Roll-based AP of same functionality as STEC-30

[Andrew Gideon]

I'm putting together a proposal for my club to replace TCs with electric AIs
over time. But for this to work, we need an autopilot that can connect to
the electric AI (therefore: roll-based). I found a new Chelton that looks
quite nice, but is likely overkill (in terms of price and function) for us.

Can anyone recommend a basic two-axis unit that takes roll input from the AI
instead of the TC?

If anyone has any other comments/suggestions about this plan, I'd love to
hear them (even if it's pointing out why this is a bad idea). One thought
I have is the level of resistance to tumbling of an AI vs. a TC.

Thanks...

Andrew

[Zeno]

Bendix King KFC-150

"Andrew Gideon" > wrote in message
online.com...
>
> I'm putting together a proposal for my club to replace TCs with electric
AIs
> over time. But for this to work, we need an autopilot that can connect to
> the electric AI (therefore: roll-based). I found a new Chelton that looks
> quite nice, but is likely overkill (in terms of price and function) for
us.
>
> Can anyone recommend a basic two-axis unit that takes roll input from the
AI
> instead of the TC?
>
> If anyone has any other comments/suggestions about this plan, I'd love to
> hear them (even if it's pointing out why this is a bad idea). One thought
> I have is the level of resistance to tumbling of an AI vs. a TC.
>
> Thanks...
>
> Andrew
>

[Matt Barrow]

"Zeno" > wrote in message
.. .
> Bendix King KFC-150
>

Stay away from the KFC-150.

http://www.avionicswest.com/articles/know_your_autopilot.htm

The King KFC-200 and KAP 200 have been very reliable autopilots. We seldom
see them in the shop and when they do have problems it’s often a servo or
bad horizon indicator. On the other hand, in my humble opinion, the KFC-150
is a piece of junk. This system is full of monitors but the problem is that
the monitor systems often fail. Yes, the KFC-150 is the newer of the two
systems but still they are prone to problems. The KFC-150 is a safe
autopilot it just fails often and is expensive to keep up and running.

-------------------------------------------------------

[Andrew Gideon]

Matt Barrow wrote:

> The King KFC-200 and KAP 200 have been very reliable autopilots.

The cited article speaks of these connected to a vacuum-driven AI. Is that
a requirement, or might these be connected to an electric/electronic AI.

I think that this is really more of a generic question too. My [meager]
understanding was that there are "protocols", and as long as an AI and AP
shared at least one in common, they could be used together. Are the
avionics and AP more tightly coupled than I'd thought?

- Andrew