Auto pilot for a Kitfox???

[Av8r3400]

I was thinking about teaching my wife how to fly. Would that count?

[colospace]

I'm with you Larry. I built a wooden mockup of the Dynon servo (will be using Skyview, etc.) to aid in designing/fabricating a mounting bracket and put mounting "studs" in-place for a roll servo prior to covering. However, I'm not sure that I will actually install one as I expect my wife will be with me on any trips, and she has talked learning to fly also. (Pretty sure she is afraid to be a non-pilot wife of a husband who conks out while airborne.)

[Rodney]

Don't know what the RV guy's problem is, but one of the things I love most on my Kitfox is the two axis autopilot.

Mine is tied into my Ifly720 and is absolutely wonderful. It is a trutrac and has altitude hold capability. I can also manually dial in rate of climb and rate of decent.

It makes flying cross countrys so relaxing and fun. Now I get to really enjoy seeing the country side. Also, can concentrate on traffic when close to Dallas class B.

After flying with one, you will never be sorry for putting one in if you can.

Regards
Rodney

[herman pahls]

Thanks again for the added advice.
It did not take much to convince me that the conventional servos connected to the controls is superior and easier to install than going with servo operated trim tabs.
Is there a stand alone AP that is 2 axis?
Cost?
I have not flown an AP so I assume the 2 axis maintains altitude and heading and also keeps the wings level.

Larry
I do not have room for a human wing leveler if I fly this thing to Alaska.

Herman

[Paul Z]

I have an auto pilot my right arm. I bought the plane to fly not for the plane to fly me. Just my stupid opinion. Have fun build it for you, if you want an AP have fun.

[airlina]

Thanks again for the added advice.
It did not take much to convince me that the conventional servos connected to the controls is superior and easier to install than going with servo operated trim tabs.
Is there a stand alone AP that is 2 axis?
Cost?
I have not flown an AP so I assume the 2 axis maintains altitude and heading and also keeps the wings level.

Larry
I do not have room for a human wing leveler if I fly this thing to Alaska.

Herman

Hi Herman, I was lucky and found a new trio EZ pilot that a guy on this list was selling for $2000 a few years ago (normal cost is around $3000 with 2 servos). It is a 2 axis which means it handles pitch and roll duties. I kept it simple and this autopilot is used in cruise once course and altitude are established. As we know the Kitfox handles great for sport flying but on long cross country flights it easy to gain a few hundred feet or drift 30 degrees off course when looking at my sectional . This is where the autopilot is great. As others have said , the autopilot makes your cross country flights much more relaxing and enjoyable. The photos show the roll and pitch servo installation and the autopilot head on my instrument panel. As you can see I have a vintage panel (cause I am a vintage guy) and the autopilot is a stand alone (not tied in to or driven by EFIS or any flight instruments). Roll control is handled by lower left control head , pitch by the altitude button to the right of the roll control head in the photo. Good luck with your decision. Bruce N199CL

[byteworks]

I installed in my Fox a DIY 2 axis autopilot (and servo rudder trim) based on 3drobotics AP, strong RC servos and BT connection to tablet software Ardupilot. Works very well in roll in all modes (including GPS nav), in pitch might need tweaking but my Fox is quite nose heavy having a Subaru engine.
Not bad for an under $500 AP.

I'm planning to try Trutrak Eco's route to move controls to trim tabs, I have been thinking for some time to this and their satisfaction will push me to try it in spring.

The white box is the AP with manual switch to stabilize, loiter and pass through for the other modes from the tablet.

[jrevens]

I received an inquiry about the TruTrak Digitrak A/P, and inadvertently deleted the email... I can't find any record of it on this site, although it was sent through TeamKitfox. If the sender sees this, will you please send me another message?

To answer one of the questions he asked (that I remember) ... I don't know if there is anyone still selling this autopilot (perhaps new - old stock) since TruTrak stopped making this particular model. It has been a very reliable, simple single-axis A/P, and I've had one in my T-18 for many years. I've got a new one in the box for my Kitfox. Very light, & simple operation. It'll do standard rate turns in either direction, hold a heading or course with a built in magnetometer or GPS signal from several different brands of GPS - Garmin, iFly, etc. It'll track a course very nicely. It'll get you down through the clouds safely if you do something stupid and find yourself somewhere that you don't want to be. Nice to have on a long cross country when you want to take your hand off the stick to study a map or something.