Autopilot Opportunity

[cessnadriver]

to ALL.
FYI. I have the straight 400 autopilot that was included, IN A BOX, with the purchase of a '65 C337. I talked with Central autopilot, the guy told me that they were NO LONGER rebuilding the Navomatic 400? Maybe it's only the straight 400? Anyways, I found a avionics shop, Mayday avionics, in Michigan. It took some time to get it rebuild but they finally got it repaired. A SOAPA member had donated his servos to complete the repair. THANKS TO TOM M!!
It was really inexpensive, $3100 which included rebuilt AI and DG. I still need to go to Mayday to have them certify the install. The tech said it maybe another $1500 for the service/flight check. My option-NO TOO BAD!
Regards, BILLS

[patrolpilot]

That amount is not bad at all!

[wslade2]

Have straight 400. does Mayday rebuild the servos and control head? My whole system is shot. Been too busy with other problems to worry about autopilot and was afraid by time I got to it service might end. Looks like the end is near now that autopilots central is bailing out.

[rmorris]

just stumbled on an article from 2021 talking about twin certification for the Garmin GFC500. That pretty much blows away argument that these newer low cost autopilot units will only get certified on singles. It takes about multiple models of the twin commanche.

Who knows someone at Garmin to see if they'll step up for the iconic Skymaster line.

I'm happy to provide my plane as a test platform.

[wslade2]

I think I posted the link in some thread in the past; here it is below.

They’re talking out of both sides of their mouth. I plan on going to Oshkosh this year and maybe(?) finding an ear to bend. Not that I’m anything more than a noisy owner. Does lack of adverse yaw and the centerline thrust help them in any way? I’m sure there’s a liability vs profitability equation going on on their side and it would be nice to know the hot button.

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/...twin-comanche/

[patrolpilot]

Originally Posted by rmorris

just stumbled on an article from 2021 talking about twin certification for the Garmin GFC500. That pretty much blows away argument that these newer low cost autopilot units will only get certified on singles. It takes about multiple models of the twin commanche.

There are only two models of the Twin Comanche, the PA30 and PA39. Those two models represent about 930 airframes.

The Skymaster gets trickier, there are 20 different models across 633 registered airframes. Cessna was always really bad about creating a new model each year. Not Piper.

Originally Posted by rmorris

Who knows someone at Garmin to see if they'll step up for the iconic Skymaster line.

I'm happy to provide my plane as a test platform.

Here is a list of currently registered airframes by models.