Well, let's see, last I checked, I'm a "trained pilot" (SEL, instrument,
glider), and *I* haven't confused it yet. While I respect your opinion, I'd
like to know what data you're basing it on.

Agreed, the Trutrak does sort of "resemble" a full fledged horizon or AI,
but even at first glance it's pretty obvious that it's not the same.

I'm not suggesting that people go out and fly IMC with the Trutrak. Like the
Garmin 196 panel page, the Trutrak, an old mechanical gyro, or damn near
anything is better than nothing for inadvertent or emergency IMC. Many of us
know dead folks who would still be alive if they had one of these devices.

BTW, the Trutrak doesn't tumble. Like a needle and ball, it simple stops
increasing the displayed bank angle once you get steeper than say 60
degrees. It is available set up for both 1 and 2 minute turns (1 minute
recommended for glider).

I've also flown with a mechanical gyro 1 minute needle and ball installed in
a Stemme I recently sold, so I have experience with several instruments. In
order of preference, and assuming one doesn't have a full AI, I'd rate the
Trutrak first, then the Garmin 196 (that is amazingly good), and the
mechanical gyro needle and ball last - - though they will all do the job
given adequate pilot training flying partial panel IMC.

bumper


"Stefan" wrote in message
...
bumper wrote:

Even though it doesn't have pitch info, I've been really happy with the
Trutrak

http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/...struments.html

I consider this instrument dangeruous because a trained pilot *will*
confuse it with a horizon. And an untrained pilot shouldn't fly in IMC in
the first place.

Stefan