Why I am Not Happy With This Autopilot - Trutrak (Aerocruze 100) Review.

[@chrisc161]

I have the exact autopilot. It was installed 3 months ago and your review is right on the money. Regarding the climb issue what I have done is changed the defaults in the software. I spoke to Bendix and now is much better.

[@FlyingDirty]

I'll have to call them about it and see. Thanks!

[@chrisc161]

@@FlyingDirty Make sure you also have the latest software release.

[@paulhuckaby]

@@chrisc161 do you have to ship it back to get the software updated?

[@SooperToober]

Another brilliant and informative episode - thanks a bunch! Now I'm keen on going after my IFR rating

[@FlyingDirty]

Thanks SooperToober! Keep going after those goals my friend!

[@seanmcgrath9537]

I had the experimental version of the exact auto pilot, it’s a good unit and it worked ok with my GRT PFD and Garmin 650. I wanted a much more comprehensive system that was not taped together as you have to do with TruTack. So I pulled everything out except the 650 and went Garmin G3x. Could not be happier, if you go to a Malibu I would give Garmin another look. Keep up the good videos.

[@FlyingDirty]

Hi Sean, I f I had an experimental then I personally no doubt would go with Dynon Skyview over the G3X since it has a built in autopilot. I’ve played with both units and quickly became a fan of the HDX for multiple reasons. But unfortunately compatibility is definitely not one of them. Garmin does have the advantage over market compatibility without a doubt. Therefore, for a PA46 Malibu, Skyview is not even an option yet. Not to mention, the PA46 should already have an autopilot. Therefore, the G3X/G5 would likely be the best option in such case. But Man, I just love the look, feel, and user options of the HDX. Thanks for the suggestion and, yes, the G3X would end up being my choice for a PA46 at this moment.

[@Mauriceandcarolyn]

Thank you for sharing. Great video and very detailed. Hope to get this comfortable with IFR flying after I actually get my PPL. Keep up the good work.

[@FlyingDirty]

You will! Unless I am doing a local flight I just about always file IFR. It takes a little longer for clearance, vectoring, and routings but it is great practice and I feel safer having ATC looking out for me. Thanks 😊

[@jacquelavalle8828]

Thanks for sharing. I didn’t know that it would fly the gps in Skyview mode. I’ll have to try that. I thought I had to have the Dynon in Skyview mode as well and that the heading bug controlled the track. I’ll try this out on the next flight.

[@FlyingDirty]

You’re welcome! 😀 You can also do the altitude preselect and altitude hold through the Skyview. But after playing around with it for a while I found it much less stable and mine zigzagged with the heading bug. I default to the TruTrak. But it’s still good to know.

[@felixhunger7000]

Thanks, I love these new videos. Your a great pilot!

[@FlyingDirty]

I appreciate you for sharing your thoughts Felix! 😀

[@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity]

I have GRT HX’s with TT DigiflightII AP. Love it.

[@FlyingDirty]

I think it's very nice for the price and for VFR flying but, when I first bought it, Trutrak was telling folks that they were waiting on approvals to make it IFR legal. That was all a lie and it pissed me off a bit my friend 😀. Thanks for watching 😀

[@WolfPilot]

Good video Rual! I agree 10000000000% about the added fatigue of not having an auto pilot. N8344T has a non functioning "Nav-O-Matic" wing leveler that is going to the dumpster one of these days

[@FlyingDirty]

How are you my friend? I had my wing lever fixed and flew with it for several years and even that was a relief. But it definitely doesn’t come close to a fully functioning autopilot system.

[@WolfPilot]

@@FlyingDirty I'm doing great! I just picked up a used com/nav/gps for 844T and as soon as I figure out the G5's or gi-275s it will be time to start riping out junk.

[@FlyingDirty]

@@WolfPilot ​ @Wolf Pilot Very nice! They make a world of difference!

[@v1rotate391]

Mine works great on my Lance with dual G5's. I hand-fly all my IFR approaches, even in the Boeing, unless it's 1800 RVR or 1/2 mile, which is rare.

[@FlyingDirty]

Hi V1, I think it is a pretty descent autopilot for the cost but I got suckered and told by the then Trutrak that they were working on making coupled approaches legal. It seems like it was a marketing tactic to initially get folks to buy into it. It made me lose my trust with them being that they were not transparent. As a result, I will not be putting another one of those in my Saratoga.

[@azcharlie2009]

I'm still stuck with my old "steam" gauges and the 40 year old avionics in my 79 Archer. I found out right away that, if upgrading, everything depends on your autopilot. Mine is a Piper IIIB, which leaves a lot to be desired. So to take advantage of all the great new electronics available, you need a modern autopilot. Add that too the expense of any avionics you buy, and the upgrading quickly becomes more expensive than the airplane is worth. I thought the Trutrak might help there, but it wasn't/isn't allowed for IFR. So, we're still stuck with the old stuff.

[@FlyingDirty]

I hear you buddy! I have a similar dilemma with the Saratoga. You can use the Trutrak (AeroCruze) in IFR. But they have two limitations which I was lied to and told initially that they were just waiting on FAA approvals. So just for them lying and their corrupt ethnics I’ll never do business with them again. That being said, it has a 700 foot limitation and not approved for coupled approaches. What I have done is just plug in my headings and altitude according to the charts and follow the needles. It seems to track pretty good without coupling it. But, that defeats the purpose. So I am totally onboard with you. 😀

[@welshchris45]

It’s sad how badly Bendix King has abandoned the GA market. I have had a very bad experience dealing with getting service. So much that I eventually ripped out all their avionics (old radios excepted) and went with Garmin.

[@FlyingDirty]

I totally agree! As much as I personally try to avoid Garmin due to their greedy ways I had preferred to give a smaller company an opportunity. But only so they can then sell to a far worse company. Too bad the Garmin GFC500 was not approved for the PA32 until after I had done my upgrade or I would have quickly put my personally feelings aside. 😀

[@bangaloremusic]

Our experience with our Bendix AP has been very underwhelming to say the least. Have yours been approved yet for coupled approaches?

[@FlyingDirty]

Yeah, I think for the cost and for a VFR only pilot it is OK. I have not checked if it has been updated on coupled approach approval but I doubt it ever will. When they were Trutrak the plan was to have it approved. But with Bendix I doubt that will ever happen now.

[@bangaloremusic]

@@FlyingDirty interesting .... we are going on 1 year with our issues. At this point we have zero faith in the BK product and customer service is abominable. We are going to yank the entire panel once we have the Garmin install finalized, a very costly endeavor unfortunately.

[@FlyingDirty]

@@bangaloremusic So I told myself that I would not get another BK autopilot on the Turbo Saratoga. And that's too bad, because I really love the Dynon HDX. But the HDX autopilot is not approved yet for the Saratoga. So I am really thinking about what to do with that other panel.

[@bangaloremusic]

@@FlyingDirty Have you considered the S-TEC 3100? It is STC'd for the PA-32

[@FlyingDirty]

@@bangaloremusic I've looked at several options including the G500. But I have so many projects going on now that the panel will have to wait for a while. The KFC 150 works pretty good now and does some pretty decent approaches so I'll keep that one for now. I'm thinking of just putting in a couple of 275's to the KFC to make it GPSS.

[@danhtran7178]

In the skyview mode, mine banks at a 15 degrees rather than a rate 1 turn. It does rate 1 turn in track mode and I think in GPSS mode too. I usually disengaged it, turned by hand and then reengage the AP in the Skyview mode. I wonder if anyone has a solution for this?

[@FlyingDirty]

In GPSS mode it works great for me but I agree with you. It doesn’t do a good job on heading mode when in Skyview mode. Mine also does S turns on Skyview mode. Some have said that an update by the manufacturer will eliminate the problem but I have yet to witness it. Thanks and let me know if you have a solution. 😀

[@fly.code.repeat]

Why was your IFD showing 111 track while Dynon and Autopilot showing 124? I have IFD440 and about to install Aspen 1000 Pro and Aerocruz 100.

[@FlyingDirty]

Great question! So the Dynon displays your magnetic headings (where the nose is pointing). The trutrak, however, displays actual track over the ground. The Dynon will also show your course to the bottom right of the heading (intended path over the ground) which should ideally match the 124 track. Thanks 😊

[@fly.code.repeat]

@@FlyingDirty got it! BTW, I fly 3629W, so we’re only 9 numbers apart. SN 32-531. I just got her in September. Love your videos.

[@FlyingDirty]

@@fly.code.repeat Congratulations to you! The PA32 product line are comfortable and a fun plane to fly. I love the incredible CG and, of course, you can’t beat the useful load. Where are you based?

[@fly.code.repeat]

@@FlyingDirty I’m based at N57 in Southeast PA.

[@FlyingDirty]

​@@fly.code.repeat Nice, if you ever take that Six on a trip to Colorado let me know so we can try to meet up.

[@PecanLane]

Trim up

[@FlyingDirty]

The Aerocruze/trutrak is a peace of junk. You want to be extremely careful not to trim up too much or it will release tension and drop really fast. They’ve had several problems with that. Trimming up too much could be particularly dangerous at low altitudes and probably why they have a 700 feet limitation. I learned to trim by disconnecting the autopilot periodically and checking the trim. I never would recommend trimming up too much with that thing my friend.

[@apivovarov2]

trim up, trim up

[@garyprince7309]

First of all, if you want an ILS autopilot go spend 15k and get the Garmin. You rag on an autopilot that does exactly what is says it does. Second, the clime in my airplane is perfect on the AeroCruz 100. This is like buying a Kia Soul, and then complaining that it doesn’t drive like a Vet. Stupid!

[@FlyingDirty]

Boy, You seem to be an extremely unhappy and ignorant person.