Alpha Systems AOA: flaps or no flaps?

[DC_Brasil]

Hello everyone.

I'm thinking of purchasing the Alpha Systems Eagle AOA indicator. For those of you that have it:

1 - Do you like it? I'm reading very positive things about flying the doughnut on final approach (top gun feelings?? Ha ha )

2 - Did you calibrate the stall AOA with or without flaps extended?

3 - Did you install the flap module?

Thanks 

[slowflyin]

I have it and love it!  For me, the heads up display mounted on the glare shield is a must.    During the landing phase it's just where it needs to be.  Fly the blue doughnut with a cross reference to the airspeed indicator for on-speed landings regardless of weight.  

Extended, aircraft in the landing configuration.

No.   For me, the AOA is useful for landing at different weights.   By myself with 45 minutes of fuel is a much slower approach than landing with folks and baggage at maximum landing weight.   

No buyers remorse!

 

 

[donkaye]

In my opinion the Alpha Systems Eagle AOA is worth every penny of its cost.  I've had and used mine since 11/24/14.  If used properly, it's almost impossible to have a bad landing.  I think it is important to read the Rogers Report attached below when determining how to calibrate the unit.  From the Report, for accuracy,  it is important that the 2 calibration points be located as close to each other as possible.  The flap module was not available when i got my unit, and even if it was, I wouldn't use it.  I, and a number of other people, calibrated the high speed point as the top of the White Arc in the clean configuration adjusted for weight, the low speed at Vso fully configured in the landing configuration, corrected for weight.  The Donut is calibrated at 1.3 Vso.

DeltaPAOA_wide_screen.pdfFetching info... AOA and speeds 2.pdfFetching info...

[KSMooniac]

Love mine!  The Eagle version is the most intuitive form factor IMO, and mounted on the glareshield in your primary line of sight is critical. A HUD version is likely great as well, but wasn't available when I installed mine 10 years ago.  It is my primary reference on final, and it works great.  I don't think anyone will regret adding the system.

I calibrated flaps-up, because there are cases with very gusty winds in my area of the country where I'll fly at less than full flaps.  A "regular" full-flap landing leaves me more margin of course, so maybe I'll fly it a bit above the blue donut if there are no gusts.

The flap add-on was not available 10 years ago either, but I'm very strongly considering adding it.  

I also did not get the heated probe as it makes no sense unless you have a FIKI bird IMO.  If you have any ice whatsoever, your calibration will be wrong, and you would be dumb to try to fly it normally with a contaminated wing.  Better to just ignore it if you find yourself carrying any ice, don't use flaps, fly & land faster, etc.  (Of course best to just not pick up any ice!)

[Pinecone]

I installed one, but haven't calibrated it yet.

Looking at the current manual, you calibrate at two points.  Cruise and close to stall speed.  I thought there was a 1.3Vso calibration point???

Any thoughts to calibrate at approach/take off flaps?

I did not add the flap module, but would like it.  But I will wait until someone else figures out where and how to do so.