Dynon AP Might Just Happen...

[231MJ]

I ran across this video about the Dynon factory.  At the end of the video, they talk about the AP certification process and the J model testbed is prominently shown in the background.  So something is really going on!  Maybe it will happen in 2024...  Has anyone heard how close it might be?

Behind The Scenes at Dynon Avionics HQ (youtube.com)

 

 

[Hank]

As soon as the AP is approved for Vintage Mooneys, I'm going SkyView and AP. Won't do the panel by itself, Garmin AP won't play with the Dynon panel.

[KSMooniac]

They've had their own company J for years already and the project has been in work... Who knows when the FAA will bless it.

Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

[Will.iam]

I forget is dynon trying to certify an autopilot controller that will work with a preexisting system  like a kfc or stec or will they have their own system and servos like the garmin gfc?

[LANCECASPER]

9 hours ago, Will.iam said:

I forget is dynon trying to certify an autopilot controller that will work with a preexisting system  like a kfc or stec or will they have their own system and servos like the garmin gfc?

No, the Dynon is a new autopilot with new servos. https://www.dynoncertified.com/aml.php#appricing

https://www.dynoncertified.com/cessna-182-autopilot.php

https://www.dynoncertified.com/upcoming-approvals.php

You might have been thinking about the Bendix-King Aerocruze 230 which uses older king servos, or maybe the Avidyne DFC90 which uses STec servos (not approved for Mooney)

[LANCECASPER]

41 minutes ago, 231MJ said:

I ran across this video about the Dynon factory.  At the end of the video, they talk about the AP certification process and the J model testbed is prominently shown in the background.  So something is really going on!  Maybe it will happen in 2024...  Has anyone heard how close it might be?

Behind The Scenes at Dynon Avionics HQ (youtube.com)

 

 

Unfortunately that Mooney that they show hasn't been in test flight much: https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N4532H/history

[231MJ]

Oh crap.  Maybe it's in stealth mode for the flight tests??  In any case, thanks for the bubble burst and back to reality.  2025 it is.  Those of us flying Dynon are just getting better and better at hand flying.

[dominikos]

For those of you not receiving email from Dynon, they just got approval for Beechcraft Baron 58. This moves their Mooney project to the top of the list. 

https://www.dynoncertified.com/baron-58-autopilot.php

[Hank]

1 hour ago, dominikos said:

For those of you not receiving email from Dynon, they just got approval for Beechcraft Baron 58. This moves their Mooney project to the top of the list. 

https://www.dynoncertified.com/baron-58-autopilot.php

I emailed them back asking for an update on Vintage Mooneys. Their response: 

"Unfortunately, we do not have an update at this time."

  

[dominikos]

that’s their standard answer nowadays, they got in trouble missing the communicated dates… best is to check with one of their installers as they might have some insider knowledge…
I have Dynon M20J, still old autopilot, so not as good with manual flying as others. Expecting to be able install Mooney AP sometime next year.

[Shadrach]

7 hours ago, Hank said:

I emailed them back asking for an update on Vintage Mooneys. Their response: 

"Unfortunately, we do not have an update at this time."

  

The process is broken. I try to remain positive but there is little evidence to suggest it is warranted. 

[PT20J]

I met with a Dynon engineer yesterday. Dynon owns an early M20J and has been flying it as an autopilot test bed for a couple of years. The engineer wanted to verify some part numbers and measurements for the elevator and trim systems on a late model M20J and that's why he contacted me. I was glad to help. He told me that they hope to certify the M20J and M20K together. I don't know how far along they are on the K and the certification date is anyone's guess, but they are seriously working on it and they are making progress. He said the next in line was probably the Cherokees. He didn't mention other Mooney models. That's all I know.

[Will.iam]

I talked to a captain that has an RV with dynon system in his airplane. He said the dynon is not IFR certified. I. E. The dynon gps It needs a garmin 650 or 750 etc that is certified to make it IFR. Is that true?

[LANCECASPER]

3 hours ago, Will.iam said:

I talked to a captain that has an RV with dynon system in his airplane. He said the dynon is not IFR certified. I. E. The dynon gps It needs a garmin 650 or 750 etc that is certified to make it IFR. Is that true?

Just like a Garmin G3X or TXi or GI-275 needs a waas navigator for IFR enroute and approaches, the Dynon needs one too.

[PT20J]

The Garmin G3X, G5, and GI 275 include VFR GPS receivers, so no external GPS navigator is required for a certified VFR installation. 

[cliffy]

Now with the 737 MAX issues and the FAA having to drag all the inspectors they can into Boeing I wonder how that will settle with any 

future equipment approvals? 

I'll probably be hand flying my Dynon panel until I sell it when the grim reaper starts knocking, 

[PT20J]

3 hours ago, cliffy said:

Now with the 737 MAX issues and the FAA having to drag all the inspectors they can into Boeing I wonder how that will settle with any 

future equipment approvals? 

I'll probably be hand flying my Dynon panel until I sell it when the grim reaper starts knocking, 

Dynon is doing the certification through the FAA in Alaska, not Seattle.

[Will.iam]

10 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

Just like a Garmin G3X or TXi or GI-275 needs a waas navigator for IFR enroute and approaches, the Dynon needs one too.

So is my only options for IFR the garmin 430w 530w 650 750 or Avidyne 440 540?

 

[Mooney in Oz]

28 minutes ago, Will.iam said:

So is my only options for IFR the garmin 430w 530w 650 750 or Avidyne 440 540?

 

I notice in Dynon’s marketing ads of HDX panel pics, include either an Avidyne 540 or 440, so I would expect those to be on the approval list when the autopilot is released.

The GTNs will also probably make the approval list, but due to Garmin’s proprietary fetish, I’m guessing you might not have full functionality, such as with the Dynon autopilot VNAV, which really is a non issue. 

I’m also guessing the GNSs will be approved as there are so many in wild.

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, Will.iam said:

So is my only options for IFR the garmin 430w 530w 650 750 or Avidyne 440 540?

 

I believe all that it needs is just a GPS source. I wouldn't spend the money to install anything but a currently sold WAAS GPS. (If you're starting from scratch it costs just as much in labor to install an older 430/530, which is on its way out of being supported.) 

The Garmin 175 (WAAS GPS), the Garmin GNC 355 (WAAS GPS/COM), Garmin GNX375 (WAAS GPS/ADS-S in/out Transponder) should also work.

[cliffy]

I designed my Dynon panel so the next owner only has to install a G 175 to be fully IFR capable although it would be single source WAAS GPS only navigation (perfectly legal for all IFR navigation) no VOR-ILS-ADF etc. 

I figure if someone ACTUALLY did enough IMC flying that really needed all sources of navigation they need a different airplane than a 60 year old Mooney. 

[cliffy]

13 hours ago, PT20J said:

Dynon is doing the certification through the FAA in Alaska, not Seattle.

But I'll bet they're drawing inspectors from all over the country to cover Boeing  The FAA can't afford another mistake there. 

And its all from the Certification ranks.  TDY?

I'll bet there will be enough inspectors on the ground at Boeing that it'll look like an invasion.

Already other countries are not holding US certification as the Holy Grail as they once did. The 2 MAX crashes did it. 

[Will.iam]

Max is not over latest issue to surface uuugh. 

 

 

[Shadrach]

8 hours ago, cliffy said:

I designed my Dynon panel so the next owner only has to install a G 175 to be fully IFR capable although it would be single source WAAS GPS only navigation (perfectly legal for all IFR navigation) no VOR-ILS-ADF etc. 

I figure if someone ACTUALLY did enough IMC flying that really needed all sources of navigation they need a different airplane than a 60 year old Mooney. 

I very much like the look of that. .Reminds me of my old man’s 78 XJ6L. Just needs a few flakey Smith’s gauges and you’re there.

[cliffy]

How about Lucas Electrical - The Prince of Darkness in car electronics !

It matched the panels in my Rolls Royce:-) :-)