More KAP 140 questions

I have another KAP 140 question for the group. Is there a way to have a
dual axis w/ pre-select model of the KAP140 act as though it is only a
single axis? Sometimes I want to engage the AP in heading mode but take
care of pitch myself. Engaging the AP in heading mode makes the AP
automatically go into vertical speed mode. When on a VOR approach (or other
non-precision approach) it would be nice to have the AP track a course or
heading, but I don't trust it to level off at the step down fixes in a
timely manner. During cruise, though, I might use altitude hold while I am
busy briefing the approach, getting ATIS, etc...
I can't figure out how to get one without the other. Is there a way to do
this?

Thank you.

"News" wrote:

I have another KAP 140 question for the group. Is there a way to have a
dual axis w/ pre-select model of the KAP140 act as though it is only a
single axis?

No, with the KAP 140, either you are flying the airplane or the autopilot is
flying the airplane. When the autopilot is flying, you should not attempt
to control the airplane with the yoke in either axis. It controls the
horizontal. It controls the vertical. Do not adjust your set.

Whether you trust the autopilot to fly an approach, or whether you should,
is a matter for philosophical debate. I've always hand-flown all of my
approaches in actual. I've practiced with it under simulated conditions
where I've been impressed that the autopilot can do a fine job for me,
unless I misconfigure it -- in which case the resulting deviation can be
extremely disorienting.

The badly mistyped response I raised on the KAP140 reference the ILS is that
many installations have a relay/switch that slects either NAV1 or GPS as
the
source for the HSI and hence the KAP140.

In most installations the tuning of an ILS/LOC frequency AUTOMATICALLY
forces the switch/relay into
NAV mode.

If you have a real ILS frequency tuned you smoothly intercept and track the
localiser if you are lined up
in the area, if its a not real frequency it stays in nav mode but drifts on
in pace not really knowing where its going!

Personally twice I've had a helpful co-pilot collegaue tune in an ILS to get
the dne distance
only to find the plane doing a beautiful intercept!

In VFR conditions with everybody watching very amusing, other times?


peter
"Craig Prouse" wrote in message
...
"News" wrote:

I have another KAP 140 question for the group. Is there a way to have a
dual axis w/ pre-select model of the KAP140 act as though it is only a
single axis?

No, with the KAP 140, either you are flying the airplane or the autopilot
is
flying the airplane. When the autopilot is flying, you should not attempt
to control the airplane with the yoke in either axis. It controls the
horizontal. It controls the vertical. Do not adjust your set.

Whether you trust the autopilot to fly an approach, or whether you should,
is a matter for philosophical debate. I've always hand-flown all of my
approaches in actual. I've practiced with it under simulated conditions
where I've been impressed that the autopilot can do a fine job for me,
unless I misconfigure it -- in which case the resulting deviation can be
extremely disorienting.

I've been partially following this thread over the last few days, but I
must say that I wish the 140 would allow a pure wing leveler or HDG mode
capability without the VS control. I must admit that I (now know that I)
hadn't completely RTFM'd before using it in a 172SP, and got caught by
surprise that I was getting VS control as well as HDG control.

I know I should've briefed the manual more, but in my defense the
single-axis Bendix/King APs that I'd seen before do (by the very fact
that they're single-axis) behave differently. My "logic" thought that
the dual-axis 140 would behave the same when I pressed the same button.
Doh!

But that's OK, I'm now flying an SR20 with the Meggitt 55X which behaves
the way I think it should 8^) .

Dave Blevins

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 05:19:02 GMT, Craig Prouse
wrote:

"News" wrote:

I have another KAP 140 question for the group. Is there a way to have a
dual axis w/ pre-select model of the KAP140 act as though it is only a
single axis?

No, with the KAP 140, either you are flying the airplane or the autopilot is
flying the airplane. When the autopilot is flying, you should not attempt
to control the airplane with the yoke in either axis. It controls the
horizontal. It controls the vertical. Do not adjust your set.

Whether you trust the autopilot to fly an approach, or whether you should,
is a matter for philosophical debate. I've always hand-flown all of my
approaches in actual. I've practiced with it under simulated conditions
where I've been impressed that the autopilot can do a fine job for me,
unless I misconfigure it -- in which case the resulting deviation can be
extremely disorienting.