A Geek Goes Flying

So a high start voltage on the pitch servo was the culprit in causing the intermittent porpoising on the S-Tec 30 in altitude hold mode. Apparently that condition develops as the brushes on the motor wear out. Yanked and sent to S-Tec for servicing (flat rate; it'll either be like $500 or $1700 or so, plus the A&P labor). Everything else on the autopilot checked out. At least the S-Tec will fail gracefully and still retain heading / GPSS / NAV tracking with the altitude hold module (pitch servo) yanked. Meanwhile, the EDM-700 is going to be swapped (trade-in program) for an EDM-730 . It's a straight swap, no rewiring, no new probes, etc., required (for the same functionality I have on the decidedly old-school -700: (4) probe CHT and EGT, oil temp, voltage). Sold. Even once the SkyView HDX is STC'd and installed (hopefully soon?!), I'll move the -730 to the right panel, add RPM and MP, and have it as a backup instrument.

Have one of these stuck to the side of the X-Naut iPad yoke mount. Perfect place to stick a stylus  (which I've basically now completely transitioned to, for in-flight notes: ATIS, clearances, etc) (though I did just toss a cheap notepad and pen in, as a backup). Wish the adhesive was a little stronger, and that you could buy them in less than a ten-pack for less than $17, but still. Worth it. Edit: A year later, I’ve worn out one of the pen holders (the rubber channel got stretched out enough it wasn’t holding the stylus securely) and love the stylus with ForeFlight scratchpads. I don’t remember the last time I used paper and a pen, and I haven’t missed my kneeboard at all.