PIREP on the PortaPilot?

Damn, I can't decide if this idea is crazy or ingenious. Maybe both? It's obviously the passion of some serious electro-mechanical aviation nerds because they are totally clueless on the marketing side. This could be a revolutionary product, yet nary a peep in the aviation press (who will obviously promote just about anything). The demo videos are terrible - you can't even see what is going on.

I have to say that I skipped over this thread for days because I just assumed it was about some kind of in-flight 'relief' product. Truly one of the worst names for an aviation product I've ever heard. It's right up there with the guy at KAPV who named his BBQ restaurant "Skidmarks Cafe".

C.
 
This is just up the highway from me. I wonder if I can get a tour or meet some folks because it sounds like a cool concept. I'd love to know more and see it in action myself. Would any of you be interested in listening to an interview or seeing it filmed on a test flight? No, I'm not selling a YT channel and even though I have videos up, they suck so bad I don't watch them.
 
Agree on the product name situation. It looks to be quite a practical solution to obtaining an economical autopilot for longer duration flights.

Maybe if they had called it the "Snap Pilot", or "Eco Pilot" (short for Economy Auto Pilot), or something other than PortaPilot, there would be enough of the units in use, such that the original request for a PIREP would have had some level of response. I'm mildly surprised that someone from the company isn't monitoring these types of discussion boards, and offering some feedback and response to the multiple levels of discussion and questions about their product.

Also, the company was not at AirVenture 2022, which is not a good sign. Hoping for some feedback from red4golf, if a visit to the business can be arranged.

Otherwise, at this time, the idea of putting down $3 AMU for something that could be a red herring in a short period of time is a bit discomforting.
 
Coulda been worse. Coulda been PORTAble Pilot Operated Traditional Training Instrument.
 
Bumping this thread to see if anyone has a pirep on the Portapilot autopilot system? Interesting concept for a very inexpensive autopilot, for those longer duration flights.
 
Reminds me of the old cut down 'broomstick on the throttle' cruise control in vintage trucks.
 
robin ardoin said:
Reminds me of the old cut down 'broomstick on the throttle' cruise control in vintage trucks.
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My grandpa made one for his pickup using threaded rod and an over-center latch to engage. He’d kick the gas pedal to disengage it.
 
MauleSkinner said:
My grandpa made one for his pickup using threaded rod and an over-center latch to engage. He’d kick the gas pedal to disengage it.
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My first paying job was on a neighbor's ranch, where, as low guy on the totem pole, I was given a '52 Ford pickup to drive. The gas pedal was long gone, only the steel peg sticking up through the floorboard remained as the throttle control.

The truck would do maybe 50 mph with the 'peg to the metal'. Problem was, with it fully depressed it would sometimes vibrate out of the hole and slip under the floorboard. You'd never know it until you wanted to slow down, and found the engine stuck at full throttle and you had to quickly bend over and poke an index finger through the hole in the floor and fish frantically around for the throttle peg to pull it back through the hole and cut the throttle.

Good times. No fancy broomstick cruise control for me!
 
I was driving my Motorhome and 36' race hauler from Louisiana to Jacksonville FL and lost the control unit for my 'fly by wire' throttle just past Mobile bay at Spanish Fort. After diagnosis the issue on the shoulder/diesel only able to idle I went into McGuyver mode. I grabbed a spool oF 40# monfilament nylon used to string up our chassis to set toe and camber from the tool chest. I ran about 40' of it from the injector rack under the bed in the master bedroom forwrd to the driver's seat. I made a loop hooked around the end of the liftable armrest. Lowering the armrest pulled tension on the line and advanced the fuel lever on the rack. Cajun cruise control was realized by sliding the seat fore/aft with the electric rocker switch. I drove that b**ch to Jacskonville, maneuvered into my pit spot and drove it back to Louisiana a few days later using a slightly perfected version of the system after a trip to Home Depot. We still laugh about that one.
 
robin ardoin said:
I was driving my Motorhome and 36' race hauler from Louisiana to Jacksonville FL and lost the control unit for my 'fly by wire' throttle just past Mobile bay at Spanish Fort. After diagnosis the issue on the shoulder/diesel only able to idle I went into McGuyver mode. I grabbed a spool oF 40# monfilament nylon used to string up our chassis to set toe and camber from the tool chest. I ran about 40' of it from the injector rack under the bed in the master bedroom forwrd to the driver's seat. I made a loop hooked around the end of the liftable armrest. Lowering the armrest pulled tension on the line and advanced the fuel lever on the rack. Cajun cruise control was realized by sliding the seat fore/aft with the electric rocker switch. I drove that b**ch to Jacskonville, maneuvered into my pit spot and drove it back to Louisiana a few days later using a slightly perfected version of the system after a trip to Home Depot. We still laugh about that one.
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lol
 
Since I’ve been flying with this PortaPilot for several years and many hours, I can attest it is absolutely amazing. I do use it on any trips over 30minutes. Try it, you will love it. It’s the only autopilot that does not require installation ($10,000 savings) and you may return for full credit. You are guarantee to love it. Trust me.
 
tee said:
Since I’ve been flying with this PortaPilot for several years and many hours, I can attest it is absolutely amazing. I do use it on any trips over 30minutes. Try it, you will love it. It’s the only autopilot that does not require installation ($10,000 savings) and you may return for full credit. You are guarantee to love it. Trust me.
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What plane? Got any photos or video?
 
tee said:
Since I’ve been flying with this PortaPilot for several years and many hours, I can attest it is absolutely amazing. I do use it on any trips over 30minutes. Try it, you will love it. It’s the only autopilot that does not require installation ($10,000 savings) and you may return for full credit. You are guarantee to love it. Trust me.
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RussR said:
Yes, I don't think some are recognizing this.

The "attachment points" are pre-installed. The actual actuators are only connected when you're using the autopilot - you clip them in to start using it. One of the videos on the website warns you not to fight the actuators when it's on, and if you want to hand-fly again, you need to remove the actuators. Which is pretty easy, but it's not like you're going to be hand-flying, get into inadvertent IMC, and be able to qiuckly attach the actuators to save you.

It's an interesting product, but from what I saw needs a little refining. For one, the ability to overpower the actuators is important to me in case the autopilot starts doing something I don't like.

Second, one of the videos REALLY shows the altitude hold in a poor light - I'm wondering why they even used that video on the website. They engaged the pitch actuator and altitude hold at about 4650 ft. It then climbed up to 5000, and gradually came back down to 4500, taking a total of about 4 minutes (!) to do so (the video is at 5x speed, so I'm estimating). Then, once it's at 4500, the autopilot would not pass a Private Pilot checkride, as it wanders on down to about 4350 and just hangs out there for a while. One of the indicators on the display is the altitude error, and it says right there it's 150 feet off (so it "knows" it), but doesn't seem to be doing anything about it or "trying" to correct.
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Since you've been using it a lot, could you comment on your experience regarding the points I made previously? (Quoted here for reference.)
 
wsquare said:
Just got an email from the PortaPilot team, that says the Cessna 152 autopilot will be available soon. Wonder if the same autopilot "snap in mechanism with the 2 servos" works for both the 152 and 172? For those that own both a 152 and 172, or clubs that have both airframes, it would seem to make sense for the same mechanism to work for both airframes. While the fixed hard points on the yoke and panel remain with designated aircraft, because they may have different size/configuration due to the slight differences between the 152 and 172. If not, seems to be a waste of opportunity to buy one "snap in servo mechanism, and multiple hard points for mounting the mechanism".
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They are now shipping C172/150/152 PortaPilots. The same mechanism, but you have to select from “Aircraft Model” the Aircrft. Also, if you already have one, you can send it in for S/W update and it will cover theC150/152. I believe a significant number of the users are Airline pilots.
 
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Half Fast said:
What plane? Got any photos or video?
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C172/150/152. Tried to upload a photo in my C172 cruising at 7,000’, but file was too large. Just search YouTube for PortaPilot
 
frfly172 said:
The only option for the Cessna 150 for an auto pilot that’s certified is the STec 50 at a price way north of 29 k .Trio is working on an STC for their autopilot for the Cessna 150.
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PortaPilot covers C172,150/152. $2,000 for single axis, $3k for a two axes. My opinion is that the single axis is a lot of bang for your bucks. Add no installation costs & time plus trial period.
 
frfly172 said:
Can you elaborate on the crash info? Are there any findings blaming the auto pilot as the cause of the crash? Thanks
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Bunch of nonsense. No crashes. Keep in mind that ones the actuators are pull out, nothing interferes with the controls.
 
MauleSkinner said:
Seems pretty clunky to have installed if you’re hand flying. But people have done stranger things.
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My experience flying with the PortaPilot, is that it is always running the show. I have it out anytime below 2,000’ AGL. I guess I became a lazy and spoiled pilot. But then, I’m the PIC so I am vigilant. Cables can disconnect, and couplers disengage at any time.
 
Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a project designing, developing and manufacturing a clamp-on autopilot for Cessnas and then nobody bought one ;) They might want to think about firing the guy who thought that "PortaPilot" would be a good name for it.
 

Looks like Uavionix is trying to do the same thing, with their RetroPilot.
 
EdFred said:
I was pretty sure everyone picked up on that right away.
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I thought it was quite obvious too...except that he seemed to be passing himself off as merely a user. Might have been better to say, "Hey, I help run the company so let me say that since I've been flying with this Portapilot..." etc.

And let me also add my vote at this time for "worst product name in aviation"...when I hear "PortaPilot", I picture something like this:
 

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Country Flier said:
I thought it was quite obvious too...except that he seemed to be passing himself off as merely a user. Might have been better to say, "Hey, I help run the company so let me say that since I've been flying with this Portapilot..." etc.

And let me also add my vote at this time for "worst product name in aviation"...when I hear "PortaPilot", I picture something like this:
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I think of the actual portable ones that you take with you in your pickup camper.
 
Lindberg said:
And hasn't been back since he was ID'd. Quite the ethics this company has.
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He hasn't actually logged in again since his last post, so he doesn't yet know that he's been identified.
 
True, I do have interest in the success of this small privately held US company. I derive no financial benefits. I volunteer. Keep in mind that I have flown with the PortaPilot the longest and very familiar with it. I used it on various model aircraft. Flew with several FAA flight test teams. Flew it in clouds, smoke, rain strong winds, IMC etc… I’m trying to answer the community questions, correct wrong entries and false statements. If you are in the Seattle/Everett area, come fly with me. My C172 is based at KPAE (Boeing wide body line).
 
RussR said:
Since you've been using it a lot, could you comment on your experience regarding the points I made previously? (Quoted here for reference.)
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Great observation regarding: “altitude hold at about 4650 ft. It then climbed up to 5000, and gradually came back down to 4500, taking a total of about 4 minutes”. The cause is that the Alt Hold was engaged while in a 500fpm climb. This is a pilot error. You should engage it when in straight & leveled with minimal vertical speed.
 
red4golf said:
This is just up the highway from me. I wonder if I can get a tour or meet some folks because it sounds like a cool concept. I'd love to know more and see it in action myself. Would any of you be interested in listening to an interview or seeing it filmed on a test flight? No, I'm not selling a YT channel and even though I have videos up, they suck so bad I don't watch them.
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My C172 is at KPAE (Everett). Be glad to meet you there.
 
tee said:
Great observation regarding: “altitude hold at about 4650 ft. It then climbed up to 5000, and gradually came back down to 4500, taking a total of about 4 minutes”. The cause is that the Alt Hold was engaged while in a 500fpm climb. This is a pilot error. You should engage it when in straight & leveled with minimal vertical speed.
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Based on this comment and not seeing any integrations with pitot/static or pitch data, I'm guessing that it's using internal gyros to hold the pitch that's current when you hit the button? I'm assuming it has no idea what the actual altitude is.
 
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