Positive Control Early Mooney Autopilot

[@witblitsfilm]

First video I found when searching for "wing levelling autopilot". What a fantastic and simple concept!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad it helped!

[@kevinbaslee3262]

I flew a 1975 M20C for several years with this system. It really works quite well, when it works. We did have to change some servos and vacuum lines, but as you mentioned it's really simple and easy to work one. Took a bit to get used to pushing the button down when you wanted to turn, but the plane would remind you quite quickly with the stiff controls. Love the Mooneys, they are great aircraft. I was really sad to see them stop producing them again!!

[@paulsautocm]

Bravo, my wife has positive control also. I'm positive she has control.:).

[@evfarry]

Haha, we have wives in common.

[@darrylday30]

My wife has insisted that I find a good Mooney and fly her from place to place. I guess I will, if I must.

[@ph5915]

Wow! that's pretty ingenious for that era! My C172-K has a Brittain wing leveler - which works, but if engaging it you always have to fiddle with it to stay level - that Mooney system sets itself to level by default, that's awesome!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

When the wing leveler works, it is very good.

[@derstuka96]

A very rudimentary concept, yet so effective!! You learn something new every day!!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Simple is often best!

[@lynnkramer1211]

Even though I own one, I can't seem to be able to learn enough about ERCO Ercoupes. Mine is a '46 415C and even with a good number of them around, they all seem to be different especially the cockpits. An essay on these beauties would be a real treat for thousands of your fans.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I'd have to have one here and do a lot of research.

[@5695q]

The Brittain autopilot system builds off the PC by adding a heading hold function by connecting to the directional gyro and altitude hold by adding diaphragms to the pitch control system along with a sensor in the tail next to the PC gyro already there.

[@FlyingNDriving]

I wonder if this is the same wing leveler as that guy that passes out in the cabin of his Mooney and it landed itself in the snow up in Minnesota some years back

[@MikeP-we2ve]

Outstanding information. Thank you.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrRogRamjet]

A PC system saved the day when I throttled back during an ifr approach, and the heading indicator suddenly began turning with wings level. (Vacuum problem) I shot the ILS with my compass, VSI, and the localizer needle, and made it in. I was a young CFI, ferrying this Mooney from Albany, NY to Eugene, OR. I was in over my head, and I learned a good lesson that day!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Ahhh ... memories. Good story, Roger!

[@rmiller640]

Learn something with everyone of your videos Mark. Keep up the good work. Always looking forward to the next one

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks 👍

[@SirJer]

Your videos are fantastic, it's clear you have excellent knowledge in GA, probably more than most I've met around here. Looking forward to more, really like the mechanical/how-it-works videos, expert flight tips are welcome too! Keep up the great content!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you very much!

[@ted1728]

If you can please go into this system a bit more in the future. Thank you

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

OK, I'll mention it more in other older Mooney videos.

[@sactu1]

Wow - THAT is a new way (to me) of entering a Mooney. I'm going to try that out this week on my M20J. Thanks!!

[@drifter503]

Pretty cool. I just saw one of these in the wild

[@stevenflattum156]

I always enjoy your videos thanks I always learn something new.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks for watching!

[@furball5553]

Love to be a fly on the wall when you tell the story of the pc saving your beacon will once again I have learned something thanks skywagon university 👍

[@billmoran3812]

Very interesting! I’d never heard of that before.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks for watching!

[@daszieher]

Mooneys never cease to amaze me. I always wonder why they did not continue the simple versions as an entry-level model. Imagine a fully mechanical M20C with speed mods such as the M20J cowling and the more sloped windshield.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Entry level today is a financial pain point for most of us.

[@daszieher]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 yes, Mooney would have probably tried to sell this entry level model for over half a million of "your finest green ones". Weren't "proper" Mooneys going for almost 800k? Using appropriate composite construction methods in combination with the tried and true structure and looking what a non-certified four-pot costs, I am convinced one could build and market this entry-level Mooney for under 200k.

[@6ellsworth]

Thank you for the video... Previous owner ripped out this leveler, I am looking forward to reinstalling it! this video witll help me with that.

[@Qrail]

You are always informative!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks, Jim!

[@Nord3202]

Pre 65 M20C & E's did not have positive control from the factory. My 64 M20C has the popular Century autopilot which does everything except attitude hold. Also pre 65 Mooney's the step is hand cranked up & down. Great videos, keep up the great work passing on the knowledge.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes, true. Thanks.

[@philbrammer3632]

I wonder if this is the reason some people say Mooneys have slightly heavy controls.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Only early ones with PC.

[@triskellian]

Hmmph! How elegant and clever.🙂

[@MotorsportsX]

Mooney made the best airplanes way ahead of thier time. They need to come back

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes they do.

[@davidwhelan8550]

Mark, do you know or do you have a resource for anyone to talk to about the original Brittain autopilot?

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Brittan is still around. Google them and call them.

[@habk8574]

Awesome

[@philbrammer3632]

I'm wondering, with the manifold pressure at takeoff power (ie reasonably close to atmospheric pressure) does the step make its way out again?

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

The step is up when the engine is running.

[@davidpearn5925]

Love your work Mark. In the 60s/70s our freighter Bonanza A36s had a ‘wing leveller’ via an electric switch which was used to do a ‘cloud break’ (if stuck on top) without loss of control. I never understood it’s true purpose because it wasn’t much of an autopilot and we had IRs, but switching it on and reducing power would have done the job if you didn’t panic. What ‘drove’ the wing leveller Mark ?

[@UltimateAnarchy]

The cameraman still hasn't learned to mute his phone before recording eh?

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

If a phone didn't go off in one of our videos, you'd think we'd been kidnapped and replaced by clones. Cheap knockoffs. We want to give you the real deal.

[@sport2175]

My PC trim in my M20C is turned all the way to the left for level flight. If I disable PC and let hands off the yoke the airplane will in about ten seconds be in a 45 degree right bank and picking up airspeed. I think it should be rigged a bit better than that. Other than that it hard to complain about 160 mph on 11 gph

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Sounds like a vacuum leak, Sport. The hoses and bags get old and start leaking.

[@davidduganne5939]

Get a kick out of the maintenance manual fix for a "heavy wing"--bending an aileron trailing edge with a set of vice grips... (gotta use precision tools when working on airplanes 😀 )

[@Lawiah0]

Hey Mark, how much will Aircraft be worth when Avgas/JetA is selling for $15.00 dollars per gallon by the end of 2022?

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

People will still fly, people will still drive. We need to get from A to B. Last time the prices of gas went up before Trump made the US energy independent and brought the prices down, the market for planes did not even react.

[@Lawiah0]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 IMO - Whats going to continue to transpire over the next 7 years will make the Great Depression look like "Holodomor" and East Germany, 1945 - combined. Best regards

[@apexgrin]

This aged like milk.

[@Lawiah0]

@@apexgrin I always put the milk back in the refrigerator if i know it's turned.

[@FlightSimDude]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

What's your take on Mooney? (I've always loved them!) What do you think will ultimately happen to them? Will they continue or are they, effectively, finished?

[@FlyingNDriving]

My controls!

[@adamalbert9179]

I was literally just looking for a video like this

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

The spyware we installed on your computer told us everyth ... um ... it was a spectacular coincidence. Yeah! Coincidence!

[@chrisc161]

Time for a new autopilot 😂

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

The old one still works, Chris!