Aerocruz 100 for Mooney Ranger

[AJ88V]

Just want to say thank you to all the contributors of this thread.  I'm in the middle of a decision to install/upgrade for my 1970 C model or to just buy another plane.  Knowing a lot more detail about the Aerocruz is definitely helping.  Thanks!!!

[mooneydemi]

Thanks from me also.  Have a M20E with dynon and avidyne 440 and was waiting for the dynon autopilot but that isn't happening as we know.  This sounds promising.  Keep the field reports coming.  

 

Thanks!!!

[cliffy]

Did a 3 hr round trip and found tings working well right now BUT I haven't tried to "de-select" to use the Dynon heading bug yet. That will happen on the next trip.

After takeoff it grabs heading and climb rate nicely when engaged  and climbs to preselected altitude and levels off within 20 feet of selected altitude (CAUTION - you  MUST sync the altitude reading of the AC 100 with the reading on your altimeter AFTER you set it to the current altimeter Hg setting. This is spelled out in the manual) . The altitude reading of the AC 100 goes back to 29.92 ref every time it is shut off. Just a quick setting every start and every altimeter change. 

The trim indication will bother you for a couple hrs until you learn how to check it by tapping the control wheel.

Descents are easy as you just set the bottom altitude and then the rate making sure the rate is ZERO before setting the bottom altitude. Levels again within 20 feet every time. Stays within 20 feet during level turns 

Buttonology will have you thinking for a few hours. 

Follows flight plan in Dynon perfectly and I had an occasion to need a heading for a while so I transferred from Skyview mode to GPS mode and used the AC 100 control head for the heading control and it works perfectly. Had to reselect altitude hold though. Again buttonology to get used to. 

At this point with about 5 hrs of time behind it I'm very satisfied. 

I have a hangar neighbor with a G model who is now going to install one also and get rid of his Brittian. He'll use his G 430 for a AIRINC drive for GPSS steering. As he has  a G he has no modifications to do to make it fit with the install kit now supplied,

Sure wish it had happened 5 years ago. 

[hammdo]

@cliffy, would you care to share you’re setup settings?

Thanks…

-Don

[mooneydemi]

Thanks @cliffy,  How many hours do you think the install takes?  Wanted to get an idea when I start discussing with my A&P.

Appreciate the breakdown above the feedback is great and this sounds like a decent option for us short body guys.

 

Don

[cliffy]

6 hours ago, hammdo said:

@cliffy, would you care to share you’re setup settings?

Thanks…

-Don

They are set in when delivered  They are easily found in the installation manual available on line if you need to review them

 

6 hours ago, mooneydemi said:

Thanks @cliffy,  How many hours do you think the install takes?  Wanted to get an idea when I start discussing with my A&P.

Appreciate the breakdown above the feedback is great and this sounds like a decent option for us short body guys.

 

Don

Install time will be (or should be ) between 30 to 40 hrs. Maybe a little more if on a short body with mods to make to the pitch mounting. This is my guess for a first time installer. Follow on installs by the same guy will be somewhat shorter but not more than 10-15 hrs shorter. 

Like I said I'm satisfied by its performance for what I need  I can see light IFR capability but not hard IFR down to mins all the time. Also its restricted to basically non-precision mins (700 AGL) Just like the Brittains.  But if you can't hand fly the last half of an LPV (when its already set up for you)  then you shouldn't be flying in IMC (JMO) 

Maybe more flying next week when it warms up a little. 

[Florian Guthardt]

18 hours ago, cliffy said:

Did a 3 hr round trip and found tings working well right now BUT I haven't tried to "de-select" to use the Dynon heading bug yet. That will happen on the next trip.

After takeoff it grabs heading and climb rate nicely when engaged  and climbs to preselected altitude and levels off within 20 feet of selected altitude (CAUTION - you  MUST sync the altitude reading of the AC 100 with the reading on your altimeter AFTER you set it to the current altimeter Hg setting. This is spelled out in the manual) . The altitude reading of the AC 100 goes back to 29.92 ref every time it is shut off. Just a quick setting every start and every altimeter change. 

The trim indication will bother you for a couple hrs until you learn how to check it by tapping the control wheel.

Descents are easy as you just set the bottom altitude and then the rate making sure the rate is ZERO before setting the bottom altitude. Levels again within 20 feet every time. Stays within 20 feet during level turns 

Buttonology will have you thinking for a few hours. 

Follows flight plan in Dynon perfectly and I had an occasion to need a heading for a while so I transferred from Skyview mode to GPS mode and used the AC 100 control head for the heading control and it works perfectly. Had to reselect altitude hold though. Again buttonology to get used to. 

At this point with about 5 hrs of time behind it I'm very satisfied. 

I have a hangar neighbor with a G model who is now going to install one also and get rid of his Brittian. He'll use his G 430 for a AIRINC drive for GPSS steering. As he has  a G he has no modifications to do to make it fit with the install kit now supplied,

Sure wish it had happened 5 years ago. 

Did they really get the new servo mounts approved yet?

 

on their download section it is still the old 2023 drawings where some mods are required. Not a big deal but most shops are refusing to modify the install...

 

We tried to be as close to the manual on our M20F as possible, still some mods were required (Roll servo rod shortening, roll servo bracket trimming, modifying installation of aft brackets of Pitch Installation, relocating servo on the C-Channel 1/2 inch further forward to ensure proper control travel)

[hammdo]

@cliffy I do have those numbers— just making sure yours were defaults. Thanks!

-Don