I got this email from TruTrak this morning. A complete digital autopilot for certified aircraft for just $5000 is impressive !! Get more info and put your name and aircraft model on the list for them to see how many of a specific model are interested so they can add it to their STC : http://www.trutrakap.com/


Well, here we are!

Yesterday I flew our demo Cessna 172 up to Oshkosh. I write this as I look out at the North 40 from our hotel here on the field. I haven’t ever arrived quite this early before. The hustle and bustle is awesome. Man, I love this place! We are here early to complete the installation of the autopilot in EAA’s 172. I believe that this aircraft will be placed at the EAA four corners compass just west of Boeing plaza.

Our aircraft will be in our outdoor booth 174 (it actually already is there!) and we have an indoor booth in C, booth 3030.

Anyway, on to the news.

Everything is in to the FAA andI have seen the draft of the STC, it is planned to be released this week. Since TruTrak is already a PMAd facility we expect the production approval part to happen rather quickly as well. The tentative plan is STC issuance on Wednesday and PMA by Friday. This approval will be for all C172 up through C172S model AND all C177. Now, there are a few additional details to work on installation for the C172 – C172 E model and we have to do the same on the C177 models, but they will be included in the AML STC!

We are planning to begin shipping on Monday, July 24. We are also planning to bring a few systems up to the show for delivery if anyone is interested in that. If you have an order in with us already, please call and let us know what bezel you would like on your Vizion. The options are 3-1/8”, 2-1/4”, and flat pack. The flat pack is 1.6 tall x 4.3 wide, and includes an adaptor plate to mount it in the avionics stack.

We have an updated website that separates experimental products from certified products, it will be live by July 24 as well.

PRICE!!!
Ok, I know that I have alluded to price before, but it is all official now. The Vizion autopilot, servos, install kit, and wiring harness will sell for $5000. We are expecting installation time to be between 15 and 25 hours depending on YOUR specific aircraft. The only things NOT included in that $5000 that you will need for the installation are breakers, switches, CWS button, and a few other minor things like that. We are committed to offering you the absolute best product for the absolute best price.

GPS interface!!!
We are able to interface with basically any GPS. Old – fine. New – fine. Handheld – fine. Panel mount – fine. IFR panel mount – fine. We have a GPS approval document that will be required as part of the installation IF your GPS and it’s version of software aren’t already listed. It’s not a super complicated test process, and basically requires doing the installation and doing a few ground tests. In the experimental world we have tested basically everything out there, but we didn’t catalog software versions at the time and so we have to lean on you just a little for this process. No biggie.
Oh, yeah, you can fly those pesky LPV approaches too. You, the pilot, must be monitoring the raw data and the GPS must be legal to fly such an approach.

New safety feature.
Well, I am going to make you wait JUST a little bit longer on this one Stay tuned for the Wednesday mailing for that official bit of press.

STC Price
EAA confirmed with me yesterday that they will be selling the STC for $100. We will be hosting all installation documentation on our website (I am sure that they will link to it as well). The installation documentation will not carry any additional cost. It will be out there to view and use, just like we do for the experimental world.

I will send out another update just after the STC is official, it will be our press release. Again, I expect that on Wednesday.

Quick recap:
COMPLETE system cost - $5000
Shipping – July 24 2017
GPS interface – basically anything that isn’t an iPad
Aircraft eligibility – C172 F-S (full system now)
Other C172 and C177 (everything except the pushrod and servo output arm. Adding these will take us a month or so)
If you have an order in, please call us verify bezel type.
We will have a few full systems up here with us in Oshkosh.

If you don’t have an order in and you have a C172 or a C177, call and get one in! We do have limited production ability, but we will work through everything as fast as we can.

I can’t tell you how exciting it is to finally be at this point. If you are coming to AirVenture, please come see me in the outdoor booth 174. We are also sponsoring the C2O breakfast on Monday, so come see us at that event!

As per usual, I will be in my trademark cowboy hat and long hair.

Tailwinds and safe travels on your travels to Oshkosh!

Andrew Barker
President / CEO
TruTrak Flight Systems

Disclaimer : I have an old Century 1 with Tracker installed in my plane and don't have anything to do with TruTrak. I just think this is a great opportunity for us to have a modern autopilot at a fraction of the cost of what's been out there up to now and I'll be installing one soon enough. $5000 and I can install it myself saving me from having to take it to a specific shop where they can charge whatever they want, to me is impressive !

TruTrak Autopilot STC Complete for C172 and C177

Springdale, AR July 20, 2017 - TruTrak Flight Systems is pleased to announce that together with EAA, they have completed the STC of the Vizion autopilot system. The STC was awarded on July 19, 2017. This is the first autopilot manufactured by TruTrak to be approved for certified aircraft.

TruTrak will begin delivering complete autopilot systems during EAA AirVenture, which begins Monday, July 24, 2017. The autopilot system cost is $4000, the install kit is $1000, and the STC from EAA is priced at $100. During AirVenture, TruTrak will be displaying their Cessna 172 aircraft at their outdoor booth 174. The Vizion autopilot will be installed in the aircraft so that patrons may see and learn about the system. TruTrak will also have staffing at indoor booth 3030. EAA’s STC demonstrator 172, Vizion autopilot and Dynon D10A will be on display at the EAA Four Corners. EAA will begin fulfilling orders for the STC shortly after AirVenture. Visit http://www.eaa.org/accessiblesafety for more information on purchasing your STC.

The Vizion autopilot is a revolutionary autopilot for the certified aircraft market. This two-axis autopilot offers a huge list of features and safety enhancements. The autopilot is capable of following simple and more complex flight plans from nearly any aviation handheld or panel mount GPS in the market today. Vizion autopilot also offers a track selector, altitude hold, vertical speed select, and altitude select / pre-select.



The list of safety features is nearly as long as the standard autopilot features. The Vizion autopilot will neither let the pilot accidentally stall or overspeed the aircraft with the use of minimum and maximum airspeed settings. Also included is the Emergency Level feature, which allows the pilot to press one button and the autopilot will engage and bring the aircraft to wings level and zero vertical speed. This mode is unique in that it initially commands wings level, but then switches to track select mode to allow the pilot to more easily select a new desired direction.


Included for the first time in any TruTrak autopilot is a new safety feature called AEP. This mode is a bank angle protection mode that the pilot can easily arm / disarm. AEP is used when the autopilot is powered up, but not engaged, in other words when the aircraft is being hand-flown. When armed, AEP monitors the aircraft bank angle and will engage the roll servo with a modulated signal that allows the servo to put a lighter than normal force into the control system. This is not like the autopilot actually engaging, as the pilot may still very easily override the servo. The system simply aids the pilot in lowering the bank angle of the aircraft. This feature was specifically designed with LOC (loss of control) accidents in mind.

“We have been working on this project behind the scenes for many years and it’s great to finally finish this monumental project. Having the STC issued and beginning deliveries of this system right around EAA AirVenture is just perfect.” said CEO Andrew Barker “EAA has been a wonderful partner in this process, and I couldn’t imagine a better place to announce the completion of this first STC. We are committed to continuing to work with EAA on adding more aircraft types. We have already begun working on the next installation designs, and look forward to offering those in the coming months.”

TruTrak is launching an updated website that will have more information on the certified product line. This new website will also offer a web store for online purchasing of TruTrak autopilots for certified aircraft as well as popular experimental aircraft. Visit TruTrak online at http://www.trutrakap.com

Founded in 1999, TruTrak is a leader and innovator in the experimental and light sport aircraft autopilot market. TruTrak has designed and manufactured many cutting edge autopilots including the autopilots in the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer and most recently Solar Impulse.

Andrew Barker
President / CEO
TruTrak Flight Systems