An autopilot in a Waco.........huh?

[iFLYblog]

I pontificate on the subject of putting an autopilot in a 30s era biplane clone - what has the world come to?


http://iflyblog.com/2012/11/02/waco-...proval-really/


Here's the headline that drove me to madness:
http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2012/11/01/71216/

I posted this on some other forums, but I thought I would throw it out to the EAA crowd to see what you thought. Personally, I'm perplexed.

[WingsAloft]

You're from Ohio. Please go vote.

[WingsAloft]

..and the Waco? Yeah, that kinda ticks me off. What's next, air conditioning?

[iFLYblog]

You're from Ohio. Please go vote.

Yes sir! Will do.

[WingsAloft]

You're from Ohio. Please go vote.

Thanks!!!!!!

[WeaverJ3Cub]

I pontificate on the subject of putting an autopilot in a 30s era biplane clone - what has the world come to?

Haha, that's exactly what I thought!

[steveinindy]

..and the Waco? Yeah, that kinda ticks me off. What's next, air conditioning?

What's wrong with air conditioning?

Even as the type of pilot who prefers automation, putting an autopilot in a Waco is a bit much. As much as I think cruise flight is a pain in the butt and like being able to punch a couple buttons and hand it off to George, one with that attitude doesn't normally fly a Waco.

[Louis]

Then there's the Waco with the glass cockpit: http://ext.dynamiteinc.com/waco/waco2.html I wonder when the turbine version is coming out?

[rwanttaja]

What's wrong with air conditioning?

Even as the type of pilot who prefers automation, putting an autopilot in a Waco is a bit much. As much as I think cruise flight is a pain in the butt and like being able to punch a couple buttons and hand it off to George, one with that attitude doesn't normally fly a Waco.

But if the owner is planning on actually *flying* somewhere, an autopilot is not a bad idea. The Waco won't get there fast, and I can see the advantage of being able to let George do it. One doesn't HAVE to let the autopilot fly the plane at all. But it's a nice thing to have, in some situations. Long trips in open cockpit airplanes sound romantic, but they're actually a bit of a pain.

I rebuilt my Fly Baby's electrical system last spring, and came within an RCH of installing a Dynon EFIS. The only thing that stopped me (I had permission to spend the money from CINCHOME) was that I would have had to completely rebuild the panel structure. Decided I didn't want to fiddle with it.

Ron Wanttaja

[steveinindy]

One doesn't HAVE to let the autopilot fly the plane at all. But it's a nice thing to have, in some situations.

Agreed.

Long trips in open cockpit airplanes sound romantic, but they're actually a bit of a pain.

Long hand-flown trips in just about anything are a pain.

The Waco won't get there fast

Then again, if you're flying a Waco, you probably aren't looking for speed.

I had permission to spend the money from CINCHOME

Love the acronym. My CINCHOME is helping with the design process and wants to help with the build. She's a keeper I tell you!