3100 Autopilot - S-TEC Autopilot - Program Details

[Barry LeBlanc]

On 8/13/2018 at 11:13 AM, Barry LeBlanc said:

Hi,

        As I was locating the original 19 owners that signed up for the STC kick off to inform them of the start date,  the owners dwindle down to 8 commitments.  I need  8 to 10 committed owners to step up with a non-reversible purchase order to maintain the STC opportunity date.  This window will close on June 30th. The STC date would be pushed out  indefinitely  if I can not locate the additional 8 to 10 owners. 

If you can call your fellow Mooney owner and ask them to consider the program below. My cell phone is answered to 10PM every night till June 30th. Please call if you have any questions. 

Genesys Aerosystems is looking for 8- 10 owners to either upgrade or installs a new S-TEC 3100 installation. We would need a commitment total of 15 model owners to proceed with the STC. The commitment would be in the form of a purchase order to a Genesys Authorized Installation Center.

 

Genesys Aerosystems S-TEC 3100 is a fully featured, attitude-based autopilot that gives you a list of workload-reducing and safety-enhancing capabilities that were previously unavailable on aftermarket autopilots. Compatible with advanced digital sources & EFIS displays from Garmin, Aspen and others, the S-TEC 3100 delivers unmatched features and benefits: 

• Precise, digital flight control for every phase of flight
• 2-axis (3-axis option on some models)
• Automatic Trim included
• Envelope Protection/Alerting
• Straight and Level Recovery
• Precision Approaches/Missed Approaches
• Indicated Airspeed Hold
• Altitude Pre-select
• Moreover, much more!

For the owners who currently have an S-TEC autopilot installed, the upgrade price will depend on the equipment already installed. The 3100 AP would be an outstanding bargain to get the benefits of a fully integrated digital autopilot, especially considering the additional safety features which it will bring. Upgrades start at $9,995 retail.

For the owners who currently do not have an S-TEC autopilot installed. The 2-axis S-TEC 3100 is $19,995 retail for a new digital flight control system, which includes altitude hold, auto trim and altitude pre-select, as well as new features such as envelope protection and straight and level mode. The 3-axis version adds Yaw Damper and is $24,995 retail.

Genesys Aerosystems S-TEC autopilot STC process is determined by which model owners express interest.

The most significant benefit to submitting a purchase order (early) is that we will extend the 2-year warranty to 3 years for all new parts from the factory (new installs and new controllers/servos). Also, we are offering a 2-year warranty on any currently installed S-TEC servos. No matter how old they are.

The extended warranty offer is only valid until we gain the STC. Once that occurs, the regular warranty period will be offered. 

Please Visit our website: 

Product Link - https://genesys-aerosystems.com/products/s-tec-3100-digital-flight-control-system

Pilots guide link - https://genesys-aerosystems.com/sites/default/files/87325.PDF

Brochure link - http://genesys-aerosystems.com/sites/default/files/files/GenesysAerosystems_S-TEC_3100__Digital_Autopilot_Brochure_2017 (002).pdf

If you have questions or would like to find your nearest Genesys-Aerosystems Dealer, please email or call me direct:

Barry LeBlanc

Genesys Aerosystems Regional Sales Manager

Cell Phone: 940.327.0707

Email: Barry.LeBlanc@genesys-aerosystems.com

 

S-TEC 3100POH.PDF 13.64 MB · 19 downloads

Hi,

       First of all, I was under the impression that the 3100 and the G1000 was tested with a Cessna A/C, I was wrong and do apologize for the misinformation. Below is from the design team. I am under a deadline and been granted till next Monday , July 8th, 2019 to come up with 7 to 8 more purchase orders, or my management will place the Mooney’s off the STC schedule. If you have any influence with the G1000 crowd, please ask them to act now. It is a short week. 

Please share and forward this information via email with your fellow G1000 owners.  

I have scuttled my vacation plans and working to contact every registered Mooney owner I can find. From now till Sunday you can reach me via email or cell: 940.327.0707 

Have a great 4^th.  

Thank You,

Barry LeBlanc

Genesys Aerosystems

Regional Sales Manager

M: 940.327.0707

 

 

 

Below is a description of the proposed interface between the Garmin G1000 system and the S.pdf

[flyingcheesehead]

On 6/23/2019 at 4:39 PM, pwnel said:

Yip, if I compare this to Don Kaye's experience with the GFC500 thus far it's a very clear favorite too.

There's a bias in exposure here. There are no 3100s on Mooneys yet, which is why you're not hearing of any issues here.

However, my local avionics shop has had so much trouble installing the 3100 on a C340 that they're unlikely to ever sell another one. Saw a thread about some similar issues on another plane over at BeechTalk. The 3100 is basically trying to kill them on the test flights.

It'll probably remain that the 3100 is an OK solution for those who already have an S-TEC installed, while the rest of us will end up on Garmin. King is simply too inept to even get a product on the market.

[gsxrpilot]

And yet I've seen several videos on youtube of 3100's flying with very happy owners/pilots. Meanwhile, the GFC500 is giving Don fits.

Autopilots are complex and we've seen plenty of avionics shops exposed for lack of expertise and skill on much simpler projects than autopilots. I think the jury is still out. Likely both the GFC500 and the 3100 are fine autopilots and will work well when properly installed and configured. But clearly not every avionics shop is up to the task.

[Jeff_S]

Hello Everyone,

I had a nice conversation with Barry this morning. He called me up to let me know that due to a lack of perceived demand (only 8 confirmed POs according to Barry) they have decided to push off the Mooney STC indefinitely.  He went through the count of interested parties as he knew it, and said that of the original 22 POs that came in, many of these have dwindled off due to airplane sale, selecting Garmin instead, death of owner, etc.  Genesys has determined that with bigger demand from other airframes in their pipeline, they have to focus on those instead. As a software business person, I can't argue that point.

Most of my time was spent working with Genesys on the G1000 interface elements, and this is problematic for those of us with the G1000/55x combo.  The short form of the story is that Genesys could implement many of the 3100 features on the G1000, but two areas were problematic. The first was getting annunciation from the 3100 to the G1000, and given all the new modes in the 3100 that the 55x didn't have, they pretty much decided to NOT annunciate any modes on the G1000.  That was probably a livable solution.

However, the (potential) inability to utilize altitude preselect from the G1000 to drive 3100 behavior has proven to be a much stickier wicket.  My comments to them were that if G1000 couldn't drive altitude behavior in the A/P, for manual preselect as well as the programmed altitudes in the approaches, then this would be an unacceptable user interface and I would not pursue installation. I think they agreed.  And the time/cost of further exploring this solution is one of the reasons they decided to hold off for now.

Barry did say there may still be light on the horizon vis a vis the G1000.  The exercise they've gone through so far has furthered their general knowledge of the G1000 interfaces, and they have other groups (including one training firm that has 50+ Pipers with G1000/55x) that they are still talking with.  There may still be a solution, but for now it is on the back burner.

Barry asked that I share this with the group, so I have discharged that duty.  I am somewhat disappointed with the current resolution, but on the other hand, the 55x still works well and Barry said they expect to be supporting it for 20+ years.  In the meantime, none of this impacts the ability of my beautiful Conti IO-550 from aggressively purring through the sky!

Cheers,

Jeff

[Doug Tellef]

On 7/6/2019 at 4:26 PM, flyingcheesehead said:

There's a bias in exposure here. There are no 3100s on Mooneys yet, which is why you're not hearing of any issues here.

However, my local avionics shop has had so much trouble installing the 3100 on a C340 that they're unlikely to ever sell another one. Saw a thread about some similar issues on another plane over at BeechTalk. The 3100 is basically trying to kill them on the test flights.

It'll probably remain that the 3100 is an OK solution for those who already have an S-TEC installed, while the rest of us will end up on Garmin. King is simply too inept to even get a product on the market.

We are working closely with our dealer network to ensure that all installations go as smooth as possible. As with any new autopilot on the market, there is occasionally some ramp-up time for dealers to streamline the installation process, especially with significant technology changes and improvements. We have shipped many S-TEC 3100 autopilots with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both installing dealers and end users. In the rare occasions that issues do come up, we work directly with the installer to resolve them as we have with any of our systems over the last 40 years. If you wouldn't mind, please PM me with the name of the shop that is having issues so I can ensure that we are in contact with them in to resolve any troubles they might be facing.

[KSMooniac]

I've got to ask as nothing more than a curious observer (not a G1000 owner) but how does Genesys NOT have intimate knowledge of the G1000 interface given that there are lots of G1000/55x combos in the wild? Was all of the engineering from back then lost? Everyone leave the company?

I'm a current STEC-30 owner that wasn't even tempted by the 3100 at the 10k+ price, given questionable/unknown integration with PFD products and retaining old servos when you can get all new and modern stuff in the GFC 500 for less money. (I'm ignoring installation costs intentionally for my own situation).

Anyway, that's my feedback for Genesys...I'm planning to check it out in person at OSH but I'm leaning strongly to a different solution at this point, but still shopping.

Sent from my LG-US996 using Tapatalk

[Danb]

It all seems like a moot point now, Genesys has moved Mooney to the back of the bus. With Osh coming up all eyes will be looking at alternative equipment. Shamefully those of us G-1000 drivers who purchased there plane either new or close to new were not given proper information in regard to WAAS,ADSB or the fact a new plane was on the horizon Acclaim. I found out about the Acclaim a year or so after buying my Bravo. At the minimum we had no clue about the GFC700 cost etc, let alone about WAAS and ADSB so instead of offering those of us who helped Mooney buy there last inventory(when the company was in dire straights), with a company cost on the GFC700 we got well screwed. We know who we are and how Mooney treated us and continue to do so, we’re begging for updated software and so on.

Wonder why the plastic planes are selling while the outdated metal ones are struggling.

 

[Jeff_S]

19 hours ago, KSMooniac said:

I've got to ask as nothing more than a curious observer (not a G1000 owner) but how does Genesys NOT have intimate knowledge of the G1000 interface given that there are lots of G1000/55x combos in the wild? Was all of the engineering from back then lost? Everyone leave the company?

 

So I'm not an expert on avionics software by any stretch, but what I have gleaned is that Garmin and Mooney did the work to certify the G1000/55x combo, utilizing the known specs of the 55x.  A lot of the 55x behavior is really driven by the G1000, especially in terms of the VNAV signals sent to the A/P.  So that is one source of the conflict with the new 3100, which has its own VNAV algorithms which could conflict with the G1000's.  Again, there are potential solutions for this (you can write code for anything), but Genesys has decided to pursue other business opportunities for now.

[Amelia]

18 hours ago, Danb said:

It all seems like a moot point now, Genesys has moved Mooney to the back of the bus. With Osh coming up all eyes will be looking at alternative equipment. Shamefully those of us G-1000 drivers who purchased there plane either new or close to new were not given proper information in regard to WAAS,ADSB or the fact a new plane was on the horizon Acclaim. I found out about the Acclaim a year or so after buying my Bravo. At the minimum we had no clue about the GFC700 cost etc, let alone about WAAS and ADSB so instead of offering those of us who helped Mooney buy there last inventory(when the company was in dire straights), with a company cost on the GFC700 we got well screwed. We know who we are and how Mooney treated us and continue to do so, we’re begging for updated software and so on.

Wonder why the plastic planes are selling while the outdated metal ones are struggling.

 

So, now that the S-tec 3100 for Mooney is no longer an option, what are my options? I am not happy with my S-tec 30. And I have all this set-aside $$$$$ burning a hole in my pocket. 

[Niko182]

4 minutes ago, Amelia said:

So, now that the S-tec 3100 for Mooney is no longer an option, what are my options? I am not happy with my S-tec 30. And I have all this set-aside $$$$$ burning a hole in my pocket. 

Gfc500

[MIm20c]

1 hour ago, Amelia said:

So, now that the S-tec 3100 for Mooney is no longer an option, what are my options? I am not happy with my S-tec 30. And I have all this set-aside $$$$$ burning a hole in my pocket. 

With $$$$ burning through your pocket just triple the budget and put in a Garmin panel, problem solved   

I’m really bummed that we got kicked to the curb but understand the logic. The unfortunate ones are those with an aspen system and a current stec as well as the g1000 owners.

If I was looking for a late model long body this would cement my preference to a BK system that might give another 10-15 years of reliable service.  

 

[gsxrpilot]

All the Mooney's with a STEC autopilot just took a hit on their valuation.

[Bob_Belville]

According to my avionics shop who talked to Genesys today, it’s still possible that the Mooney STC might still happen in 2019.

 

If you have a STEC in a Mooney and are in the market for the 3100 please let me know. Preferably by pm rather than on the public forum. If your MS identity does not include your name and tail # please include same. I will compile and get the info into management’s hands. I believe there has to be more interest than Genesys sales has turned up. I would really appreciate the word getting to your Mooney/STEC friends who do not do forums. I suspect there are scores, probably hundreds, of prospects out there.

 

Time is of the essence.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

 

 

[flyingcheesehead]

On 7/8/2019 at 12:23 PM, Doug Tellef said:

We are working closely with our dealer network to ensure that all installations go as smooth as possible. As with any new autopilot on the market, there is occasionally some ramp-up time for dealers to streamline the installation process, especially with significant technology changes and improvements. We have shipped many S-TEC 3100 autopilots with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both installing dealers and end users. In the rare occasions that issues do come up, we work directly with the installer to resolve them as we have with any of our systems over the last 40 years. If you wouldn't mind, please PM me with the name of the shop that is having issues so I can ensure that we are in contact with them in to resolve any troubles they might be facing.

I was over there yesterday and asked about it, and they have gotten it resolved now. 

It also looks like they're selling a fair number of 3100s for planes that have an existing S-TEC, especially the twins because Garmin's price advantage evaporates when you have to buy the GFC 600 instead of the 500.

[rcwagner]

I have a J model, that was previously damaged and has am M model tail cone.  My local avionics shop has installed a GFC500, but will not release it because the STC does not cover modified airframes, even though they have STCs for J and an M models.  The installation tech even sent them the verbiage and instructions on how to revise the STC for my airplane.  Garmin's Engineering Manager won't do it, totally refused.  Now the GFC500 comes out and I am left without an autopilot.  The shop is suggesting an STEC 55X, but that seems like old technology to be putting money into.  Any suggestions?

[Doug Tellef]

56 minutes ago, rcwagner said:

I have a J model, that was previously damaged and has am M model tail cone.  My local avionics shop has installed a GFC500, but will not release it because the STC does not cover modified airframes, even though they have STCs for J and an M models.  The installation tech even sent them the verbiage and instructions on how to revise the STC for my airplane.  Garmin's Engineering Manager won't do it, totally refused.  Now the GFC500 comes out and I am left without an autopilot.  The shop is suggesting an STEC 55X, but that seems like old technology to be putting money into.  Any suggestions?

The 55X, while being an analog rate based system, is still a very capable autopilot solution that we make, sell, and support daily!  It is a very popular option, and one of the best parts of the job is going to the trade shows and hearing from all the owners that stop by the booth just to say how happy they are with their 55X. I would ensure that your shop is able to do the 55X with your specific aircraft concerns, but it sounds like it if that is what they are recommending.  Please feel free to give me a call to discuss your specific application.  What dealer are you going through?   

[rcwagner]

I have been working with Western Aviation in Spokane, Washington.

[rcwagner]

What is the status of the STEC 3100 for the Mooney?

[Airways]

15 minutes ago, rcwagner said:

What is the status of the STEC 3100 for the Mooney?

Don’t ask 

[Doug Tellef]

That project has been put on hold due to a lack of confirmed PO's from owners, we had it scheduled to begin last month, however when we called all the dealers/owners to confirm that the owners were ready to move forward we had many say that they were going to wait.  We would love to move forward with the program as soon as we can get at least 15 owners with confirmed PO's.

[bob865]

@Doug Tellef I may have missed it from eariler in the thread.  What is the cost?  I'm in need of an autopilot for my plane.  I currently only have the default Mooney PC. 

[Niko182]

Couldnt you possibly get a field approval for the gfc500? Since the stc applies to both an M and a J and you have a mix of both?

[Doug Tellef]

18 minutes ago, bob865 said:

@Doug Tellef I may have missed it from eariler in the thread.  What is the cost?  I'm in need of an autopilot for my plane.  I currently only have the default Mooney PC. 

Bob, the 55X is a very popular option for Mooney owners and is available for a list price of $19,995 for a full system.  For owners who have another S-TEC system such as a 30 installed there is an upgrade path to the 55X that uses the installed servos to help save some money.  In either case you will want to talk to your S-TEC dealer to get a quote including installation.  You can find a dealer in your area on this link:

https://genesys-aerosystems.com/dealer-locator

 

Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of further assistance.  Thank you!

[rcwagner]

We have exhausted the options for the GFC500 for my aircraft.  Garmin's service sucks.  They really don't care, they don't have to.

[Doug Tellef]

Sorry to hear that!  I know we have been in contact with your dealer and will get you taken care of!