I haven't had a problem... make sure the nose strut nitrogen pressure is correct - 370 psi, although Vlad told me some aircraft can be as low as 280 psi. (It may be different for a -ZA model). You may have to jack the nose up to set this correctly. Bruce will know.

There should be about 3 fingers-width of strut "silver" part showing. It is very important that nose strut is not over serviced, because it will activate the WOW switch and release brake pressure (brakes will be INOP).

For those of you with APs in the L39, do you have Garmin GFC500 ?

Are those servos be powerful enough for the L39?

I had the GFC500 installed this summer, replacing an STEC-50. My understanding is you should use torque enhancers for the L-39. (I know this is the case for the pitch servo, I'm not sure if it's also the case for the roll servo). I've been very happy with the autopilot, especially once I adjusted some of the gain settings.

I started a thread here as I was trying to tweak the various gain settings:
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=230777

We have them in the Alpha Jets and the GFC500 gets into some light oscillation (+/-100) around .75-85. We put on in one of the L39s but I haven't used it yet, from what I've heard it works well.

Can you clarify what kind of oscillation? Is it altitude +/- 100 feet? I wonder if this could be corrected with the pitch airspeed gain schedule (which isn't documented by Garmin but was recently discussed in my GFC500 thread). Of course this should only be done after the normal gain setup procedure.

Can you clarify what kind of oscillation? Is it altitude +/- 100 feet? I wonder if this could be corrected with the pitch airspeed gain schedule (which isn't documented by Garmin but was recently discussed in my GFC500 thread). Of course this should only be done after the normal gain setup procedure.

just added the GAD29 and OAT sensor to my dual G5s. went out yesterday to test it out- flew an LPV and an ILS.

WOW! what a great setup-- I know the G5 may not be quite fast enough for this airframe, but for approaches and normal cruise it works great (it displays XXs when the IAS exceeds 300KTS, and i typically only see that when pointed straight down).

I had the GFC500 installed this summer, replacing an STEC-50. My understanding is you should use torque enhancers for the L-39. (I know this is the case for the pitch servo, I'm not sure if it's also the case for the roll servo). I've been very happy with the autopilot, especially once I adjusted some of the gain settings.

I started a thread here as I was trying to tweak the various gain settings:
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=230777

I think your choice is the best given your constraints. That's about where I have mine. I think yours is further forward which is probably easier to use. Now you can set the heading and altitude bugs using the autopilot knobs instead of the G5 knobs.

L-39 guys:

Can any of you identify the team in this photo?

They performed at Sun-n-Fun recently.

Mike C.

Finally got “dash 3” in the jet. I made her wait until she was physically strong enough for egress.
She might be the one who makes it a career…

I think that grin in the second picture says it all!

Sunday I had an anti-skid failure in the L39, and blew a main tire on landing (that's a whole other story).

While changing the tire (on the runway no less), I needed a tool I didn't have, and have not seen, so I welded one together.

This allows you to compress the wheel halves, to get the bolts through, with the new tire. Otherwise, the elasticity of the new tire prevents the wheel-halves from coming close enough together to get the nuts onto the wheel-bolt threads. Impossible to do by hand (with a guy standing on the tire...)

cost me about $5 to make. also works on the nose-gear.

12" carriage bolt from lowes, with nut, 2" x 1/4" square tubing split, 5" long. Wood blocks will allow it to work on smaller wheels.