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Aerocruz 100 for Mooney Ranger

Fysiojohn
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Fysiojohn Apprentice

Fysiojohn

Posted
Posted

Hi all,

I’m looking to upgrade my autopilot from the original Accutrak to the TruTrak, now Aerocruz 100 AP, which recently got the okay for my Mooney M20C. All I’m looking for is an AP that follows the my WAAS GPS’s magenta line, holds attitude and can do turn anticipation.
I did a general search on Mooneyspace but didn’t find many that may have gone before me.

i’ve done some research but it seems to be the only one that does not require a G5 or some other intermediary and can run straight from my IFD 440, AND is approved for use in the Mooney. 

Any advice before I take the plunge, and secondly, being based in Northern VA, any recommendations for avionics shops that do the install?

thanks!

Utah20Gflyer Experienced

Utah20Gflyer

Posted
Posted

I’d call Duncan who holds the STC and just verify that your model isn’t one of the ones that they are having parts compatibility issues with.   Duncan wrongly assumed that all of the planes on the STC shared common parts with the plane they used to certify the auto pilot.   There have been quite a few people who have ordered the Aerocruz 100 and found it didn’t fit.  

bigmo Community Regular

bigmo

Posted
Posted

That’s what I was thinking of then. Assume it’s something to do with the servo mount or linkage connection hardware? Presume they’ll get that sorted at some point.

My STEC serves me well, but when it gives up the ghost, I’ll be ready to go modern. It’s a want, not a need as I have GPSS and the system manages enroute and approaches better than I expected. Fingers crossed it’s hot a few years left…but the 100 seems to be a no brainer.

 

vik Collaborator

vik

Posted
Posted

With the kind of "support" I got from Duncan I would not touch anything coming from them!  The product by Bendix-King (now Honeywell) with STC backed by a random radio shop, both known for "great" customer support - sounds like asking for a trouble. It took them years to finish STC for the already mature product (TruTrak) - just to be pulled by FAA right away due to mistakes made in designing those few hardware parts. If something happens down the line, just be ready to be on your own and fly with a paperweight for years, or, bite the bullet and redo all from scratch by putting in a better product with a much better support history.

There is no perfect solution for Mooney, just an expensive, but a more capable and reliable one with the support that will last for decades and the one that sounds like a total waste of time and money down the road.  Take your poison, but notice how quickly the other brand fixed a problem that popped up recently. Even though they had to send people expensive replacement hardware for free. I am not fan of the brand. Rather the opposite. But I can't deny the facts. 

On the other hand, it will be 5 year "anniversary" pretty soon for BK KI-300 emergency AD. Still, no resolution. Well, it does not matter now.  I am pretty sure that all owners already pulled it out and put another instrument in. Who wants to to have their plane placarded "VFR only" forever? Lucky me, I did not have that in my plane, but people who did probably lost ~$10K in hardware + installation in addition to 1-2 weeks (optimistic) while the plane is in the shop.

This is my personal opinion though. I hope other people had better experience when they needed support from  BK or Duncan. It is pity how a great AP used by so many happy experimental folks got screwed up by a couple of companies so quickly, leaving earlier Mooney owners with only one reasonable option  for a modern AP. Sad, but not a new story.

 

Scooter Apprentice

Scooter

Posted
Posted

Hey guys and gals.

Got this 12/2/2024, so pretty current.

Hi Scooter,

 

We are hoping the Bendix King and Duncan Engineering, to create revised additional drawings will be completed in January or February of 2025, then FAA approval after that...  Q2 of 2025 is our latest estimate.

  • Like 1
AJ88V Community Regular

AJ88V

Posted
Posted

Just for comparison, I’m finding numbers on the order of $20K to install the Garmin GFC-500. 
How much cheaper are we expecting the Aerocruz 100 to come in? (Assuming it ever will come in.) FWIW, a local shop thinks a DER install of the Aerocruz may be possible. But it may be better to just bite the bullet and get the one we know works and will be supported.
https://avionics-laf.com/products/garmin-gfc500-autopilot-installed

and useful thread below

 

 

bigmo Community Regular

bigmo

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, AJ88V said:

Just for comparison, I’m finding numbers on the order of $20K to install the Garmin GFC-500. 
 

 

The Garmin will be WAY over $20K. If I read your post right, you do not have a G5 (or GI275 right)?

Lafayette has some great baseline pricing published installed (and frankly, I've not had much luck with other shops competing with their prices). He's booked a full year out. His pricing is $28K for the GFC-500 (which will include the G5). Better budget $30K if they run into a snag or two.

 

 

 

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Fysiojohn Apprentice

Fysiojohn

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, bigmo said:

The Garmin will be WAY over $20K. If I read your post right, you do not have a G5 (or GI275 right)?

Lafayette has some great baseline pricing published installed (and frankly, I've not had much luck with other shops competing with their prices). He's booked a full year out. His pricing is $28K for the GFC-500 (which will include the G5). Better budget $30K if they run into a snag or two.

 

 

 

As I’m probing the various avionics shops in the area, I am developing second thoughts on the Aerocruz. But then I hear from an A&P IA, who has his installed in his own bird and it functions very well.

getting a modern Autopliot and have 20K less to spend is not a small thing to consider.

NickG Rising Star

NickG

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Fysiojohn said:

As I’m probing the various avionics shops in the area, I am developing second thoughts on the Aerocruz. But then I hear from an A&P IA, who has his installed in his own bird and it functions very well.

getting a modern Autopliot and have 20K less to spend is not a small thing to consider.

I can't speak to how it works in a Mooney because my Ovation has a GFC-500 but I had an Aerocruz 100 in my former Cherokee 235.

Worked as advertised. Certified versions have no auto trim feature which is a PIA as it is constantly asking for retrim (you'll figure out how to deal with that after a while). It's OK, not great in moderate turbulence - making sure your ball in centered helps a lot. Even though it's not cetified for coupled approaches, it flies them just fine. Please note, this AP will only work on GPS (internal), GPSS (external) Track Mode (which uses its internal GPS for ground track) or heading more (provided its connected to G5 or similar). It will not fly ILS, LOC etc. GPSS roll steering works well.

If you're installing an EFIS that it supports (make sure that its supported..) then you will need to add an A-B switch for input so you can fly heading mode and also use the Efis Baro setting, otherwise the only way to set Baro in the unit is to manually dial in you altitude, which can be challenging in turbulence and a PIA if you are getting a lot of Baro changes.

Here are a couple of review videos that are helpful: 

 

 

  • Thanks 1
Fysiojohn Apprentice

Fysiojohn

Posted
  • Author
Posted
7 hours ago, NickG said:

I can't speak to how it works in a Mooney because my Ovation has a GFC-500 but I had an Aerocruz 100 in my former Cherokee 235.

Worked as advertised. Certified versions have no auto trim feature which is a PIA as it is constantly asking for retrim (you'll figure out how to deal with that after a while). It's OK, not great in moderate turbulence - making sure your ball in centered helps a lot. Even though it's not cetified for coupled approaches, it flies them just fine. Please note, this AP will only work on GPS (internal), GPSS (external) Track Mode (which uses its internal GPS for ground track) or heading more (provided its connected to G5 or similar). It will not fly ILS, LOC etc. GPSS roll steering works well.

If you're installing an EFIS that it supports (make sure that its supported..) then you will need to add an A-B switch for input so you can fly heading mode and also use the Efis Baro setting, otherwise the only way to set Baro in the unit is to manually dial in you altitude, which can be challenging in turbulence and a PIA if you are getting a lot of Baro changes.

Here are a couple of review videos that are helpful: 

 

 

Thanks for the info. I have of course seen just about every video on youtube, haven't found one that has an aerocruz or trutrak installed in a Mooney though. 

John

NickG Rising Star

NickG

Posted
Posted

Gonna fly the same way and with the same features regardless of which airframe it’s attached to.

  • Like 1
Lionudakis Proficient

Lionudakis

Posted
Posted
On 12/16/2024 at 11:49 AM, Fysiojohn said:

As I’m probing the various avionics shops in the area, I am developing second thoughts on the Aerocruz. But then I hear from an A&P IA, who has his installed in his own bird and it functions very well.

getting a modern Autopliot and have 20K less to spend is not a small thing to consider.

Curious if those shops are all Garmin dealers?  I haven't met one yet that doesn't trash talk every other brand.  I've installed an Aerocruze in a M20J coupled to an Aspen, and it's rock solid. 

  • Like 5
cliffy Grand Master

cliffy

Posted
Posted

I've installed an AC 100 in my D model and it seems rock solid on 2 test flights

Will have more to report in a week or two after more testing

Follows the magenta line on my Dynon HDX just fine

Bear in mind this is in a VFR only airplane as I do not do SE IFR anymore.

Duncan has been very helpful for me  YMMV

  • Like 3
47U Mentor

47U

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, cliffy said:

I've installed an AC 100 in my D model

And the modifications to change the angle of the elevator servo mount brackets was approved on a 337?  Which would be my first option.  I have the draft drawings and mock’d up the installation, it’s not rocket science.  I just haven’t approached my IA to see their opinion, yet.

Looking forward to your next report… 

cliffy Grand Master

cliffy

Posted
Posted

Actually the angle on mine was the same as supplied  IIRC 105 degrees

Only the length of the mounting tray was changed moving the position of the upper attachment on the tray

but always using the same mounting hardware and design. Basically a minor alteration. .

Nothing changed but the length of the tray and mounting location of the upper hanger on that tray. 

The roll servo went in with no issues. 

The tray flanges had to be modified for clearance of the flap cross shaft (as denoted on the drawings).

Stayed well within the limits allowed on the install drawings for that.  

  • Like 2
cliffy Grand Master

cliffy

Posted
Posted

Having looked at the Trio install drawings for a Mooney I think the AC 100 is easier to install

Also the Trio uses 3 servos with cable bridles for control connections unlike the AC 100 with 

solid push pull rods on 2 servos. The Trio uses a tray across the width of the tail cone aft of the radio access

hole on the left side of the fuselage with 2 servos mounted side by side to connect to the Mooney 

push/pull rods with clamp on cable bridles. I guess I'm just not a fan of cable bridles but they have 

been used on many A/P installations in the past.

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