Angle of attack systems

mpickard

I fly a 182P (1973) and I'm interested in thoughts on the value, need, etc. of these systems. I'm VFR rated and fly around 75 hrs per year. Based near Charlotte, NC.

Scott Sherer

There's alot of people that really like AOA's. I have one in my plane built into my Aspen PFD. I look at it once in a while but I confess that I don't use it much.

Jgoaviation

I’ll go out on a limb and say that as a VFR pilot that operates from normal airports there isn’t a need for an AOA system other than for gee wiz data.

Scott Sherer

That's how I feel, too. If I had a really short runway or one with obstructions on the end that required extra-ordinary maneuvering perhaps it would come in handy.

Cessnakevin

I’ve got a 172F. I wanted some backup to the old round gauges. I’ve installed vg’s and was interested in adding aoa. I looked at many options, mostly expensive, and decided to buy the BOM from Levil aviation. It’s getting installed late this week. I’ll let everyone know how it goes.

GregDrew

I have used the Garmin AOA in two aircraft and value having it onboard. If you think about it, the AOA does not issue a severe warning very often because we all fly pretty well most of the time. But for that one time where the angle of attack enters a risky profile and the pilot is busy, that is where I want (and need) the warning. I have received that warning twice in the last 500 hours and it was well worth it. Last point, the AOA is inexpensive equipment, so I recommend it to any pilot.

Scott Sherer

Good to know, thanks Drew.

Michael g

Observations on flying with an angle of attack indicator for the last eight years installed in a C185 (prior to the current fad of add-ons at the time requiring a field approval). I do regard it as a safety enhancement in preventing some LOC scenarios.

The AOA is a useful addition more so if the angle of attack indicator is within your visual field when landing. If one has to look down at the panel to see the indicator it defeats the purpose to a large extent (looking inside the cockpit when we should be looking outside). A heads up display option Is available and works much better than the LED or instrument panel varieties. If using the LED type it should be mounted on or just under the glare shield in your field of view when looking ahead of the airplane.

There is significant value when used in instructional scenarios and possibly for early Upset training and aerobatic exploration.

Flying into backcountry short strips with mountainous surroundings, the AOA is a real boon. It lets you know what your lift reserve is and eases the stress when flying in canyons, looking at rock faces while performing canyon turns and landing on short strips on back of drag curve.

When flying instrument approaches single pilot down to minimums or having to go missed make the angle of attack indicator a useful tool.

For general day-to-day flying it is also helps when one is flying an unfamiliar aircraft.

If one has the option for a heads up display the AOA indicator is useful for the base to final turn and also helpful in preventing a stall in the flare during training.

Hope this has been helpful. Take care!

Scott Sherer

Thanks Michael!

Bob Hart

I think adding AOA makes sense for any pilot VFR or IFR in fact isn't one of it biggest advantages on final approach when you often not IFR anymore. Any pilot can get in trouble here especially when weather suggests a faster approach speed. Mooney pilots were having a big problem here and adding AOA has really helped. I did an article in July 2016 on the subject "Working the Angles". The only change I see in AOA since I wrote this is the number of "probeless" offers out there today. Note: We (Cessna Owners) gave away an Alpha Eagle system at Oshkosh two years ago and one of our members with a Cessna 150 won it. Last time I talked to him he did not want to spend the dollars to install it. I sent him an email. Hopefully he will jump in here if he still has it.

mfuesting@gmail.com

Bob,
I recently installed the u-vonics A20S (probeless) and it works great! What I like best is that it is hooked into the audio panel and really lets you know when AOA is getting out of wack.
My key reason for installing was that with the great noise canceling headsets that we wear, I really find it difficult to hear the Cessna stall warning horn anymore. This does an excellent job of fixing that for safety!

89022700013

Flew C-206 near gross weight in and out of bush air strips in Africa and the AoA was a welcome tool.

Garyvan Dyke

If the award winner doesn’t want his AOA I’d be interested in finding out how much he wants for it.

SkylaneKY

@Cessnakevin said:
I’ve got a 172F. I wanted some backup to the old round gauges. I’ve installed vg’s and was interested in adding aoa. I looked at many options, mostly expensive, and decided to buy the BOM from Levil aviation. It’s getting installed late this week. I’ll let everyone know how it goes.

How did it go? Any updates?

AlainBosco

@Michael g said:
Observations on flying with an angle of attack indicator for the last eight years installed in a C185 (prior to the current fad of add-ons at the time requiring a field approval). I do regard it as a safety enhancement in preventing some LOC scenarios.

The AOA is a useful addition more so if the angle of attack indicator is within your visual field when landing. If one has to look down at the panel to see the indicator it defeats the purpose to a large extent (looking inside the cockpit when we should be looking outside). A heads up display option Is available and works much better than the LED or instrument panel varieties. If using the LED type it should be mounted on or just under the glare shield in your field of view when looking ahead of the airplane.

There is significant value when used in instructional scenarios and possibly for early Upset training and aerobatic exploration.

Flying into backcountry short strips with mountainous surroundings, the AOA is a real boon. It lets you know what your lift reserve is and eases the stress when flying in canyons, looking at rock faces while performing canyon turns and landing on short strips on back of drag curve.

When flying instrument approaches single pilot down to minimums or having to go missed make the angle of attack indicator a useful tool.

For general day-to-day flying it is also helps when one is flying an unfamiliar aircraft.

If one has the option for a heads up display the AOA indicator is useful for the base to final turn and also helpful in preventing a stall in the flare during training.

Hope this has been helpful. Take care!

Hello
I have A Cessna U206G , I planning to install a AoA. Which model do you advise regardless financial aspect.
Thanks
Alain

Bpiro@msn.com

I have a 182 back country set up.. I did the Alpha Eagle heads up display
With a probe. For me that heads-up display works great

Cessnakevin

I did the alpha eagle with the heads up display too! I added the option for different blue donuts based on flap settings. I also installed the landing height call out. Between the two, landings are pretty stress free. Except for those pesky cross winds.

Cessnakevin

I posted a comment earlier about a 172. I sold that and got a 182. The AOA is on the 182.

Scott Sherer

Roger that!

Spunk88

I bought the uAvionix AV-20S too. Haven't installed it yet. It has AOA plus 11 other functions like clock, Hobbs timer, G-meter and ADI. I'm wondering if I could install it in a housing on top of the glareshield. At $895, t's a lot cheaper than the other existing AOA options which are criminal in price!

https://uavionix.com/products/av-20s/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA3rKQBhCNARIsACUEW_bfLVnoofDUKH09vQi89nqNXwXnHOD2NkpjWdbgdQoJL0zYCVjYedQaAqBNEALw_wcB

Scott Sherer

That's awesome. I have to look into one, too. Great price, lots of great features. Very impressive!

Rocky Landsverk

Bob Hart wrote about AOA for the April issue. It gets mailed in mid-April.

ddivinia

I have the alpha system AOA in both my 310 and 182. The 310 gross weight can vary a bunch due to fuel and passengers. I use it all the time. Up on top of the glare shield is the way to go.

What I discovered on the 182 is that not only is it handy for landing but very handy on take off. 88g tanks, wind, DA, etc I use it for take off also.

With the AOA on top of the glare shield where you can always see it and have it talking to you - huge win. Some people say it is a toy, but I believe that is really if you aren’t embracing the data. Jets and heavy planes have vRef airspeeds for a reason. Using an AOA in our smaller birds helps bridge the gap - I am sold.

D.

mbpace

I recently upgraded my Aspen Pro to Max. While in the shop, I had them add the integral AOA. The avionics shop added it but did not calibrate it nor did they know how to! Now, I have the AOA installed but it’s useless until it’s calibrated. Any idea where to go for instruction on how to set it up?

Scott Sherer

Have you read the installation manual? Has your shop read the installation manual? My guess is that it's all laid out there. If you went to an avionics shop that couldn't calibrate a basic piece of avionics, I would call into question their competency. I would reconsider whether I'd go back.