First Cruisemaster flight

leadsledfan

leadsledfan

New member
I brought home 7651B yesterday and had a blast!
I averaged 140 knots at 12gph over 5 hours of flight time at 8500 & 12500.
Is this fairly normal?
The autopilot really does make a huge difference on cross country trips!
There is going to be a steep learning curve on the 430w though.
It lands better than my Crusair, although a brake Upgrade is definitely in its future.
Overall, I am very happy!
 
We are happy for you Adam! I think 140k at 12gph is about right, depending on how you have it leaned. Which autopilot do you have?
 
I also noticed that it doesn't seem to trim out as well as my Crusair. It sometimes seemed to get into a wave pattern in flight.
 
I was leaning Rich of peak. The edm 700 that is installed has a failed screen on the bottom, so i couldnt monitor exact CHT and EGT and had to lean based on the bar graph display, So i didn't lean very aggressively.

It has the century II autopilot with roll and heading but no altitude hold, And it is not coupled to 430W.
 
Sounds like a great Cruisemaster example! Was your autopilot STC, Original or 337? After a couple of hours in IFR going to Blakesburg, I am definately interested.
 
Or the always popular "it's always been there" options :/.

How's the Century II work for you? In my -3 it was working pretty terribly recently, but I think that was mostly a rigging problem we've sorted out. It had a tendency to roll back and forth rather than go straight.
 
You would be correct. No logbook entry of the original installation (although it came with install pictures, manuals, etc)
An IA in 2007 wrote that it was "found previously installed" and worked well. The only thing I didn't get was his business card taped to the servos.

The century II is working great for me! It will hold a course within 5ish degrees with no swinging back ans forth.
I wish it had altitude hold..
 
Scott Johnson in Utah got a field approval for a Stec (I think 55) in his 14-19-3. No idea how he pulled that off. That's the only altitude hold autopilot I've ever seen in a plane earlier than the 14-19-3A. I've thought that would be a wonderful upgrade. Then I've looked at it's price and decided I could live without it :).
 
My flight instructor got a full stec system approved in his cessna 195. Installation took 5 months by a reputable avionics shop. This was withoit GPSS coupling.
I am happy with my century II and perhaps one day the altitude hold servo will appear as "found previously installed"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top