Century IIB autopilot

[nels]

Can this auto pilot be coupled to a Garmin or other Gps system? 

What is the difference between a Century II and a IIB?

Edited June 18, 2016 by nels

[Steve Dawson]

I have the IIB and yes it can be coupled for heading and approach modes. I believe that the II model has only wings levelling and not the approach mode. 

[nels]

Can the IIB be updated to add alt hold? The plane I'm looking at has manual trim.

[nels]

2 hours ago, Steve Dawson said:

I have the IIB and yes it can be coupled for heading and approach modes. I believe that the II model has only wings levelling and not the approach mode. 

Any additions needed to couple to the gps?

[cnoe]

12 minutes ago, nels said:

Can the IIB be updated to add alt hold? The plane I'm looking at has manual trim.

It requires a separate system to include altitude hold like the STEC 60PSS or similar.

If you only have the capability to follow a heading bug you'll likely need a radio coupler add-on to interface with the GPS.

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Pages from CENTIIB.pdf

[kris_adams]

21 hours ago, nels said:

Can the IIB be updated to add alt hold? The plane I'm looking at has manual trim.

I have the same autopilot and it is coupled to an STEC 30 altitude hold.  Works perfectly.

[nels]

Just now, Kris_Adams said:

I have the same autopilot and it is coupled to an STEC 30 altitude hold.  Works perfectly.

Kris, what was the cost for that addition?

[kris_adams]

Hey Nels, it's one of the few things the previous owner put in that's still in the plane.   Let me look at my documents and see what I can find.

[kris_adams]

I looked through my records and don't see any pricing receipts.  I think the single access stec 30 is around 6AMU not including installation.

[nels]

5 minutes ago, Kris_Adams said:

I looked through my records and don't see any pricing receipts.  I think the single access stec 30 is around 6AMU not including installation.

Kris, thanks for that info. That will have to wait awhile. I think the avionics will have to happen first. It appears I've bought an older but nice clean 201. Just trying to figure out how to spend a little more money without feeling guilty.

[kpaul]

Just now, nels said:

Kris, thanks for that info. That will have to wait awhile. I think the avionics will have to happen first. It appears I've bought an older but nice clean 201. Just trying to figure out how to spend a little more money without feeling guilty.

You will only feel guilty if you install it and then don't fly enough to enjoy the benifits, or sell the plane in short order since you will not recoupe the $$.  Otherwise the safety and convience on autopilots, WAAS, weather all outweigh the cost IMHO.

My F has the GTN650, Century 41 W/ GPSS, JPI EDM 700, GTX 330ES.  I am looking at what upgrades make the most sense from a way to decrease the single pilot IFR workload.  It will probably be an Aspen, if the financial advisor (wife) agrees that is.

[bradp]

I have a CIIb coupled to Nav/GPS.  

I'm not sure how much a ALT hold without vertical guidance would benefit me.  The plane trims great, and if it's bumpy I'm either riding out excursions or am hand flying.  

 

Now if if I had an autopilot that would do couples approaches that would be a game changer. .... 

[Marauder]

Just now, bradp said:

I have a CIIb coupled to Nav/GPS.  

I'm not sure how much a ALT hold without vertical guidance would benefit me.  The plane trims great, and if it's bumpy I'm either riding out excursions or am hand flying.  

 

Now if if I had an autopilot that would do couples approaches that would be a game changer. .... 

I wonder if there is a reasonably priced upgrade to get vertical guidance on the Century series. I love having this capability on my STEC.

[cnoe]

Reasonably priced? Sure, if you're flying an experimental. My STEC 60PSS flies an ILS or LPV down to minimums pretty well but luckily it was in my J when I bought it. I wouldn't spend that much money on at upgrade at this time until the whole Part 23 rewrite shakes out. I'm hoping for a bunch of new AFFORDABLE stuff in the next 2-3 years.

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[nels]

On June 19, 2016 at 7:16 AM, Steve Dawson said:

I have the IIB and yes it can be coupled for heading and approach modes. I believe that the II model has only wings levelling and not the approach mode. 

Steve. I have never had an auto pilot so when you say the century II had wing leveling only and the Century IIB approach mode, does that mean the IIB has aileron and rudder control and the II only has aileron control? Is one a single axes and the other a two axis? Sorry for the ignorance.

[Marauder]

2 hours ago, nels said:

Steve. I have never had an auto pilot so when you say the century II had wing leveling only and the Century IIB approach mode, does that mean the IIB has aileron and rudder control and the II only has aileron control? Is one a single axes and the other a two axis? Sorry for the ignorance.

Nels -- a single axis autopilot is aileron control only, a two axis autopilot is one where the ailerons and elevator are controlled. Some planes also have a yaw damper and others will have rudder trim. The yaw damper is help with the swaying of the tail that some plane exhibit. And rudder trim is used to offset yawing either during take-off or like in my case, when I get up to cruise speed (I will see the ball half out). 

My autopilot, an STEC 60-2 is a two axis autopilot that controls the ailerons and elevator only. I don't have a yaw damper or rudder trim. When an autopilot is referred approach capable, it means that it will be a two axis that can control the elevator for the approach.

Creating confusion is the status of the trim. In planes with elevator control, the trimming of the plane may require the pilot to adjust the trim wheel. If trim is required, the autopilot will usually provide some indication lights to show the need for trim. On my 60-2, I have autotrim. The autotrim will spin the trim wheel to remove the yoke pressure. If the autotrim fails, I would get the trim up or down indications like a plane without autotrim.

On older Mooneys like mine, came from the factory with a wing leveler. It was essentially a single axis autopilot that was always on and never tracked any kind of navigation signal. It just kept the wings level. I don't know the Century series well enough, but the Century II may be just a single axis autopilot capable of tracking a navigation signal. And it sounds like the IIB is a two axis.

Hope this helps.

[bradp]

IIB is a single axis autopilot.  It just has a nav input.  

[Marauder]

Based on what Brad just shared, I decided to look up the Century series. The IIB is a single axis capable of tracking nav signals including a localizer. Probably that is why it was referenced as approach capable. It can't track the glideslope.

http://www.aeroclubgranville.fr/aviation/pdf/Century-IIB-Autopilot-Manual.pdf

The Century II looks like an earlier version of the IIB. Check out page 1-6 from this manual: http://www.jackscott.org.uk/aviation/manuals/Century-II,-IIB-and-III-Service-Manual.pdf

[N9201A]

Marauder thanks for posting the manuals. This is very helpful.

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[INA201]

I recently had my IIB sent off and reworked and was asking about altitude hold.  According to my avionics guy you can add an Stec30 altitude hold for around 6amu.  I was told you can later upgrade to the full Stec30 later on for another 6amu if desired.  I bought the plane last August with the autopilot inop.  I'm really looking forward to getting it dialed in.  

[jetdriven]

I thought it was closer to 10-12k laid in.  Anyways I like my S-tec 30ALT

[clh]

6 hours ago, jetdriven said:

I thought it was closer to 10-12k laid in.  Anyways I like my S-tec 30ALT

Mine was just short of 8.