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From: "Jerry Fisher" <jerryfisher@charter.net>
Jens Jensen asked about installing a Trutrak Autopilot in a 360. Sorry about
the delay in replying.
I am still building my 360, and selected the Trutrak autopilot. I did this
largely after phoning Trutrak and speaking at length to the owner (whose
name I have forgotten!). He is very knowlegeable on the whole subject, and
was the designer of the original Century 1 autopilot, from which all the
current Century and STec autopilots are directly or indirectly derived. My
opinion was confirmed when I spoke to Kirk Hammersmith of Lancair
Electronics last week. He stated that the Trutrak unit is "superb", which
is strong language for him.
I bought the 2 actuators from Trutrak. Note that these are stepper motors,
which means that they do not have a clutch, and as a result are permanently
engaged. The drag is very minor and apparently not noticeable in flight.
In the very unlikely event that the servo should ever jam, the servo arm is
held on by one metal and two nylon screws. The nylon screws would shear
under stress, so that the controls cannot jam.
The installation was relatively easy. I installed the pitch servo in the
tunnel behind the seatback, with an 18 inch link to a clamp on the elevator
pushrod. The roll servo went under the pilot's seat with a linkage to a
clamp on the cross tube. Both were mounted on a phenolic plate with 4 small
bolts, and the plate was glassed into place. You should have not difficulty
retrofitting your aircraft, although access to the tunnel will make it a bit
fiddly. I am attaching 2 photos of the roll installation.
Jerry Fisher
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