Just Aircraft Highlander pitch servo installation.
I've heard some folks poo-poo the thought of installing an autopilot in a plane like the Highlander. My take is that since this thing cruises so slow (95 mph) it takes a long time to get anywhere. So an autopilot makes sense. Next, I'll be installing a relief tube
Pitch servo, here are some pictures of my pitch servo installation. I got the generic install kit. Swapped one of the heim joints to a 1/4 bore X 1/4-28 thread and just used a longer bolt on the elevator side of the mixer. I cut about 1/2" off the linkage tube then tapped both ends to 1/4-28. It worked out that using the last hole on the short arm that the arm travel was just about 5[ch730] (on each side) shy of the 60/60 safety limiter.
Performance: out of the box with no adjustments to the skyview (software 11.x) the autopilot captures and holds altitude to within +- 10[ch730]. I'm very happy with this. Note worthy is that on the ground the highlander elevator is heavy and the servo can't hold it up, in flight this is not an issue at all. So just remember to help it a bit on the stick while doing the initial calibration.
Changes, I might change how the mounting plate holds the tubing though what I have now seems quite secure. I'm open to ideas. Also I'll probably install some sort of tether on the servo side of the linkage arm up to the push tube. I can't imagine this linkage failing but if it were it could fall down in front of the servo making up elevator problematic.
Roll servo: Having trouble getting rid of the overshoot while tracking. A work in progress.
*I don't see a way to attach more than one picture so I'll have to do multiple posts*
I've heard some folks poo-poo the thought of installing an autopilot in a plane like the Highlander. My take is that since this thing cruises so slow (95 mph) it takes a long time to get anywhere. So an autopilot makes sense. Next, I'll be installing a relief tube
Pitch servo, here are some pictures of my pitch servo installation. I got the generic install kit. Swapped one of the heim joints to a 1/4 bore X 1/4-28 thread and just used a longer bolt on the elevator side of the mixer. I cut about 1/2" off the linkage tube then tapped both ends to 1/4-28. It worked out that using the last hole on the short arm that the arm travel was just about 5[ch730] (on each side) shy of the 60/60 safety limiter.
Performance: out of the box with no adjustments to the skyview (software 11.x) the autopilot captures and holds altitude to within +- 10[ch730]. I'm very happy with this. Note worthy is that on the ground the highlander elevator is heavy and the servo can't hold it up, in flight this is not an issue at all. So just remember to help it a bit on the stick while doing the initial calibration.
Changes, I might change how the mounting plate holds the tubing though what I have now seems quite secure. I'm open to ideas. Also I'll probably install some sort of tether on the servo side of the linkage arm up to the push tube. I can't imagine this linkage failing but if it were it could fall down in front of the servo making up elevator problematic.
Roll servo: Having trouble getting rid of the overshoot while tracking. A work in progress.
*I don't see a way to attach more than one picture so I'll have to do multiple posts*
