ProtoFly Posted September 15, 2025 Report Posted September 15, 2025 2 hours ago, MarquezJC said: Anyone have a link to the STC? Not able to find it on Duncan's website. I am trying to verify if the STC covers the 66 F model. If so, does anyone know of good installation shops in the eastern US region? I'm located in VA. My last emails with Duncan say that only the 'long body' is covered by the STC, and that they are working with BK to get the new STC approved for C through K models. I've asked Duncan for an update, as I'm ready to purchase as soon as the STC is updated. 1
ProtoFly Posted September 17, 2025 Report Posted September 17, 2025 On 9/15/2025 at 5:02 PM, hammdo said: This isn't the actual STC. I've emailed Duncan Aviation, who hold the STC, for clarification, as they've repeatedly told me that they had to withdraw the STC for Mooney's earlier than the 'L' model - e.g., only 'Long Body' Mooneys are currently covered. To be clear, I'm REALLY hoping the issue with the brackets have been resolved and the STC is cleared for all models....
ProtoFly Posted September 17, 2025 Report Posted September 17, 2025 Just to update my own comments: Duncan has confirmed that the STC is still good for all Mooneys, but there's a bit of a catch: One or more of the brackets for the servos will need to be modified, depending on the airframe. SOME A&P/IA's are OK with this, and consider it to be a minor modification, and some may not be OK with this. Updated brackets are in the 'approval' process, so be aware that you may or may not have to get a field approval for the bracket modifications. Thinking it might be time for me to order up an autopilot...would like to get it installed sooner rather than later, as long as I don't have to go the 'field approval' route.... 1
MarquezJC Posted September 27, 2025 Report Posted September 27, 2025 Anyone know of an A&P/IA around VA that has done this and was successful with the field mod approval?
cliffy Posted September 27, 2025 Author Report Posted September 27, 2025 If the IA is OK with using the "minor mod" procedure for the changes on the brackets no other "field approval" is required AFAIK. Even the included directions show how you have to "modify" the mount tray to fit around the flap cross shaft to clearance it. They also give a letter authorizing the modification of the tray IF the IA agrees to accept it for the 337 sign off after an A&P has signed it off as a Minor Modification in the log book.. Shortening the tray is just another minor modification to the tray itself IMO, just as cutting the flap shaft clearance holes are. Ask the IA that will sign off the install how he feels. Basically the 337 says something like-"Installed AeroCruze 100 A/P in NXXXX with reference to STC so and so - ground checks OK". A "Field Approval" is totally different than a "minor modification" that any A&P can sign off.
hammdo Posted September 27, 2025 Report Posted September 27, 2025 ^^^ This. My IA/AP sees this as minor mods and well within the scope allowed with the STC… No need to wait if you want this autopilot and have a shop to do it… Just pay what is needed for the minor alteration… -Don
McMooney Posted January 7 Report Posted January 7 WOOT, Birdy is done. AeroCruze 100 in and working, will update as really learn the system. 4
anthonydesmet Posted January 14 Report Posted January 14 Also tracking this thread in need of an autopilot. Did we ever get a rough “all in” install cost and have any mid body owners started the install. Would also like a PIREP on AI or shop in Florida or Texas who have tackled a few
Jakes Simmons Posted January 15 Report Posted January 15 Just picked up my ‘76 Ranger from Aero Valley LLC in Paul’s Valley OK with its freshly installed Aero Cruze. I’ll do a better PIREP after a couple more flights to gain experience in regular use. Flying OK to OH, I just wanted to get straight home and let it fly the magenta line all the way back. Initial impression is it’s worth the money I spent. All in about 10k. G500 with associated equipment was 30+. So about 60-70% of the performance of the Garmin at roughly a third the cost. Real test will be support five years from now. 8
McMooney Posted February 8 Report Posted February 8 Quick update on the AeroCruze 100: I’ve put about 2,500 miles on it so far. Can’t speak to long‑term durability yet, but functionally this thing is fantastic. Aside from needing a GPS source to drive the autopilot, it’s easily the best money I’ve spent on Birdy… you know, ignoring annuals and anything that prevents me from dying. Total cost was around $12k installed, with the autopilot itself running about $8k from Duncan. Their service has been excellent — any issues have been fixed within hours, which in aviation time is basically faster than light. I was originally worried about what I’d be giving up by choosing the AeroCruze over the pricier GFC 500, but after putting real miles on it, I’m honestly not sure what the GFC could do that would be meaningfully better. I actually prefer the AeroCruze’s simpler setup. The avionics shop, however, did not share that enthusiasm — apparently the installation involved a heroic amount of cussing. Performance: It does exactly what you’d expect. Tracks like it’s on rails, holds altitude perfectly, plays nicely with the G5s and GPS, and has one big advantage over the GFC 500: it can run independently of the rest of the avionics. Kind of like the old Brittain system, just not full‑time. A few operational notes: Set your altitude before startup. This mostly affects folks with G5s. In “EXT” mode, the AeroCruze gets altitude from the G5s — great until you switch to GPSS. If you didn’t set the altitude beforehand, the autopilot may decide you should be somewhere very different and start climbing or descending like it knows better. Lube your control yokes. I had a slight porpoise at first — nothing dramatic, but enough to make me wonder if I could tune it out. While poking around, I realized the yokes didn’t feel smooth. Probably never noticed because the Brittain was always masking it. Reached under the panel and found the yoke shafts were basically wearing a coat of sticky gunk. Cleaned and lubed them per my IA (insert all the jokes here). After that: test flight was perfect. No more porpoising, and the plane felt amazing to hand‑fly. 3
hammdo Posted February 8 Report Posted February 8 Great news! On the altitude/baro updates: when I get a new altimeter setting, I set it in the G5 and my altimeter, sync heading on G5, switch AP to g5, give it a couple of seconds, press mode to get the update from the G5, then switch AP back to gpss, hit mode again — it’s easier than it sounds. Or, you do alt twice and set altitude when in track or GPSS mode. I default startup to G5 that has the altitude corrected. I also set my preselected altitude in the G5, then press alt on the AeroCruze and set. Ive tested approach mode and TOGO when coupled and going miss (press alt while coupled approach). It’s a very capable AP… -Don 2
ProtoFly Posted February 9 Report Posted February 9 My kit arrived a week ago. It won't be installed until annual in March, which is OK, since it's been too cold here to do anything in the hangar. (seriously, this is the longest number of days that I can remember that didn't hit the 'freezing' temp. We've seen -9F, and for the last couple weeks, nights have been single digits to single digits below zero F). Glad to hear all the positive results. Makes me feel better about my purchase.
gwav8or Posted February 9 Report Posted February 9 On 1/15/2026 at 1:09 PM, Jakes Simmons said: Just picked up my ‘76 Ranger from Aero Valley LLC in Paul’s Valley OK with its freshly installed Aero Cruze. I’ll do a better PIREP after a couple more flights to gain experience in regular use. Flying OK to OH, I just wanted to get straight home and let it fly the magenta line all the way back. Initial impression is it’s worth the money I spent. All in about 10k. G500 with associated equipment was 30+. So about 60-70% of the performance of the Garmin at roughly a third the cost. Real test will be support five years from now. I used Aero Valley for avionics in my Mooney a couple years ago. Chris and Jeremy are great guys! I was very happy with their work all around. All in at 10k? That's parts and labor? Two servos? Not a bad price at all. Once my Mooney gets back from getting the corrosion issue fixed, I plan on visiting them and getting quotes for the AeroCruze and an engine monitor.
LANCECASPER Posted February 9 Report Posted February 9 1 hour ago, ProtoFly said: (seriously, this is the longest number of days that I can remember that didn't hit the 'freezing' temp. We've seen -9F, and for the last couple weeks, nights have been single digits to single digits below zero F). You're describing Summer where I grew up in Northern Minnesota . . lol. J/K It's been a cold winter this year in a lot of places. Two weeks ago here in TX it got down to 14 with two inches of ice then snow on top of that. Of course yesterday we were back to 80. 1
phxcobraz Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 Hey all, we just finished install of an Aerocruze 100 in my M20C. Confirmed all pitch and roll functions are working, and performed the setup per the Mooney install instructions. Have it setup connected to a pair of G5s and a switch to use the 430W. Were seeing massive pitch changes when trying to capture an altitude bugged on the G5 or use ALT HOLD/alt pre-select on the AC. Like +/-1500fpm. Never seems to settle on the altitude, it just blows past it and pitches the opposite direction and blows past it again. Roll is working great, despite the pitch changes, it stayed dead on in either heading or GPSS mode. Any tips on a fix? I need to play with SVS mode some more, as I am wondering if that could be causing it to blow past. We set the default VS in the setup to 400fpm. We have a ticket out to Mid Continent for it as of last night as well. 1
hammdo Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 What are your vertical settings? What year C model? I had to tweak mine since I have speed mods. Also, I reduce (climbing) or add (descending) power when alt hold first shows to ease the transition. My trim system has been gone through by @Sabremech when he had it and I’m confident there are no issues there. My G5’s have the latest Garmin software updates so you may also want to verify that… https://www8.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=K10-00280-00 How does it work in GPSS mode? -Don 1
phxcobraz Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 19 minutes ago, hammdo said: What are your vertical settings? What year C model? I had to tweak mine since I have speed mods. Also, I reduce (climbing) or add (descending) power when alt hold first shows to ease the transition. My trim system has been gone through by @Sabremech when he had it and I’m confident there are no issues there. My G5’s have the latest Garmin software updates so you may also want to verify that… https://www8.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=K10-00280-00 How does it work in GPSS mode? -Don We set the default VS to 400fpm. 1963 C. A few speed mods but nothing that should change much. I would look at the G5 software update, but it does it when just running off the AC also. In GPSS mode it follows the flight plan fine, but the altitude never captures and oscillates past it, so same as any mode. 1
hammdo Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 Could be the head unit. Mid Continent is the right call. They will also ck the settings… -Don 1
cliffy Posted February 26 Author Report Posted February 26 Just a shot in the dark- did you swap (reverse) the pitch control wire leads as it shows in the drawings? This needs to be done if it hasn't been done. It could be reverse sensing rather than capturing. Secondly, you can't just set up the system and reverse the sense in the soft ware because if you do the pitch trim indicator will show opposite of what it needs. 1
phxcobraz Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 30 minutes ago, cliffy said: Just a shot in the dark- did you swap (reverse) the pitch control wire leads as it shows in the drawings? This needs to be done if it hasn't been done. It could be reverse sensing rather than capturing. Secondly, you can't just set up the system and reverse the sense in the soft ware because if you do the pitch trim indicator will show opposite of what it needs. I think we had reverse sense set to N, but I will have to go back and look through the settings again. My A&P is troubleshooting it today to see if he can get it sorted out. The pitch actions and trim notifications seemed accurate according to the direction it was trying to go to meet the alt. Also this is running version 4 of the AC software. Not sure if you had version 3. The manual states reverse sensing isn't an issue on version 4 and doesn't require swapping the leads on the servo.
hammdo Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 May want to try this: How do I balance the gyro board after updating the autopilot? To balance the gyro board after updating the autopilot, hold the center button for 45 seconds. This ensures the gyro setup is complete, which is important for preventing issues with roll and pitch when engaging the autopilot. You’ll need to do this after entering setup mode… -Don
LANCECASPER Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 5 hours ago, phxcobraz said: Hey all, we just finished install of an Aerocruze 100 in my M20C. Confirmed all pitch and roll functions are working, and performed the setup per the Mooney install instructions. Have it setup connected to a pair of G5s and a switch to use the 430W. Were seeing massive pitch changes when trying to capture an altitude bugged on the G5 or use ALT HOLD/alt pre-select on the AC. Like +/-1500fpm. Never seems to settle on the altitude, it just blows past it and pitches the opposite direction and blows past it again. Roll is working great, despite the pitch changes, it stayed dead on in either heading or GPSS mode. Any tips on a fix? I need to play with SVS mode some more, as I am wondering if that could be causing it to blow past. We set the default VS in the setup to 400fpm. We have a ticket out to Mid Continent for it as of last night as well. How many Aerocruze 100 installs had your installer done on Mooneys before yours?
phxcobraz Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 12 minutes ago, hammdo said: May want to try this: How do I balance the gyro board after updating the autopilot? To balance the gyro board after updating the autopilot, hold the center button for 45 seconds. This ensures the gyro setup is complete, which is important for preventing issues with roll and pitch when engaging the autopilot. You’ll need to do this after entering setup mode… -Don We did that, I actually held it for about 1min then wasn't sure, so did it again and counted to 1min just to be sure. 1
phxcobraz Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 6 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said: How many Aerocruze 100 installs had your installer done on Mooneys before yours? First one for both of us, it's a very uncommon install.
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