Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Wed, 06 Nov 2002 21:03:14 -0500
Message-ID: <redirect-1854986@logan.com>
From: JIMRHER@aol.com
Subject: STEC autopilot experience
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In my L4P I have the TruTrak. Two years ago I flew in another L4P to OSH and 
it had a non working STEC in it so we flew it by hand from CA. to OSH and 
back, not a good introduction. Now I have 150 hrs on my airplane with the 
TruTrak and I can say hands down that it is the best autopilot that I have 
every had. Early on I had track holding problems and that turned out to be 
too much friction in the roll controls as the tanks got out of balance. Now I 
can hold 15 gals out of even and still hold track. I had a pitch nibbling 
issue and solved that by adjusting the pitch activity from 4 to 2. You can 
adjust the torque and activity of each servo right on the control head while 
flying if need be. The human interface is the easiest and I love the engage 
button on the stick. You just hold down the disconnect button for 1or 2 
seconds and upon release it will hold that heading, even if turning, and hold 
that climb or decent rate. I can dial in the altitude preselect or just push 
altitude hold and it will level so smooth that you have to look at the 
vertical speed to tell it. I have it coupled to the SFS or the UPS.

Bottom-line, if I have any emergency problem? I will trust the TruTrak first 
and last because it is self contained.

You can tell that I use it too much,