A2A Piper Cherokee 180 S-TEC 30 Autopilot Tutorial
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- Опубликовано: 7 янв 2025
- A simple, but in depth tutorial covering most aspects of the autopilot found in A2A's Piper Cherokee. Altitude Hold, Stabilization, Heading, and tracking VORs and GPS waypoints.
If you just need info on one particular mode of the autopilot, you can skip to the relevant section by using the links below.
Altitude Hold: • A2A Piper Cherokee 180...
Stablilization Mode: • A2A Piper Cherokee 180...
Headling Mode: • A2A Piper Cherokee 180...
TRK Lo/HI with VOR/LOC: • A2A Piper Cherokee 180...
TRK Lo/Hi foth GPS: • A2A Piper Cherokee 180...
The difference between Low Track and High Track is just in the amount of authority exerted on the aircraft's roll. Low is useful for VOR tracking, as in the real world, radio signals from the station aren't a reliably straight line. You get multipath interference for example, where the signal bounces off of terrain, buildings etc and these echos arrive at the receiver at different points in time. You don't want the aircraft to aggressively follow the CDI in these cases. It's especially troublesome as you fly over a station, and the CDI needle deflects all the way to one side or the other. Low Track dampens the autopilot's ability to follow these deflections and makes for a smoother lateral flight. In FS, we don't have to worry about wonky radio signals bouncing the needle around, but we do have to be concerned with its behavior as we near a station and fly over it. Just like we don't chase the CDI in manual flight, the autopilot should not chase the needle either. Track Low helps prevent it or dampen it.
For GPS navigation, use High Track. It will behave more like HD mode, exerting more roll authority on the aircraft, resulting in more lateral precision. Crucial especially if you're IFR, and are expected to follow your filed route with reasonable precision. If your next waypoint is 45 degrees off your present heading, you really don't want a 5 minute turn to get there. Use "High".
twsbbl That's a good description. I'll give High Track another go with GPS navigation and see how it goes. I'd not really noticed much of a difference with the 180's autopilot previously, but I'd not tested it with sharp turns.
Here is one thing that is not mentioned because the aircraft is not equipped. I fly a Warrior II that has an Aspen E3 display. This is like the Garmin G5, which has both the attitude indicator, and an HSI. It also has a soft key button called GPSS which is for GPS steering. I nickname it “George pilot super stud.” If I am flying in GPS mode, Keeping the STEC-30 in Heading Mode and not using track lo or hi, I press this button on the Aspen and the aircraft will fly just like setting the heading bug. Basically it is taking the GPS, treating like a heading bug on the HSI and electronically inputting a heading bug setting even though the physical heading bug is not directly underneath the rumb line. I always manually keep the head bug under the rumb line anyways like I always keep the OBS I under my current GPS DTK. If I want to switch to using the heading bug, I just disengage the GPSS and it default the the HSI. So if you have an aircraft that has a GPSS mode on it, it will do the same as long as you are in the GPSS mode. This is really handy to toggle between GPS and heading through the Aspen without changing modes on the autopilot. I want to take the time to add one thing since I flew this plane the other day. I was flying a VOR approach in VFR conditions of course, and it did very well except in the procedure turn. No matter what mode I used it got fairly lazy trying to complete the procedure turn properly. The way you can counteract this is to use the stabilization mode (ST) and manually turn the plane by adjusting the knob. Since you can go up to a 30° bank, this is the best way to make your turn and once established on the inbound course, you can go back to either heading mode or track high.
So I just bought an RV-8 with the S-Tek 30 w/ Alt. Unfortunately, while on a trip for my transition training, I lost the manual. BUMMER! I'm not one of those pilot's who loves 'tech' stuff (an old steam gauge guy) and this was my first attempt to use an autopilot. So I found this tutorial on You Tube. The tutorial was simple, easy to understand and so on my very first test flight, I decided to 'stabilize' things if I could (gathering all my performance data!) and based on this tutorial, I engaged the A/P. WOW! JUST LIKE THE TUTORIAL!!! I really couldn't believe it would be that simple to employ, but hats off to both S-Tek and the guy who put together this tutorial. This is going to be like cruise control in my car ... if it breaks I FIX it!! Can't imagine being in a single pilot environment without this tool and THANKS SO MUCH for putting this together ... who needs a manual??!! Now if only he had one for the Vision VM 1000 EMS!! (yeah I lost that manual as well :-( ....
Rian Block
Here’s the manual, narb!
*S-TEC Pilot’s Operating Handbook 20|30|30 ALT*
www.northstarmso.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cherokee-S-TEC-Autopilot.pdf
This was a WONDERFUL tutorial - clear, thorough, and very easy to understand (unlike the various documents I've been reading). I was getting weary of the trial-and-error method (thank God it's a simulator - else I'd be grounded for life).
Thank you so much!
I am absolutely astounded. A clear, concise, helpful and informative tutorial on RUclips. I've never seen one of these before! Thanks :)
Thank you for this simple and clear tutorial for the autopilot. I have just installed this aircraft, and I look forward to being able to relax during the cruise phase of my flights!
Excellent Tutorial! Had bought the PA-24 and nothing was mentioned in the 100+ pages on how to operate the 'AP'. After going 'bald' from three attempts, I finally threw the towel in and found your page. This should make flying the PA-24 a much more pleasant experience! Thanks so much!
Very good. Not long winded and rambling incoherence as found on other RUclips videos!
Very Clear,indeed.As a supplementary,the a/p can be engaged via the keyboard.B-readyC-mode selectD-altE-on/off
Thank very much for this. Exactly what I needed. Simple, concise and thorough. I appreciate the pro tutorial.
Thanks for the kind words. Glad it helped.
This system is basically a low cost, entry level auto pilot. I used one the other day with a GPS unit in a Piper Warrior II. I pressed the button on the Aspen unit, (Glass cockpit ADI/HSI, like two Garmin G5’s together) GPSS function, which means GPS steering while the auto pilot was on low and then again on high sensing. It held the course very well however, when I entered a procedure turn and crossed the fix to go outbound, the auto pilot slowly banked, and completely flew the plane way out of the published, hold pattern. In order to properly navigate, you have to switch to heading mode or to stabilization mode and manually turn the bug to properly do the procedures. Far cry from the Garmin 500 series autopilot. Secondly, this unit has no vertical navigation. Therefore, you must manually climb and descend first disengaging altitude hold. So in a sense there is no altitude capture or anything like that.
This was extremely helpful - and very well explained, in just the right amount of detail. Thanks.
Well done. Saved me from printing out 88 pages of autopilot data. Clear and concise.
Thanks. I'm glad you found the tutorial useful.
Great video and well presented. Understanding the S- TEC makes flying this aircraft all the more enjoyable. Thanks
Thanks! This is a great supplement to the actual manual for those using this in real aircraft.
Well, now I know what the darn thing does so when I see a plane for sale I'll know what it's supposed to do! THANK YOU!
Fabulous Tutorial my friend! I have the A2A Cherokee 180, and this was the perfect tutorial on how to use the AP. Thanks so much for posting this vid!
Thanks a lot for this great tutorial. I'm confronted with this autopilot in a Robin DR400, and this tutorial was really great! Thanks!
Great tutorial! The A2A PA28is simply awesome. Now I can try out the auto pilot. Many thanks!
Brilliant!! Concise, informative and to the point. Bravo. Subscribed and will recommend. Many thanks. Ken
great stuff mate! you cleared up my confusion over the HI and Low track modes wonderfully, i'll mention your video here in my next on this aircraft. keep up the good work!
Peter Matthess Thanks mate! I'm a fan of you're vids, so your kind words mean a lot.
HanSh0tFirst Games and Sims xx
Thank you very much. My manual is inadequate, so I've always had unanswered questions.
Not anymore.
Seriously thinking to buy it! This aircraft is simply amazing!
Altenholz It really is a great plane. Easily my favorite single prop airplane to fly in FSX and P3D.
Altenholz This is an outstanding sim. Best in class. You won't be disappointed if realism and fidelity to the real thing is what interests you.
Meanwhile bought the C182 Skylane. You are right. You can't compare the flight characteristics with any other aircraft within FSX. Really astonishing and great.
Altenholz A2A's Skylane is another good one, for sure. A2A does some quality work.
Thanks for the tutorial. Simple and clear.
I would like to see a tutorial on this system that uses a G5 or an aspen E5 system. The Aspen has a GPSS function which is steering by the GPS itself. That means the course needle will skew to the next heading automatically and the auto pilot should follow it. Some people tell me that this unit will still do that while maintained in HD mode or heading mode, as long as you have the digital unit selecting either heading or GPSS. I will try it this weekend. Like I have commented before allowing this unit to fly a procedure turn it did not aggressively make the turn either in low track or high track mode. Maybe it’s this particular unit or maybe that’s just the way it works.
So clear and sparkling.. hmm.. sounds like Beer O'Clock !
Thanks
Bart
***** Welcome. :)
Crystal clear. Thanks a lot. You did my learning lesson today.
Perfect just bought the plane this is just what I needed Thanks so much!
Scott Brady You're welcome. Enjoy the plane. It's awesome!
Very helpful. Simple, clean explanation. Thank you!
Great Video as I really enjoyed the tutorial on how to work the autopilot!!
thanks mate very helpful just about to start command building in the archer so very helpful thanks.
Straight to the point. Thanks!
Like this (and 'Liked' this). Really nice explanation. Short, sweet and focused. Nicely done!
THANK YOU for this: big help since I just bought the Comanche.
Brian Liddicoat You're welcome. Grats on the Comanche. I've been having a bit of fun in it as well. Another great A2A GA plane.
Very good tutorial! Would really like to see more.
Thanks. More to come a little later down the track.
I learnt a bit more today, thank you.
A brilliant tutorial, thank you so much!!
I have a problem, when i select altitude hold the plane instead of hold the altitude, points the nose up and make the plane to stall
and a similar problem with the a2a 172 beacuse i can't select the vertical speed
Does it have auto trim for GPS and heading or do you have to manually adjust trim for these modes?
You have to manually adjust trim for all modes.
omg.... its so simple xD I spent way to long not watching this video!
just what I was looking for :D thanks!
me too thanks.... no videos on Comanche auto pilot... big help... so simple, I feel stupid....
Robert Silver Glad it helped. :)
fucking finally figured out where that bloody autopilot switch was, i was that convinced there was no autopilot switch in this plane til i saw this vid...
Thank you very much! Perfect tutorial
Great video, thank you for sharing it!
Thanks. :)
Great tutorial! very clever
Thank you, that was very clear and well done.
So is that right that S-TEC 30 does not allow to descent to or climb to a set altitude? It seems that "ALT" mode simply holds current altitude. Correct?
That is correct. "ALT" just holds current altitude.
Excellent tutorial. Thank you.
You're welcome. Thanks for the nice comment.
I AM HAVING TRIM ISSUES WITH THIS PLANE... NO MATTER WHAT I DO.. I CANT GET THAT DAMN TRIM YELLOW LIGHT TO STOP BLINKING UP OR DOWN.. AND BEEPING! PLEASE HELP, AND SORRY FOR THE CAPS
Thank you , great instruction !
Great tutorial!
how do you set the autopilot on altitude in a Comanche? I seems to only fly in a str line and cant auto climb.
Most basic autopilots only fly the lateral path, usually they don't fly the vertical path too.
Thanks for the great tutorial since I was too lazy to RTM! :)
You sound a lot like the RUclipsr named Skye Storme.
LOL. I don't think you are alone in not wanting to read the manual. It isn't exactly riveting reading. :)
Whenever I click the altitude hold my plane veers upwards and stalls?
Great tutorial
any idea why INOP sticker covers gps switch... cannot do gps tracking
You probably have an add on GPS that has a switch on the GPS where you can switch between VOR/LOC and GPS.
Thanks! That was helpful.
I'm glad you got something from it. Thanks for the comment.
Excellent. Thank you.
very helpful !!!! thx mate
I dont understand, how do you have a gps panel above nav1?
If your talking about adding it to the panel hit Shift-3 and in the popup window there is a GPS option, you can select the panel mounted as in this video, which also gives you the option to link the autopilot with the GPS. A window mounted GPS unit, or no GPS at all. This is a standard A2A feature. You can also have the Flight1 GTN650 as well if you own that.
Thank you I hope you do some follow ons
You're welcome. I plan to do a couple of the other tutorials on equipment that is unique to A2A's Cherokee
How do you trim out your plane for the flight level?
If you select the power you require at the level youre cruising at, and you still have to apply some sort of pressure on the yoke (forwards pr backwards) to keep the plane straight and level, then that means you need to adjust the elevator trim wheel on the ceiling in order to relieve the stress required. If the plane is pitching downwards then you need to move the wheel to the up position (and vice versa in order to keep it level without having to apply pressure on the yoke
Very Good.
EXCELLANT
excelent !
Thanks!!!!!!!!
thank youu
Clarence Bowers
Thanks :)
Please, make the video in Russian or post in the comments the text of this video in English or Russian. There are a lot of people who speak Russian and are engaged in air simulation. Thank you.
is this " auto pilot " similar to the device JFK Jr had on his fatal flight.....if so , so sad it was not used......
Wonderful tutorial - thank you!!