I need an external AOA display to sit on the dash

[BMW_X6M]

I want to use AOA, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t retrain my eye to look at it consistently instead of the airspeed tape, for the brief moments I glance at the screen during landing.

I would much rather have the option to have an external AOA display that I could place in my line of sight during the approach and landing phase of flight. I have seen some nice external displays. It seems this would be something DYNON could incorporate if there was enough interest.

Of course the ultimate would be the heads up display, and I know one was produced by another manufacturer at a high cost. I think just the AOA would be enough.

 

[skysailor]

I would also really like a remote mounted display. I would prefer a unit with a display like the ones I used in the Navy but a repeater of the current would work. Needs to be able interface with the Skyview without having to give up a serial port.

 

[airguy]

That's why there is an aural alert for the AOA in the headset. Do you have that connected? Calibrated?

 

[BMW_X6M]

That's why there is an aural alert for the AOA in the headset. Do you have that connected? Calibrated?

Yes, I have the aural connected, but I have to be very close to the stall to hear any sound. Perhaps I should change when the tones begin to sound.

I still think a visual indication would be better. I have enough in my ear with the constant radio communication at a busy airport.

 

[akarmy]

I installed an AOA Pro for just this reason. Downside is cost and you have to install an entirely separate AOA system. Upside is you have a backup if the Skyview dies.

First flight by Andy Karmy, on Flickr

 

[BMW_X6M]

Andy, since you have flown with this in a RV-9, what airspeed did you generally see at the optimum AOA?  How much did it change with flap position?

 

[akarmy]

Oh my, it's been years since I had the 9A, and here's the problem with AOA, once you start flying AOA it's hard to remember airspeeds on approach anymore as I never use them. nail the AOA and your landings are perfect every time.

As for flaps it does change a bit, which is why the AOA pro has a flap sensor and 2 curves that it adjusts between when you drop flaps.

On my RV-8, 1 green bar gives me a nice wheel landing, where as slowing to the red donut is the speed for a 3 point. It's quite a bit slower.

Now, all that said, There is a challenge even with AOA on top of the glareshield you don't really see it unless looking at it as on short final your eyes are on the runway. So ideally the audio system (properly calibrated) would stay with you to the touchdown. Problem for me is I don't like all that beeping and squawking in my ears. Lucky for us we have lots of options in today's avionics market!

 

[swatson999]

I installed an AOA Pro for just this reason. Downside is cost and you have to install an entirely separate AOA system. Upside is you have a backup if the Skyview dies.

First flight by Andy Karmy, on Flickr

I think the downside is this big honkin' box sitting on my glareshield taking up space and blocking my view of the great outdoors

I have no trouble relying on the audio tones, and never look at the AOA on the screen. My landings seem to be okay so far

 

[GalinHdz]

That's why there is an aural alert for the AOA in the headset. Do you have that connected? Calibrated?

Yes, I have the aural connected, but I have to be very close to the stall to hear any sound.  Perhaps I should change when the tones begin to sound.

I still think a visual indication would be better. I have enough in my ear with the constant radio communication at a busy airport.

FWIW: Since I began using the aural AOA indication with my SkyView system I no longer look at the ASI or the AOA under about 500' AGL. The AOA indicator isn't even displayed when the IAS is above the yellow line, so less clutter.

Once I re-trained myself to use the aural AOA, my landings have become almost perfect every time. I have the audio set to start at the yellow line and get faster as it approaches the red line. My goal is to hear the solid tone exactly when the main wheels touch down. It is amazing how easy it becomes, once you practice a few times.

I operate out of an extremely busy towered airport and the AOA tone has never been a distraction. To me AOA is part of Aviate, which comes way before Navigate or Communicate as a priority.

PS: I have no idea at what the IAS is when the wheels touch down, only that the landing(s) are almost perfect every time. YMMV

 

[mmarien]

I always wondered what the IAS was when I landed. Like everyone my eyes are outside. I upload my logs to Savvy all the time so I checked a few landings. It's nearly always the same IAS on landing. You can see on the graphs below, both the pitch and AOA break when I touch down. The pitch and AOA are increasing as I hold it off.

The IAS is about 65 kts when they break. Same results on all my *good* landings.

Another thing to note is my approach speed of 85 kts IAS. Lots of interesting stuff in the Savvy reports other than the engine analysis.

 

[GalinHdz]

NICE!!!

You inspired me to go on SAAVY Reports and looked at my last 5 uploaded flights. Amazingly enough on every landing the AOA was between 74 - 76% while the IAS was between 60 - 65Kts. And I never looked at any instrument below about 500ft AGL. The darn thing actually works as advertised.

 

[airguy]

FWIW: Since I began using the aural AOA indication with my SkyView system I no longer look at the ASI or the AOA under about 500' AGL.

PS: I have no idea at what the IAS is when the wheels touch down, only that the landing(s) are almost perfect every time. YMMV

Exact same here - except that I might lower the "ignore the panel" height to maybe 200'. By that point I've got the approach stabilized and power is added or removed relative to the AOA aural tones. Usually I'm rounding out the flare just as it starts getting really excited and I use it to judge the touchdown point.

 

[BMW_X6M]

I found my AOA aural settings were 60% and 80% which must be the default. After reading the notes I changed them to 55% and 75% which should be the beginning of the yellow and the beginning of the red. I have not flown yet to hear the difference.

Looking at my Savvy reports, I do not see AOA displayed correctly. It shows up as 99% or zero. I need to check the raw data on a spreadsheet to see if it is there. I’m using HDX now.