Fix or replace my autopilot?

[Cruiser]

AI the AOPA convention in October, I asked an Avidyne rep about the DFC90.

 

He said it would cost Avidyne about $500,000 to get an STC for the Mooney.

 

He seemed to have doubts about that from a business point of view.

 

Since the DFC90 lists for 9995, they would probably have to sell over a 100 units just to cover that cost. 

 

It looks like a very good AP, but how many Mooney owners would buy one?

Here in lies the problem. What could the FAA possible need in addition to what has already been certified by Avidyne? 

[Marauder]

AI the AOPA convention in October, I asked an Avidyne rep about the DFC90. He said it would cost Avidyne about $500,000 to get an STC for the Mooney. He seemed to have doubts about that from a business point of view. Since the DFC90 lists for 9995, they would probably have to sell over a 100 units just to cover that cost. It looks like a very good AP, but how many Mooney owners would buy one?

Me...

[jetdriven]

500k? They take a donor aircraft and flight test it. Maybe 100k but that's what they did for the bonanza.

The king and century autopilots are attitude based. They take a roll input from the AI and know the bank angle. STEC autopilots only infer bank from turn rate, they are called rate-based autopilots. In turbulence the TC that controls them bangs around and they play catch up. Attitude-based autopilots are superior in turbulence because they know the bank angle

[Marauder]

My understanding is that the Avidyne AP offering is paired with the Aspen AHRS. I met a pilot today who had one installed on a Cirrus. He told me that the installation process includes a flight test checklist that he needed to complete successfully in order for the unit to be certified in his plane. 

[jetdriven]

Over on beech talk a guy is flying a DFC90 in a bonanza. Yet he approval for that is dragging on, so is the iFD 540 and 440. If Avidyne was as good at making hardware as excuses, they'd be selling a 4 engine 300 passenger jet that goes Mach 3 and gets 17 NMPG.

[Hondo]

Byron, 500K seemed high to me too.  

 

I have followed their online blog  http://www.avidynelive.com/default.asp%C2'>

AviJake, an Avidyne engineer, makes an honest effort to keep people informed,

but people are concerned about the delays.

 

Agree, the Century 41 AP is fine.  Just hope Matt doesn't retire anytime soon.