Final Report on Aerocruz 100 (TT) Autopilot Install

[cliffy]

Started new thread so it would be easier for someone later on to find the info

Aerocruz100 in the 2 1/4 inch round body form  with blue button "One Push" for level flight

3rd cross country (1.5 each way) today Dead calm going , moderate turbulence returning to home port

Installed in M20D (short body) with Dynon HDX panel but no IFR GPS navigator as I only do Day VFR in SE airplanes anymore.

A/P follows its own control head in heading and altitude mode perfectly

Transfer to "Skyview" mode and it follows Dynon flight plan and Dynon control of vertical mode perfectly

In climb or descent mode (either Dynon or AC100 control) the vertical speed called for vs what it attains is somewhat 

sloppy but close (maybe vertical gusts outside have a strong affect)

Altitude Hold works perfectly within 20 ft  straight and level or in turns.

Altitude level off (up or down) works as advertised

Very strong up or down drafts in Alt Hold will affect airspeed as the AP tries to maintain altitude. Not unexpected. Just as Boeings do. 

Lateral tracking on GPS flight plan is dead on centerline, always;

Makes turns in flight plan as required  

If flown from home port out to a point it will return to home if home is next waypoint. 180 degree turn around.

When engaged after takeoff it will assume current heading and climb rate.  Altitude to climb to can be preset if desired.

Trim indicator is sensitive but getting used to it you learn to ignore the prompts if in up and down drafts

An easy way to tell if trim is needed is by feeling the trim wheel to see if undue pressure is on the trim system.

You can feel the midpoint as you trim to know where the setting needs to be, The trim wheel moves freer there.

Another way is to get it close (or if it comes on in level flight) and to tap the control wheel the way it says it needs trim.

If it is in trim (or very near) the trim indicator will disappear with just the tap on the wheel. 

Holding the control wheel and disconnecting the AP will also tell you if you are near perfect trim. 

All in all. Up , down, left , right all work as needed for a decent price. 

If it has a GPS navigator it will do GPSS. 

If you have more questions ask away

[KSMooniac]

Great report! How does the integration with Dynon work, exactly? Can you control modes and such through the Skyview, or does it just blindly feed a heading to the autopilot?

Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

[ProtoFly]

Just waiting for the STC for my F model for either the Aerocruze or Trio.  First one out wins my $....

[cliffy]

13 hours ago, cliffy said:

A/P follows its own control head in heading and altitude mode perfectly

Transfer to "Skyview" mode and it follows Dynon flight plan and Dynon control of vertical mode perfectly

When control is from the AC 100 control head IT controls both heading and vertical modes

When control is swapped to Dynon  IT controls lateral GPS tracking and vertical modes

Control head controls HEADING mode when in command position

Dynon controls GPS tracking mode when in command position

Command position is dictated by the MODE button on the AC 100 control head

Either one ( AC 100 or Dynon) will do all functions of vertical when in command mode

I have been told there is a way to have the Dynon control HEADING selection on the Dynon but so far I haven't figured that one out yet. 

Its not really an issue for me but I will be looking in to it. 

[cliffy]

The actual STC certificate  from Duncan Aerocruze 100 STC says it  covers all modals  of the Mooney  M20

[ProtoFly]

3 hours ago, cliffy said:

The actual STC certificate  from Duncan Aerocruze 100 STC says it  covers all modals  of the Mooney  M20

I've been in contact with Duncan since about September last year.  There were problems with brackets, which required them to re-engineer some of the parts, and thus, while I could have purchased and worked with a DER for field approval, the STC was not valid for my model 'as is'.  They've been very communicative, and it looks like hopefully Q2 this year the STC will be finalized.

[Florian Guthardt]

M20F works on the original STC with minor mods ( if your installer is willing to do it) - I can share details if someone is interested…

Dynon heading control works if you don’t have a source like GPS / Nav or Dynon FPL selected on the Dynon HSI… 

we hoped to have the Dynon AP on our M20F as this did not happen the Aerocruze is the only option and it is OK from a price to capability standpoint 

 

[ProtoFly]

16 hours ago, Florian Guthardt said:

M20F works on the original STC with minor mods ( if your installer is willing to do it) - I can share details if someone is interested…

Dynon heading control works if you don’t have a source like GPS / Nav or Dynon FPL selected on the Dynon HSI… 

we hoped to have the Dynon AP on our M20F as this did not happen the Aerocruze is the only option and it is OK from a price to capability standpoint 

 

I looked into this - would still require a field approval, since Duncan pulled the STC for the F, pending new drawings.  Installer (me) is willing, but dealing with FSDO....maybe not so much.  I've been told that Q2 is the timeframe, and I can wait...

Edited Thursday at 03:15 PM by ProtoFly
Clarify

[Florian Guthardt]

On 2/27/2025 at 4:14 PM, ProtoFly said:

I looked into this - would still require a field approval, since Duncan pulled the STC for the F, pending new drawings.  Installer (me) is willing, but dealing with FSDO....maybe not so much.  I've been told that Q2 is the timeframe, and I can wait...

Sorry I was not specific enough - it worked on our 1967 F - for later ones like your 1970 you might indeed need the new drawings…