Anyone using the Supereco autopilot

[avidflyer]

Guess the title of the post tells it all. Any comments? Thanks, JImChuk

The Lightest Autopilot for Light-Sport & Experimental Aircraft – aircraftautomation

[efwd]

Garmin AP head and two servos cost $300 more?

[109JB]

Garmin AP head and two servos cost $300 more?

But you need a G5 minimum to run the AP on a garmin system. Minimum required is:

G5X - $1500
2 GSA28 servos - $900 each
GMC507 AP controller - $1200

Total: $4500 (The above prices include connectors but no wiring)

[Eric Page]

The SuperECO system might difficult to use on a Kitfox since it uses aileron-mounted trim tabs, and our flaperons are both delicate and physically separated from the wing. Maybe one of them could be installed on the lower wing surface instead, but it looks like a sketchy proposition on a fabric covered airplane. If it were installed on the wing, how would it affect the flaperon? Would you be able to let go of the stick?

Then there's the flutter/balance problem. From their website: "To avoid flutter, you must rebalance your aileron, elevator, and rudder after installing your trim tabs."

On the positive side of the ledger, its yaw damper automatically maintains coordinated flight when engaged and works as a manually adjustable rudder trim when disengaged. That would be pretty useful on any taildragger.

[avidflyer]

I was talking to the owner of the company yesterday, and he said that some one with a Kitfox was just installing one and might be flying it this weekend. He said he would let me know how it worked out. I asked him about installing tabs on the wings, just outboard of the flaperons instead of on the flaperons. On the full length wings, there is about 18" of bare wing there. I sent him pictures of my Kitfox, and may have got him thinking. Even if one put a tab on both wings, would it give enough push up and down? I'm not sure. It would make it easy to run wires through the rear spar. JImChuk

[kitfoxjim]

The SuperECO system might difficult to use on a Kitfox since it uses aileron-mounted trim tabs, and our flaperons are both delicate and physically separated from the wing. Maybe one of them could be installed on the lower wing surface instead, but it looks like a sketchy proposition on a fabric covered airplane. If it were installed on the wing, how would it affect the flaperon? Would you be able to let go of the stick?

Then there's the flutter/balance problem. From their website: "To avoid flutter, you must rebalance your aileron, elevator, and rudder after installing your trim tabs."

On the positive side of the ledger, its yaw damper automatically maintains coordinated flight when engaged and works as a manually adjustable rudder trim when disengaged. That would be pretty useful on any taildragger.

Several years ago I developed my own autopilot system using R/C servos. My system was based on technology available in the mid 90's. It uses track deviation to control direction and GPS altitude for pitch. I have approximately 1700 hours using these servos with only one failure in that time. I have both a Model 2 and Model 5 Kitfox, with 3 axis autopilot and trim. My system works great but is slow to react in turbulence. I have attached photos of my flaperon installation. I use one on each aileron with no flutter problems, tested to in excess of vne.
IMG_2955.jpgIMG_2956.jpg

[Eric Page]

Wow, very cool, Jim. I'm glad to be proven wrong by ingenuity that clever!

[JP24]

Several years ago I developed my own autopilot system using R/C servos. My system was based on technology available in the mid 90's. It uses track deviation to control direction and GPS altitude for pitch. I have approximately 1700 hours using these servos with only one failure in that time. I have both a Model 2 and Model 5 Kitfox, with 3 axis autopilot and trim. My system works great but is slow to react in turbulence. I have attached photos of my flaperon installation. I use one on each aileron with no flutter problems, tested to in excess of vne.
IMG_2955.jpgIMG_2956.jpg

Hi Jim.

Could you please give me the dimensions of yours trims.

Best Regards
Jean-Pierre

[JP24]

I am pilot of EuroFox, Ultralight which one can consider as being asmall or large brother of KitFox. (AvidFlyert, AppoloFox),practically identical, both in its construction quality and its flight qualities.


https://photos.app.goo.gl/aMuSmvz2TUjqWznL6


Since October lastyear I installed the SuperEco in my EuroFox. After looking on Facebook for a certain number of comments on the use of such a solution on ULMs with Flaperons, I decided to put trim taps on the two Flaperons (Roll) and a trim tap for the Pitch. Thus I obtain a symmetry between the two Flaperons, especially when the flaps are used.


On the flaperons,the trim taps are of medium size (20 cm by 4 cm), which represents a little more than half of the surface recommended by Aircraft Automation. For the Pitch I made a trim tap of 30 cm by by 5 cm).
After assembling the servo motors fixed on the Flateron, I decided to put the servo motor inside the Flaperons in order to reduce drag and weight. The influence of trim tabs on Flaterons is positive. A flight test measures this influence, and the resulting pressure on the stick when they are in various positions. The SuperEco parameters allow this test to be carried out in flight.
So far I haven't had a flutter/balance problem.


https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ep37ABMirzY9pxfh7


I also watched theCory Robin's video about using the Supereco AP. I did not observe that the tabs was constantly in motion. Maybe, this may be due to an unstable atmosphere.


The adjustment of the whole is not very simple. A set of parameters in the SuperEco make it possible to adjust the reactions of the ULM to changes in altitude or direction. After several tries I am still not 100%satisfied, despite the help from the boss of Aircraft Automation(Carlos).


I will, when the weather will be better, continue my tests and adjustments of the SuperEco.


Note: please excuse my English.


Jean-Pierre

[kitfoxjim]

Jean-Pierre

Sorry I did not reply sooner as I am travelling on holidays. The dimension my tabs are about 10 x 18 -20 cm. You don't mention what problems you are having with the autopilot....the earlier Kitfox's had adverse yaw which made aileron only steering difficult for the autopilot. If your problem is related to adverse yaw, please advise as I may have a solution for you. If not, you need to describe the characteristics you are trying to correct.

Jim

I am pilot of EuroFox, Ultralight which one can consider as being asmall or large brother of KitFox. (AvidFlyert, AppoloFox),practically identical, both in its construction quality and its flight qualities.


https://photos.app.goo.gl/aMuSmvz2TUjqWznL6


Since October lastyear I installed the SuperEco in my EuroFox. After looking on Facebook for a certain number of comments on the use of such a solution on ULMs with Flaperons, I decided to put trim taps on the two Flaperons (Roll) and a trim tap for the Pitch. Thus I obtain a symmetry between the two Flaperons, especially when the flaps are used.


On the flaperons,the trim taps are of medium size (20 cm by 4 cm), which represents a little more than half of the surface recommended by Aircraft Automation. For the Pitch I made a trim tap of 30 cm by by 5 cm).
After assembling the servo motors fixed on the Flateron, I decided to put the servo motor inside the Flaperons in order to reduce drag and weight. The influence of trim tabs on Flaterons is positive. A flight test measures this influence, and the resulting pressure on the stick when they are in various positions. The SuperEco parameters allow this test to be carried out in flight.
So far I haven't had a flutter/balance problem.


https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ep37ABMirzY9pxfh7


I also watched theCory Robin's video about using the Supereco AP. I did not observe that the tabs was constantly in motion. Maybe, this may be due to an unstable atmosphere.


The adjustment of the whole is not very simple. A set of parameters in the SuperEco make it possible to adjust the reactions of the ULM to changes in altitude or direction. After several tries I am still not 100%satisfied, despite the help from the boss of Aircraft Automation(Carlos).


I will, when the weather will be better, continue my tests and adjustments of the SuperEco.


Note: please excuse my English.


Jean-Pierre