FOUND: no longer WTB: Trio Pro Pilot autopilot

[Steve Cantarutti]

I am looking to buy a Trio Pro Pilot autopilot

- the round one for instrument panel mount in place of turn & bank, with the GPSS/GPSV option, servos and harnesses.

Just wondering if someone has one who may be interested in selling theirs to go with something else such as the model made by their EFIS manufacturer.

Thanks, PM or email.
Steve

[Alan Blevins]

Hi Steve,
We are going to be buying a Trio Pro Pilot very soon. Perhaps we can compare notes on installation etc.
I will let you know when we get ready for the install.

[Steve Cantarutti]

Hey Alan

I got tired of waiting and bought one Friday through Pacific Coast Avionics - who has the lowest price I found...

This will be the 2nd Trio Pro Pilot install I have done. I installed one in our RV-9A.

In my Lancair I will be removing an Altrak altitude hold and selling that. I also have an old Navaid AP-1 which I will be removing. The Navaid roll servo is compatible with the Trio Pro Pilot. I have the wiring diagram for the conversion. With only one servo to purchase, the price was discounted $750 I believe.

You will want the GPSS and GPSV option. If you are comfortable with molex pins, have a crimper or would borrow / buy one, you may not want to buy their harness. It has many wires you will not use.

[Alan Blevins]

Thanks for the update Steve,
Would be very interested in any installation photos you would be willing to share. The feedback that I received from another Lancair owner is that the Pro Pilot works extremely well! I like the fact that it comes with fuel flow capability. How soon do you plan on performing the install?

[Steve Cantarutti]

Sure, would be happy to share photos of install. Perhaps this should be in a new thread under avionics? Maybe I will do that when I get into it.

I expect to get the parts in a week or so. I plan to start maybe Monday 10-13 or so. I am out of state now and plan to use the plane this weekend 10-10 & 10-12. After the 12th it should not be needed for 2 weeks which will make the 13th a good start date.

The Pro Pilot works great in our RV except for when in turbulence. It is too slow to correct for unusual attitudes for my taste. I have tweaked the settings but that has not helped much. Even so, we just flew it TN-TX-LA-TN and did not encounter any turbulence significant enough to cause pilot override. Also, the Lancair tolerates turbulence much better than the RV. One downside of the Pro Pilot is it does not couple ILS unless you have an EFIS feeding the Pro Pilot course information - i.e. it will not fly an ILS from a GTN or GNS.