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Group
Prices include connector (Amphenol MS3106A10SL-3S).
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Available with 1 or 2 minute turn rate. |
TruTrak Specializes in the manufacture of solid-state autopilots. They have now added to their product line a wonderful solid-state turn coordinator that is ideal for gliders. As TruTrak's exclusive Soaring-Aircraft OEM Dealer/Distributor, OxAero is happy to introduce this marvelous solid-state turn coordinator to the soaring community.
General
This turn coordinator uses solid-state technology. There are no mechanical gyro, brushes or bearings;
none of the things that add weight, draw excessive current, make noise, wear out and cause unreliable operation.
And, there is no initial wind-up delay; three seconds and you have a solid indication, even in a turn.
These are important features in any aircraft, but especially in gliders. Leave it off until you actually
need it, then flip it on, knowing that it will work quickly and reliably.
Display
The face plate horizon banks with the true horizon. This makes the transition from viewing the real horizon
more intuitive than the reverse needle displays of standard turn coordinators.
Strictly speaking, the indicated horizon matches the true horizon at only one airspeed; however, in practice
it follows the true horizon closely. The maximum deflection angle is 40º, twice the hash-mark (1 or 2 minute turn)
deflection angle. Bottom line, the deflection angle is really a measure of turn rate, but the
pilot may view the indicator as bank angle and know intuitively which way to roll for level flight.
Evaluation of First Unit in a Glider
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1-minute turn calibration. (Click for larger image.) |
The stepper motor is responsive. Both roll and azimuth rates are sensed and used to drive the face plate to the correct indication. In-flight testing revealed a close correlation between true and indicated bank angles over a wide range of airspeeds. Testing was done from 40 to 90 knots. Between 50 and 90 knots, no significant deviation between the true and indicated horizons was noticed. Below 50 kts, the indicated bank was slightly exaggerated.
The panel image on the right shows the indication in a 40 degree banked turn at 43 kts. The instrument was not pegged. It pegs when the red fixed pointer is a little past the "L" or "R" marks (just visible in the enlarged image).
Jim Hendrix
Performance
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