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Have a 66 M20 E looking to put a autopilot in the plane ! What are suggestions ?


Rodeo John

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STEC 20 or 30 expensive but works very well that is what I have but it was in the plane to start.  The controller replaces your turn coordinator.  Altitude hold on the 30 is real nice to boot.

 

Do you have any of the wing leveler components left in the plane?

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Stec30 is about the cheapest certified autopilot. Boshart Aviation in Batavia NY would be my choice to install. Autopilots are very expensive to add on. Sometimes it's cheaper to sell your plane and just buy another plane that already has an autopilot. I keep thinking about putting one in my plane. The $18,000.00 price tag is the only reason I haven't put one in my plane.

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My plane is right now at LV Avionics at KABE Allentown, Pa. Short flight and drive from anywhere in NJ. I am at KBLM.

Mike ( the owner) is very nice and more important knowledgable guy. I am spending substantial amount of money with him to put all kind of gadgets to my panel to bring the plane to the 21st century finally. Not a autopilot though as I already have one.

Anyway, I was shopping around for a while, got multiple quotes and talked to few shops. Based on my and others experience, price and most important his approach to the project I have selected Mike.

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Pennsylvania recently did away with all taxes on aircraft parts, maintenance, installs, etc, so it might be advantageous to look on this side of the Delaware River.   I'm gearing up for a major panel job in the next few months, likely including an STEC-30, and will be curious to know your experience.

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Pennsylvania recently did away with all taxes on aircraft parts, maintenance, installs, etc, so it might be advantageous to look on this side of the Delaware River.   I'm gearing up for a major panel job in the next few months, likely including an STEC-30, and will be curious to know your experience.

That's right. That short flight over the river saves me few thousand.

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IMHO, keep your Brittain system. Call the Brittain folks, they can set you up with what you need to add NAV tracking, heading bug, and even altitude hold.

I had a 67 C that I put an STEC 30 into. Loved the STEC, but would've upgraded the wing leveler if I had it all to do over again.

My current 64 C came with an STEC.

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The shop that put my 430 in 6 years ago told me at the time that the wing lever was no good they took the controller out of my panel ! I am very thankful for all the knowledge that you all have . Will be getting all the estamets that I can ! Before I make up my mind , working on getting interment rating and single pilot IFR does not sound good without autopilot ! The Wife and I fly to the Bahamas every year and IFR out and back is going to beeee soooo much nicer than VFR .

,

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Stec30 is about the cheapest certified autopilot. Boshart Aviation in Batavia NY would be my choice to install. Autopilots are very expensive to add on. Sometimes it's cheaper to sell your plane and just buy another plane that already has an autopilot. I keep thinking about putting one in my plane. The $18,000.00 price tag is the only reason I haven't put one in my plane.

I met up with Jeff when I flew up in November. He did a radio install for me way back in the early 90s. How are their prices with others? Is Dunkirk and Erie Airways still doing installations?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Would like any suggestions and avionics shops . I live in NJ out of 7n7 .

As others have mentioned, any investments made to your E may make it easier to sell later (if you elect to do so) but you won't recoup your investment. I am one that did go down that path and happy I did.

With the recent talks about restructuring airplane certification, I would have told you to wait and see if a non certified unit would work. But that legislation is moving slower than a glacier and it looks like it just won't happen anytime soon.

If you are committed to the upgrade, I would look at the 55/60 series if you plan on using it for approaches.

There are a number of us near you. If you haven't flown in a plane with any of these autopilots, it might help to see them in action. I have the 60-2 and love it.

There is a NJ group on Yahoo. Sign up for it and join us for one of our lunches.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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A friend of mine has a C172 with the Brittain system, that was not working. He called the folks down there in Oklahoma and they fixed him up with everything he needed. Guarantee it cost less than $18k.

http://www.brittainautopilots.com

BTW, if panel space is a concern, and you get an STEC, you can't beat the System 30. No extra panel space required.

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Depends on your budget but I would definitely go with S-Tec whatever that maybe. Long term support is going to be a lot better and cheaper and it will help if you ever resell. Nothing against Brittain but it is a dead product with limits to support and upgrades.

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There is an Acu-Trak on ebay right now for $460. Heading bug for Accu-Flite $695 right now. Get an Accu-Flite (I paid $500 for mine) and altitude hold $<1000...Install 'em $2-3Grand and you have a GPS and heading system with altitude hold and over $10 grand in your pocket. Add an Icarus and you have GPS steer and still a lot of $ in your pocket....

Or pay a lot and get latest and greatest that's not a vacuum system.

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