Upgrading single axis autopilot to two-axis (electric trim exists)

[emilpemil]

Oh wise Mooney experts...

For an older Mooney with a Century 41B autopilot (single axis, roll & heading) I wonder what the upgrade options are. The plane is equipped with electric trim. It seems to me the cheapest would be an autopilot that interfaces with the existing ap servo and electric trim. Do any such upgrades exist? Alternatively, any ideas for the cheapest way to get a working 2-axis autopilot in there?

Thanks!

[KSMooniac]

Oh wise Mooney experts...
For an older Mooney with a Century 41B autopilot (single axis, roll & heading) I wonder what the upgrade options are. The plane is equipped with electric trim. It seems to me the cheapest would be an autopilot that interfaces with the existing ap servo and electric trim. Do any such upgrades exist? Alternatively, any ideas for the cheapest way to get a working 2-axis autopilot in there?
Thanks!

At this point I'd wait for the GFC500 or similar competitor and replace the entire system.

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[emilpemil]

16 minutes ago, KSMooniac said:

At this point I'd wait for the GFC500 or similar competitor and replace the entire system.

That would be nice, though that sounds like a big task (25k + install?). Is there any indication that they are going to make it available for Mooney? It seemed to be 172,182 and Piper in that order. 

[INA201]

I think it will be 10 AMUs+- I bet all in for the 500.

http://www.chiefaircraft.com/avionics/garmin-aviation-systems/gfc-autopilot.html

[KSMooniac]

Yes, closer to 10 AMU including 1 G5 as an attitude indicator. Add another for HSI for a couple more AMU. TruTrak and Trio will also be lower cost options.

 

Garmin has their own J and R models...gotta figure they'll be covered early on.

 

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[LANCECASPER]

4 hours ago, emilpemil said:

Oh wise Mooney experts...

For an older Mooney with a Century 41B autopilot (single axis, roll & heading) I wonder what the upgrade options are. The plane is equipped with electric trim. It seems to me the cheapest would be an autopilot that interfaces with the existing ap servo and electric trim. Do any such upgrades exist? Alternatively, any ideas for the cheapest way to get a working 2-axis autopilot in there?

Thanks!

A Century 41 had heading, nav, coupled approaches, altitude hold.

 

 

 

A Century IIB had a wing leveler and a nav coupler plus a heading bug if I remember correctly. Sounds like you have a IIb.

 

Not sure of the cost but over the years it has been possible to add an STEC PSS (Pitch Stabilization System) and get altitude hold on a one axis system. But as others have mentioned with the newer autopilots coming out they will probably be much better options.

[Bartman]

I have the Century IIb with STEC 30 ALT and it works great, but it was added before my purchase. 

Can you buy a used STEC 30 ALT and will the STC allow installation in a different aircraft ?  I doubt it. 

[emilpemil]

Thanks for the replies!

You're right, it's an IIB and not a 41B. Good catch.

I also didn't know about the STEC PSS option (http://www.chiefaircraft.com/st-sys-60-pss.html). I'd have to get a quote for what it takes to install this. I still assume it'll need a separate servo.

[jetdriven]

The 30ALT is a good system. The PSS allows you to do an ILS glideslope. I think the 30ALT is around 8-9k laid in. 

[bradp]

On 11/16/2017 at 8:53 PM, jetdriven said:

The 30ALT is a good system. The PSS allows you to do an ILS glideslope. I think the 30ALT is around 8-9k laid in. 

And at that point you're probably better off doing the GFC 500 or other experimental setup.