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Thinking about Mounting Autopilot Servos in the BD-4C

April 3, 2016 Art Zemon

I got lots of helpful responses to Planning BD-4C Autopilot Servo Installation and have decided to attach the autopilot servos in my Bede BD-4C airplane to the horizontal stabilator and to the rudder. Over the years, many people have experimented with autopilots in BD-4s and controlling the rudder seems to work better than controlling the aileron.

My current thinking is the mount the servos inside the main landing gear box. I had already decided to bolt the center section of the box top on, instead of riveting it, so access will not be a problem. The structure is plenty strong enough to support the servos. And there is just the right amount of space.

Here is a photo with the servos set into position. I mocked up control rods and attachments with aviation grade blue masking tape.

Mock-up autopilot servo installation
Mock-up autopilot servo installation inside the main landing gear box of my BD-4C airplane

The servo on the left in that photo is attached to a rudder cable. Since the cable only moves about 1.5 inches, I plan to attach the control rod to the cable with a single clamping block, forgoing a capstan drive.

I fabricated brackets today. I used .125 aluminum angle for the main brackets underneath the servos. I used .063 aluminum angle for secondary brackets on the tops of the servos to help stabilize them.

Autopilot servo brackets
Autopilot servo brackets
MGL autopilot servos with custom brackets in place in BD-4C
MGL autopilot servos with custom brackets in place in BD-4C

What do you think?

Bede BD-4C

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About Art Zemon

Omni-curious geek. Husband. Father. Airplane builder & pilot. Bicyclist. Photographer. Computer engineer.

Comments

  1. John Brecher says

    April 4, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Looks good. I’ve looked thru my old BD stuff and don
    t find any references to auto pilot install.

  2. Craig L Louis says

    April 4, 2016 at 2:41 pm

    I think you’re becoming an expert aluminum hacker, Art.

    (eh, editorial note, the title to this posting is “Mounting Autopilot Servers in the BD-4C”. Shouldn’t it be “Servos”?)

    • Art Zemon says

      April 4, 2016 at 2:56 pm

      Oops! Indeed it should be “servos” and not “servers.” Thanks!

      — Art Z.

  3. Todd a Smith says

    April 4, 2016 at 2:41 pm

    Art
    Curious if you have tested the set up on the stabilator tube?
    Also will you have a trim hook up or are you going to trim the plane and then start the auto pilot?

    • Art Zemon says

      April 4, 2016 at 2:57 pm

      I have not tested it, yet. Soon though.
      I plan to trim the plan before engaging the autopilot. That’s what I did in my previous planes (Archer and Arrow) and it worked well.

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