AOA Systems.

[Dammit Bill]

I have a Mooney Bravo, and I have done a few things that are for nothing more than the sake of its cool (LED lights). However, I have seen videos over the year of the Alpha Systems AOA, and how it allows you to fly your airplane in a very efficient and practical way.

 

Last year at Oshkosh, I happened upon Alpha Systems’ booth and spoke with Mark Korin, the owner and developer of the Alpha Systems AOA.

 

I purchased the system and had it installed over the past few months while the plane is in for annual. Here’s what I have to say.

 

I love it! If nothing more than the fact that it has audio cues to make you aware of trends in your airplane’s airspeed. It shows you your best lift over drag on the approach and gives you great information, visual, and oral, on just how much lift you have.

 

It’s not cheap. Plan on about $4000 for the system and another $4000 to install it, but it is a great tool. I installed the right seat, second position option, so us to have that information flying from the right seat. I feel is valuable and I do not regret spending the money.

 

If you are thinking about it or have any questions about the system, just reach out to me and I would be more than happy to discuss my findings on it

 

 

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[DC_Brasil]

I bought the eagle AOA set from Alpha Systems but am waiting on the avionics shop slot to install it on my J.

[toto]

22 hours ago, Dammit Bill said:

 

I have a Mooney Bravo, and I have done a few things that are for nothing more than the sake of its cool (LED lights). However, I have seen videos over the year of the Alpha Systems AOA, and how it allows you to fly your airplane in a very efficient and practical way.

 

Last year at Oshkosh, I happened upon Alpha Systems’ booth and spoke with Mark Korin, the owner and developer of the Alpha Systems AOA.

 

I purchased the system and had it installed over the past few months while the plane is in for annual. Here’s what I have to say.

 

I love it! If nothing more than the fact that it has audio cues to make you aware of trends in your airplane’s airspeed. It shows you your best lift over drag on the approach and gives you great information, visual, and oral, on just how much lift you have.

 

It’s not cheap. Plan on about $4000 for the system and another $4000 to install it, but it is a great tool. I installed the right seat, second position option, so us to have that information flying from the right seat. I feel is valuable and I do not regret spending the money.

 

If you are thinking about it or have any questions about the system, just reach out to me and I would be more than happy to discuss my findings on it

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

To save others having to Google this …

https://alphasystemsaoa.com/

[Dammit Bill]

 
It is the Eagle system and I chose to add the second unit for the right seat. The thought being if I’m flying from the right seat, I would want it more.
 
 
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hazek]

On 6/1/2025 at 5:22 AM, Dammit Bill said:

or have any questions about the system

How would you say has it improved your flying? Be as specific as you can please.

[KSMooniac]

It's a great system.  I put the original Eagle version in my J 10 years ago now and love it.  I may check out the add-ons for flaps and gear at OSH this year.  I bought a second-hand kit that was still NIB, and worked with my IA to install it.  I recall spending about 8 hours on it or so.

I use it as my primary reference on final and don't fuss with trying to figure a weight-corrected Vref... just pitch for the Blue Donut and manage power to get to the aiming point.  No need to carry any extra speed "just in case" and float down the runway, or worse, get into a bounce/PIO/prop strike situation.  If needing to get into a short runway, I can fly just the upper half of the donut.

The audio alerts are helpful, and I imagine would be especially important in an emergency if you're maneuvering engine-out and trying to stretch a glide unintentionally and it might smack you back into maintaining control and hitting your spot under control vs. stalling above it.  My last trip took us into Taos from the east, over some mountains and it was helpful to hear "getting slow" a few times while managing the crossing in the wave/winds/turbulence.

[dkkim73]

My last flight ended in a quick descent on approach to a circle. Different approach than usual and things move quickly.  I ended up with more speed than usual on final and had to dump energy with the brakes. It all sorted out fine (I am getting better and really keeping steady down low and bleeding off the energy). But I do remember thinking about airspeed and AOA...  If the weather had actually been worse I would have been potentially more distracted, and being able to fly with AOA guidance (esp. turning and in different configurations) and also having the aural tones would be nice. 

Curious what others think about this from a safety standpoint, or being able to do new things better (e.g. infrequent short field approaches etc). Vs. just flying more precisely, which is always good too, of course, but it does cost some money. 

OTOH LHS seems optional, but man is it helpful in consistency. 

[KSMooniac]

If I can do something to get away safely with being lazy, I'm quite inclined to try it. 

Look at it this way... our planes have different performance at light weight and gross weight.  I'm fairly experienced with my J and have a sense of what I can load (and where) and how she'll perform.  Do I calculate W&B for each end of the flight, or any point in between anymore... not really.  I just want to go fly!  A good AoA system can allow you to just fly, presuming you'll be within the W&B envelope, of course, and be safe and precise.  I don't refuel after every flight, so I typically have variable fuel loads.  I don't weigh my cargo unless I know I'm getting close to max gross, and I don't check out my fuel load on approach to calculate a Vref typically since I have the AoA on board.  

And then of course it can save your bacon in an emergency situation by alerting you to an issue while maneuvering with enough warning to do something, and/or get you to a proper glide speed without correcting for current weight.

It does require some dollars and hours of labor, but some of that can be DIY/owner-assist/sweat equity with a friendly IA too.