Dynon HDX driving Aerocruze 100 A/P in HDG mode

[cliffy]

More info for those who follow along at a later date. 

As I was told (and contrary to what the Installation manual says) the Dynon WILL drive the AC 100 in HEADING (track) mode

With only the Dynon to drive the AC 100 and no other GPS system (430 etc) hooked up - the Dynon can drive the AP in HDG when

"FLT PLN" button is pushed (with some destination set in either "Direct to" or  a multileg flight plan). The leg or flt plan comes up on screen

and then you see an arrow pointing to the top leg line of the flight plan. By now pushing the "navigate" button the arrow and all the destination 

distance and time to go data and HSI disappears  BUT the Dynon heading bug is now active to drive the A/P.    ALT HOLD works and/or decent/climb also

work by using the Dynon control knob

Revert back to GPS track following  once again  by pushing the "navigate" button. All the GPS derived data also reappears.

One can also independently select the Aerocruze 100 control head to do the HDG and ALT from the control head alone if wanted. 

So far so good for a "cheap" autopilot.  5 hrs today and glad I had it a it was a rough ride all day. Hardly touched the wheel. 

I will add that the climb/decent ability while it does work; it is somewhat of a sloppy try at what ever rate is selected. It does not hold 

solid on the selected rate of climb or descent but does average out over time. 

A minor issue. It does show a pink arc at where it will  level off down line though. 
 

[cliffy]

To add a little bit more-

When using the Dynon HDG bug for course control -  Say if ATC wants to vector you around some-  you hit the FLT PLN button and the Navigate button, as noted and all the GPS derived  data disappears and the Dynon HDG bug guides the airplane.(select left Dynon knob to heading mode)

Now when the vectors are over and ATC says "cleared direct to" previous waypoint all one needs to do is push 

the Navigate button and all the GPS data comes back BUT of course you will be off your previous "direct to" course.

Now just hit "D" "direct to" twice and you are given a direct course to your previous waypoint. Hit "D" once and input

a new waypoint (if you are cleared to something different) and D again to go to the new way point. 

Its all in the buttonology  but not in the manuals anywhere. 

[mooneydemi]

Thanks for keeping us all updated on this autopilot Cliffy.

[cliffy]

An update-

If you want to use the HDX heading bug  -   BEFORE you hit FLT PLN and NAVIGATE  make sure you select the left Dynon knob to HEADING and turn the knob to bring the HDG bug to the top of the compass card. That way when you select FLT PLAN the airplane will stay on your current heading and not wander off to what ever heading the bug was on before selection as you try to quickly get the bug on the correct heading

Again its called "buttonology"

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, cliffy said:

An update-

If you want to use the HDX heading bug  -   BEFORE you hit FLT PLN and NAVIGATE  make sure you select the left Dynon knob to HEADING and turn the knob to bring the HDG bug to the top of the compass card. That way when you select FLT PLAN the airplane will stay on your current heading and not wander off to what ever heading the bug was on before selection as you try to quickly get the bug on the correct heading

Again its called "buttonology"

On most EFIS systems, if you push in the HDG button in and hold it a few seconds the Heading Bug will come up to your current heading so you don't have to turn it.

[cliffy]

Haven't seen that happen on the Dynon but I'll try it again next flight

[Andy95W]

21 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

On most EFIS systems, if you push in the HDG button in and hold it a few seconds the Heading Bug will come up to your current heading so you don't have to turn it.

I just tried that today on my Garmin G5 and it worked.  Thanks Lance, that’s really helpful and I didn’t know that before!