DAVID ARONSON'S TECHNIQUE PAGE

TRUTRAK PICTORIAL PILOT INSTALLATION

INSTALLATION OF THE TRUTRAK (TRUTRAK SYSTEMS AUTOPILOTS)  SINGLE AXIS AUTOPILOT (Pictorial Pilot) IN AN RV-4

As I began to finish off the last bits of installations to components in the fuselage of my RV-4, I saw the ad for the Trutrak wing leveler and decided that the time was now or never for installing this system.  All RVs are responsive aircraft and not really hands free airplanes.  They are light and powerful and require a constant input of controls.  They respond quickly to all control inputs and are fun to fly.  I plan to fly long distance in this aircraft and would like to point the plane and let it follow a track, wings level and also direction defined (GPS).  Also, as a safety feature, the Trutrak can be used to keep the wings level in turbulent air or even in weather.  Wondering into IMC is not any ones intention, but if you read the accident reports, it happens.  This page will follow the fabrication and installation process of this quick and easy installation. I will also advise all about the claims of Turtrak

The unit comes as a 2.25" panel mount control center and a compact servo-unit that is mounted remotely.  In the RV-4 it fits nicely in the foot well and after modifying the inboard foot well wall for the control link, it attaches to the aileron control tube.  A mounting bracket comes with the unit and required no modification except for drilling mounting holes for rivets, trimming and finishing of the mounting frame to the fuselage.  Click the small picture for an enlarged image.  You may notice in these pictures that I have modified the airframe somewhat.  Gussets have been installed for added strength and stiffness.  Also, the foot wells are lowered for co-pilot comfort.

This view is of the servo and control center aft veiw.  The cleko under the unit was discovered by using photo-examination techniques.  This was removed prior to final installation. I found that this unit is well made and easy to install.

This view is from the anterior and side.  It shows the machined control arm and the stops that had to be fabricated as every installation is different. 

This view shows the unit after the harness is installed and the unit has been riveted.  Notice that the harness is easily fabricated and takes little space

Soldering the harness is something anyone can do. 

The wiring goes fast and is a nice job for a rainy or windy day.

After installation, the system was wired to my stick controllers as well as the KLN-94 GPS, Blue Mountain Light and now a Garmin 196.  I have to detach quick connectors to switch between them at this time.  It will be a fun addition for flying and also will minimize the workload on long flights, IF IT EVER WORKS.... .  For information about the TRUTRAK.

http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/ttfsfaq.html

If you aren't a solderer, practice will help.

A better view of the limiters and of the unit prior to install.

Panel view of the Accutrak control head.  This is a sub-panel as the RV-4 leaves little room for these items.  The main  panel has been removed. LATER I UPGRADED TO THE PICTORIAL PILOT...

This is the finished installation after many changes in position.  After 180 flight hours and a total of 3 years installed.  Eighteen months with the new Pictorial Pilot.  I have yet to get it working as advertised.

2007 UPDATE

This unit was upgraded for the PICTORIAL PILOT eighteen months ago.  It hooked up just fine and went directly to the OFF sign that signified that it was installed correctly and was receiving a GPS signal.  I set it up the best I could and flew.  After adjusting in flight I flew the GPS/Magnetic calibration exercise without a problem except for a seeking from right to left.  It now works to a point but after months of adjusting it is still  "waundering".  My settings ended up being No. 1 (activity level) set to 22 (range 1-24).  No.2 (torque) set to 1 (1-12).  It will keep a heading and will follow a track programmed into the GPS, barely.  I currently get code from the Blue Mountain Lite system.  It has also worked with the King KLN94.   Trutrak people don't know how it even attempts to keep a heading with these settings. They continue to work with me.

BUG FIGHTING AND THE TRUTRAK PICTORIAL PILOT.  (7-22-2007)

John from Trutrak can't believe the unit won't fly right.  I was instructed to check the following.  Aileron slop, mechanical slop, binding of controls, wiring, GPS code problems. I have had a number of people look at the installation, wiring, and general installation. Trutack checked the autopilot head several months ago. they upgraded it as it was already superceeded by a new internal program and they could no longer troubleshoot the old one.  We  checked the volts at the servo at several settings, following  John's instructions on the phone.  We talked about everything possible.  I made a wiring bundle that fits into the aircraft and replaces all wiring.   The NMEA code was originally from my Blue Mountain EFIS Light and at times the KLN 94.  Did not make a difference to the troublesome waundering. I hooked up the Garmin 196 @ 4800 baud.  Flew the aircraft and it did the same thing.  Flew dangerously close to a wing over at the recommended 2/15/48 setting.  John advised for me to send the receiver in.  I sent him the receiver, servo and wiring loom.  he advised he would check it out. (7-20-2007).

At Airventure(OshKosh) on 7-25-2007 I talked directly with John.  He vaguely remembered our conversation a week prior about all the flight problems with the unit.  I theorize that he has so many problem clients that he can't remember us all!  I am getting very un-easy about all this.  Especially since many of my RV buddies are installing the Trio EZ-pilot with no adjustments necessary.  My next question to John at Trutrak is going to be, will your servo receive directions from a Trio?.  Actually, John has been patient and I think is doing what he can to get this system working.  Pretty hard from Arkansas to California.

7-28-07  Returned home from Airventure (Oshkosh).  During John's absence someone at Trutrak decided to send me a replacement unit for the Pictorial Pilot Programmer and they replaced the large gear sub-assembly, small gear assembly on the servo.  They also added that it tested good.  I will install tonight or tomorrow AM and test fly.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

8-4-07  Re-installed the servo and programmer.  Flew with auxillary wiring loom with no change.  Landed and removed the auxillary loom and re-connected the in-aircraft wiring.  Still connected to the Garmen 296.  Flew aircraft with no change in autopilot control characteristics.

8-11-07  Called John with results.  He wasn't too happy and we went through all that we had tried before including measuring the aleron control slop (none).  I advise John that I could take pictures of the installation of the servo and programmer in several views.  To include right stick, neutral and left.  He thought that would help him see what he couldn't.  If you would like to see the pictures of the installation and control rod movement click here: TRUTRAK PICTORIAL PILOT SERVO INSTALLATION PICTURES

8-11-07  Zach sent me an email suggestion two things be changed.  1.  Rotate the attachment clamp to a more horizontal position at the neutral aleron position.  2.  Move the rod position on the servo to the middle hole.  Zach figured we needed more servo movement.
RESULTS: No flight control characteristics changed.  At the "suggested" settings of 5 & 12 it would wing-over in two or three occilations from right to left.  Violent.  After flying for almost an hour, testing all adjustment numbers for sensitivity and torque, I again reached a fairly mild seeking at 21 & 2.  Any change from that would end up making the trutrak move forcefully right and left.

8-16-07 Left e-mails about the results of the no. 6 pin voltage.  I assume they were OK as no mention was made.  John wants to start over and have me recite from day one.  I did.  He advised me that he would have someone contact me in the future to sort this out.  I will keep you informed.

BTW:  The entire unit is out of the aircraft, on the bench, safety first.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TRUTRAK'S COMPETITION AT TRIO

http://www.trioavionics.com/

Back to David Aronson's Technique Page

                                                            Back to E.A.A. Chapter 0123 Home Page

Our Sponsors:

S.P.A. Website is sponsored by DCADOMAINS.com
For website domain management, web hosting, and much more.
 Web help EASY & LOW PRICED!.
Also: David Aronson DDS