.com please.

@@SoCalFlyingMonkey Hi..It took about a month just a month to get back with you, but I did send an email with more information. I've been talking with Bruce Grammon at Mid Continent and he really doesn't know what the problem might be. A bit of history: I purchased the AP in January 2021 and it worked fine. But, the display started becoming a bit blurry, so in Aug, 2022 (within the warranty period) I sent it to Mid-Continent. They didn't have parts to repair it, so instead they sent me a brand new controller head. This is when we noticed this problem with GS ARM. All the presets were checked to be exactly as they should be for the C172. So, here is what I've found and luckily, I did find a work-around: Once I am in ALT HOLD and GS is ARM-ed, as long as I don't re-ALT HOLD with a new altitude, the AP will work fine. It will eventually GS CPLD and fly the approach very nicely. However, if before GS CPLD, if I press the ALT button and descend to a new altitude, the AP will ALT HOLD, but NOT re-GS ARM nor will not GS CPLD to the glide path. It will fly the airplane laterally just fine, but not the horizontal component. Just a couple days ago, I discovered if I arrive at the new altitude and go into ALT HOLD, pressing the MODE twice (once to go into HDG, then again to go back to GPSS), it will re-GS ARM! I tried this 5 or 6 times and it worked consistently. Actually, I found out that pressing ALT HOLD, then the SET button twice without even changing altitudes, pressing the MODE button twice will get back the GS-ARM. The AP will then continue on and GS CPLD and fly the glide path. With the original AP controller, I didn't have to press the MODE button twice. I could fly down to the new altitude and the AP would go int ALT-HOLD, then automatically GS-ARM. The current controller has an issue, but Mid Continent, has no idea what is happening. I even spoke with a tech support guy who actually wrote some of the operating system and he too, is clueless. Bruce Grammon at Mid Continent is well aware of this situation, and now he feels my controller is working fine and the AP is not supposed to automatically go into GS ARM. He says he is "pretty sure", he has seen some obscure document stating that pressing MODE twice will re-GS ARM. He said he would send it to me if he could find it. My thinking is that the controller is faulty and I will ask for a new one. Other than this issue, the AP works fine. It could even be something I am doing incorrectly, but I don't know what it might be. I would think you and others have been in situations where you can change altitudes during an approach. Maybe you could give this scenario a try, and even do a video. You are the only one I know with this autopilot, so I'd be curious if you experience the same thing as I. If your AP automatically re-GS ARMs after changing altitudes, then it would indicate I have a bad controller. Thanks for whatever help you can offer. Incidentally, here is a link to a video taken when we were flying a pressing the MODE button twice after pressing ALT HOLD. 1drv.ms/v/s!AoWAHVexc964m1Fji6hUrrF7UWpK?e=XDEa6h .allan C172N N8466E

Thanks so much! It has been fun creating them.

Dig the vid - hey im trying to plan a x country from sarasota florida to san luis obispo ca. I bought a plane in florida and have to get it back to SLo. You mind sharing your flight plan from back when you made that trip? This is my wife’s youtube account, so i can provide an email.

No problem you can email me at flyingmonkeysocal@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @socalflyingmonkey

SoCal Flying Monkey k will shoot you an email

All the new stuff getting certified is pretty exciting and I think helping make GA safer.

i think it can only be connected via serial. there is an AP source select switch. Check out this video for more info on how that mode works.... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-q5-5YVrgz2A.html

Haha yeah I think I just found a free transition pack while editing this one. LOL.

@@SoCalFlyingMonkey Greatly looking forward to your next video :)

The Dynon AP is not yet certified for my aircraft model the PA32. The TruTrak is a great autopilot and a good value of features for the price. Once the Dynon AP is certified maybe I will install it. :)

Do you have Dynon dual band traffic and weather adsb-472 module without Dynon’s transponder? Or do you have to have their transponder with module ti receive traffic and weather?

I have ADSB module and not their transponder. Works great. Love the traffic and weather depictions on the HdX. Most reliable ADSB source and I also have skytrax 100 for the avidyne (was previosuly installed) and stratus 2 and Foreflight. The HDX is the one that never misses traffic.

1 of 3 ways - 1) use the CWS button push and hold and manually steer to the desired heading, let go, then reprogram alt hold 2) use TRK mode and dial in the Track on the head unit. Once you arrive at track you can adjust a couple degrees so you are flying the desired heading (but if you dont its never been an issue w/ATC) 3) I have a source select swicth and when I flip to the Dynon HDX the HDX bugs will control ALT., HEADING, and VS.

@@SoCalFlyingMonkey Thank you. Very much appreciated. Great review. Will be ordering an Aerocruze shortly.

Congrats on your 182! I hear those are great airplanes. I had some issues overshooting climb and then I adjusted the Vertical Activity (up in value) and it helped a lot. The 300HP Cherokee 6 can overpower the level off if not managed especially since there is no autotrim so I listen for the altitude bug on the HDX to alert as I approach the altitude and start managing power within 100 feet or so of the altitude. It does a good job now of levelling off. One other thing is to make sure your Baro is sync'd as close as it can be. Many times I think the AP overshoots but I had an inaccurate Baro sync- either sync'd improperly, forgot to resync in new sector, or cycled the AP power. Once you get the TT dialed in nicely its a great tool.

SoCal Flying Monkey thanks for the advice! My 182 is a PPonk 285 horse so definitely understand what you’re saying. I’m still learning how to properly manage it. I have a GTN750 and 2 G5’s. If I’m slaved to the G5 I believe the baro syncs automatically. If I’m using the GTN750 I have to set it. I will look at adjusting the Vertical Activity next time I’m up. Thanks again and great job on the RU-vid channel!

Got quotes all around SoCal and Arizona. Got recommendations from people on type forums and facebook groups for Saint in Florida. Spoke with Jesse and it was clear he was THE most knowledgable on HDX and Trutrak both. His quote was also the lowest which was hard to believe. I had a gig in Florida and he said he could make the schedule work. I saved a couple thousand dollars even after paying for round trip fuel vs the quotes I got in my area.

I am still planning on doing some more videos about the Trutrak. Is there something in particular you want to see that I should incorporate?

@@SoCalFlyingMonkey coupled LPV approaches would be great. Showing how it stays on the glide slope and how you manage your airspeed. You do such a great job with your videos just anything would be wonderful

Thanks!

Hi Joe, I had the dynon HDX installed at the same time as the Trutrak and did a lot of research for Authorized Dynon Installation Centers around the country and mostly in my area in California. After talking to several shops and receiving a few quotes these are the reasons I chose the shop I did (Saint Aviation): 1. The installer seemed the most knowledgable about the intricacies of BOTH these systems. I did not talk to every shop listed on Dyon's website of course, but I also talked to a few people who had work done by the shop. 2. The installer was very detail oriented in terms of being able to answer my nitty gritty questions about how everything would work together and where on the panel everything would go, as well as the capabilities of each system. 3. The installer was very responsive on public forums and private emails. 4. Unbelievably considering #1,2 and 3, the price was still the most competitive out of all the shops. Even after fuel and travel expenses I still saved money compared to CA and AZ shops. Finally, I had a freelance job in Florida over a 9 day period and was able to combine travelling to Florida for the job and for the install. I can't believe they got it done in that short amount of time and they worked really hard to make it happen to save me the time and money of having to make a return commercial trip to pick up the plane.

@@SoCalFlyingMonkey Thanks Eric. It sounds like a great deal. Can't beat a cross country trip to combine work and an avionics install! I appreciate your terrific videos and envy the fact that you can get your whole family involved in your hobby.

I have another video on my channel that explains the functionality of the autopilot when it is switched to be controlled by the HDX. I think it is the first or second video on my channel and only a minute or so long- check it out!

@@SoCalFlyingMonkey Thank you! Great stuff!

no it does not. The Dynon HDX has a flight director that works with their own autopilot but that AP is not yet certified for my airplane model the PA32. Hopefully, soon (ish)....

Yes you can.

It is pretty stable. I adjusted the vertical activity up a little bit and that helped. I recommend downloading the experimental version manual. It describes in great detail all of the settings which are easily accessible. Good idea to start with static line though...otherwise you may be chasing settings back and forth forever...

SoCal Flying Monkey We have the document with the settings instructions. What number did you end up using for the Vertical Activity setting, and the Static Lag setting? Thanks.

I left static lag where it is which is I think 0 because I have the older firmware where it would not retain the change upon power cycle. I think vert activity up to 26 now....

In this case the autopilot is about 4.5-5k and shops are doing installs for an additional 3k, so 8k all in, including the installation of the Level button and yoke switch. There's not much else to modify- it fits in a standard 2 1/4 or 3 1/8 hole depending on which version you buy and it plays nice with all the main IFR GPS units. I don't love the interface but i dont find it too bad.

@@SoCalFlyingMonkey Well stated! My apologies of the word "hideous", as that was a bit strong. In my mind, the UI is not the best and could use some work...however, you do get a lot for the money, and maybe that's an area that is worth compromising on in order to have high value for the cost. From spending a little time on their website...that's the point; here's their mission statement: "Our mission has always been and will always be to serve the industry. Aviation is our passion, and bringing safety to General Aviation at an affordable price is our mission." Love your video's Eric!

I don't get it. This unit fits a place in the market that you can chose to purchase it or not. I fly a corporate jet that has an integrated FMS with auto pilot. It will do everything a person can imagine but my 180 isn't a high powered jet either. I am going to install one as soon as my number comes up in line. All I want is an affordable autopilot that will ease the load on long cross countries. If it's not your cup of tea so be it. I could care less if it won't couple on approaches because I won't be in a Cherokee 180 in hard IFR. I believe there are a lot of folks that practice that same philosophy and will snap these up in a heart beat. I guess that's why they are so backed up.

The font for the thumbnails or in the video?

@@SoCalFlyingMonkey the font in the videos, tall, narrow, looks vintage but I don't know, but I really like it!

@@scottolson4890 www.freefonts.io/bellaboo-handmade-font/

@@SoCalFlyingMonkey Awesome! Thank you very much! Please keep up the videos!

Garmin SL30. Its a great radio with a lot of features

yes i believe so

I have flown there once..into Renton. Super fun trip. Hopefully I will be up there again some time. Lots left to explore and my friend recently moved up there. Best IFR trip home I ever did.

I have no idea. Probably a cheap amazon special - avgas is expensive! haha.

The IFD540 has wifi built in and it is in the mode where it creates its own wifi network. The iPad joins the network and Foreflight communicates with the IFD. Send and receive flight plans and FF receives GPS position, ADSB weather and traffic. It's pretty great!

SoCal Flying Monkey oh wow hey do u know if it does that with any of the Garmin navs?

@@andrewjeon2411 I think you have to have their Flightstream product but I am not sure. Maybe in their most recent ones they have it built in?