• If You Are Having Trouble Logging In with Your Old Username and Password, Please use this Forgot Your Password link to get re-established.
  • Hey! Be sure to login or register!

Garmin autopilot and Supercubs

My G3X Touch auto pilot seems to work well but I've barely scratched the surface of what it'll do. The servos are very powerful. Controlling it through the G3X panel isn't full featured as using a controller would be but it serves my needs and then some. Are you interested in the installation or function? Function is best demonstrated by videos on Youtube. Installation varies plane to plane.
 
Last edited:
Have only read parts of the Wildcat cub thread.
Yes Stewartb I’m interested installation as I’m also
planning to install G3X and the 507 controller.
Was hoping to hear from some satisfied users.
 
My install is atypical. Backcountry has a lot going on under the pilot's seat. That forced the servos forward. I had originally bought capstan kits but ditched that idea in favor of pushrods. Maybe elpcub will add to the thread. The Javron he just finished has the servos under the seat (I think).

I was concerned that my servo location would be hard on the servos. To the contrary, if I dial up the gain and power I can't overpower the servos at the stick, and I'm not a small guy. The servos are surprisingly powerful.
 
Not being familiar with installing servos any info would be great.
For pushrods under the pilot seat I’m guessing are attached to the torque
tube in some manner? Its no fun removing the pilot seat but I think would be
the preferred spot over the other options but like I said, I really have no idea.
 
Pics of the roll servo, even with the front of the seat base and out of the way. The rod attaches to the stick shroud. The pitch servo is in between the pedal control rods. It's out in the open but has never presented any problem. Its pushrod attaches to the stick bottom. The final pic illustrates how the rods attach.

IMG_5067.JPG


IMG_5068.JPG


IMG_5069.JPG


Sent from my iPhone using SuperCub.Org mobile app
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5067.JPG
    IMG_5067.JPG
    113.9 KB · Views: 972
  • IMG_5068.JPG
    IMG_5068.JPG
    119.4 KB · Views: 709
  • IMG_5069.JPG
    IMG_5069.JPG
    135.7 KB · Views: 715
Stewart,

Do you feel much drag on the controls with it installed. Curious if it is like my STek50 in the 180, when it's energized but not engaged you really feel it on the yoke, but it does make a great turbulence damper when I just have it on but not driving the bus when its really rough.

Kirby
 
I don't recognize any resistance from the servos. Last night I pulled the stick lock off and the stick fell forward unchecked. If there's any drag it's very slight.
 
Dave, sent you a PM.
451B6C5C-645A-4FF6-8308-519AEDCC1A63.jpegF73BCEED-0869-408C-BEFF-D98E8910A435.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 451B6C5C-645A-4FF6-8308-519AEDCC1A63.jpeg
    451B6C5C-645A-4FF6-8308-519AEDCC1A63.jpeg
    302.3 KB · Views: 715
  • 5CFDE3CE-572A-49D6-A60C-81145FF1C446.png
    5CFDE3CE-572A-49D6-A60C-81145FF1C446.png
    162 KB · Views: 371
  • F73BCEED-0869-408C-BEFF-D98E8910A435.jpg
    F73BCEED-0869-408C-BEFF-D98E8910A435.jpg
    56.2 KB · Views: 640
Autopilot in a Cub. That seems to me like it defeats the purpose of flying a Cub in the first place.
 
AP in a Cub is great. And simple if you have a G3X system. 2 servos costs $1500 and the G3X can drive them with no added peripheral equipment. What's not to like?
 
Not anymore. I spend all my time now behind this panel. It’s great to have a plane I can go land on river bars, or set the auto-pilot for that long trip to Osh, OR shoot an approach through a coastal fog layer. There’s nothing this bird won’t do. Legend Aircraft did a great job. And yes, my RV10 was the inspiration for this panel!
 
Stewart your bird looks great and I bet its a lot of fun too, thanks for
sharing your build.

Shep i found some torque tube brackets, I will get them coming.

SinCityJets I like the way you think, guess I hang out at VansAirforce
too much also.

I too would like to see how Legend mounted their servos.
 
Was gonna take some pictures of the way Cub Crafters does it on the Carbon Cub but it is under the tub that makes up the seat etc and would take some major disassembly.
 
Pictures of an FX2 I had the belly panel off of.
IMG_20181024_145804.jpg


IMG_20181024_145755.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20181024_145804.jpg
    IMG_20181024_145804.jpg
    89.3 KB · Views: 2,068
  • IMG_20181024_145755.jpg
    IMG_20181024_145755.jpg
    77.2 KB · Views: 2,050
For anyone who's not familiar with autopilot servos, that's a capstan setup. The servo uses a grooved drum to actuate a cable that clamps to the aircraft control cable. There's another cable clamp on the opposite side of the servo so the cable can be pulled each direction.
 
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Another approach is to locate the pitch servo in the rear / tail area of the airframe. One advantage to this application is you will remove most of the pitch cable lag. Although very small there is a degree of cable flex and movement from the control stick to the elevator in the pitch cable. The closer you attached the servo to the elevator the better. Doing so removes most if not all of the required “THINKING” the pitch servo has to do. Chasing the cable flex and movement will only add to the adjustments / corrections the pitch servo will need to preform to maintain a given preset alt. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]As STEWARTB made comment – this approach still requires a capstan for setup. Cable capstan connections can be setup in two methods. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]One is accomplished by wrapping the servo bridle cable around the capstan and routing the small servo bridle cable in a “U” configuration either both forward or to the rear. One attach point on the top pitch cable and one to the bottom pitch cable. This method will NOT work in a cub. Reason – the pitch cable full travel is greater than the capstan pulley will allow. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]The correct method is to run the servo pitch bridle cable – one forward and to the rear. In this setup you will attach the servo pitch bridle cable to the same pitch control cable – either top or bottom.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Removing the access panel on the bottom rear area of the airframe should provide for plenty of room to preform routine inspection and maintenance.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]See attached pictures for this servo placement method. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Pics[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]
e3eb72cd-4296-41e0-ad6a-a0d532e9f0bf
[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]
a8951fb6-e41e-4efd-b998-5ef7f3c39790
[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]
9d677fb9-0f8b-477a-aa59-379e7424283b
[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]
e012a455-a6df-4b8e-8467-9f659a035843
[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]
316b842d-e588-49b2-b91a-9ee3259ddf8c
[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
 
Back
Top