Anybody do a Dynon "self install"?

[AJ88V]

 

I've now seen several Mooneys on YouTube with Dynon glass suites.  The Skyview HDX was developed for the home-builder crowd and is supposed to be especially easy to install ("FastTrack installation products" including racks and pre-made harnesses, etc.).  Dynon has a program to let a regular A&P install.  https://www.dynoncertified.com/stc-install.php

My local A&P has done several of fulll-glass Garmin installs for his personal planes, mostly done by non-A&P apprentice mechanics under supervision, and said he could work with me if I wanted to do the install.  I could work on this nearly full time since retiring.

Has anybody on Mooneyspace done this?  What was your experience?  Thanks!

 

[spistora]

I would like to know also. I'm starting the process now and will be working with my local AP/IA. I received the Dynon hardware this week.

[LANCECASPER]

30 minutes ago, AJ88V said:

 

I've now seen several Mooneys on YouTube with Dynon glass suites.  The Skyview HDX was developed for the home-builder crowd and is supposed to be especially easy to install ("FastTrack installation products" including racks and pre-made harnesses, etc.).  Dynon has a program to let a regular A&P install.  https://www.dynoncertified.com/stc-install.php

My local A&P has done several of fulll-glass Garmin installs for his personal planes, mostly done by non-A&P apprentice mechanics under supervision, and said he could work with me if I wanted to do the install.  I could work on this nearly full time since retiring.

Has anybody on Mooneyspace done this?  What was your experience?  Thanks!

 

I think @cliffy installed his own Dynon HDX and then later installed an Aerocruze 100 autopilot.

[AJ88V]

40 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

I think @cliffy installed his own Dynon HDX and then later installed an Aerocruze 100 autopilot.

Ahh, I knew he did the Aerocruz, but assumed he was an A&P.  Thanks!

[cliffy]

YUP  Installed both and both work fine - together

I should say that I had a shop install the Dynon because of time constraints. I was out of the country. 

Many HDXs have been installed by experimental builders. 

If you can follow directions its not too big a challenge but it will take time (90 -120 hrs )

More to add as I think of things-

Programing the HDX will take time You will need a working knowledge of the process and study ahead to understand what and when to do it to set up the Dynon screen the way you want. This is a big job IF you haven't done it before. Adding in the EMS system adds to the work load. Learnable but with study. 

Planning ahead before you drill and cut is a big part of the job.

Using good tools is the only way - wire strippers, crimping tools, etc

This is not like putting a 4 track stereo on your 56 Chevy.

I used Dynon's premade cables that made the shops job easier.

Running the right aileron cable out thru the wing will take planning for the autopilot

The Aerocruz autopilot can be done in 40 hrs easy  I just took my time as I don't and 

to work too hard these days

Like I said, careful planning before holes are drilled or metal is cut is required.

 

[Hank]

@AJ88V and @cliffy, I'm interested in the install experience. I'm a Mechanical engineer, and can do electrical work when laid out by the wire. But many home electrical diagrams leave out some, like the 4th conductor for 3-way lightswitches. 

Since Dynon decided to shaft us on the AP, the panel is moving back onto my not-so-soon list. Maybe they'll have a Sun n Fun special next year?

Guess I need to start discussing install options near me for professional assistance. 

[LANCECASPER]

On 5/3/2025 at 11:14 AM, Hank said:

Since Dynon decided to shaft us on the AP, the panel is moving back onto my not-so-soon list.

Dynon didn't decide to shaft anyone on the the AP. They would much rather have more airframes to sell their autopilots to, rather than less. More airframes on the autopilot list drives higher HDX sales, which is their bread and butter.

No way the FAA was going to give them a blanket approval for C-K. Those days are long gone and rightfully so. There are variations even within each of the models from year to year which affects the installation as @cliffy learned and accommodated in his earlier Mooney with his Aerocruze 100 AP. Lots of differences from C-K. Garmin had to get separate approvals as well. Dynon doesn't have the resources to hit them all, but since they own a J it was a good bet that the J would be the target since there were so many made. Also making a panel investment in that price range airframe makes it a no-brainer. The fact that they got a K also under that approval was a bonus. Even though the F is the same length they weren't able to get that under the approval, although I'm sure they would have liked to have. 

Back in 2022 they put a disclaimer on the Upcoming Autopilots page of their website, "The Mooney M20 family encompasses a range of aircraft with differences that Dynon is currently evaluating. Dynon is currently testing the autopilot on an M20J and does not yet know which of these models the upcoming autopilot approval will apply to." Later they adjusted that to mention that it might include a K as well.

[cliffy]

Just to add perspective -

The differences between models has more to do with the hardware to mount the servo than anything to do with the operation of the autopilot. Each Mooney model can be slightly different where the pitch servo mounts even for the Dynon  A/P  so each model needs specific parts to make up a kit that might be different than the others.

One item that no one has addressed (and might not be an issue) is the difference in ailerons between early and late model Mooneys. Early had "curved" airfoil ailerons and later has "straight" airfoil ailerons. The curved ones had a higher "break out" force for roll control (as best as I can describe it and IIRC) making the roll torque higher on the early ones.  

If this has had any affect on autopilots I am unaware of it. 

 

[Aaviationist]

If you have mechanic and electric abilities it’s really not difficult. I’ve done it and know several others who have done it with IA supervision. 
 

doing it yourself will result in a full glass panel for under 40k potentially depending on what you do about nav/com. 
 

 

[AJ88V]

Appreciate the notes, everybody.

@cliffy, you wrote:  "Running the right aileron cable out thru the wing will take planning for the autopilot".   I'm thinking I would do the panel first and hold off on the autopilot, both to control cost and get to minimum down time, but is the cable you're referring to something that I might 'pre-install' while I'm in there doing something like temp or AOA probes?

Also... Maybe I should take the design / buy-list questions over to the Avionics section, but I will ask one here:  What do you do about VOR receivers/diplays?  The Dynon radio appears to be comms only, and if I use a Garmin GPS/Comm like the GNC355, that leaves me without VOR or Glideslope receivers.  Would really like to dump my King stuff with fading displays.

[KSMooniac]

A birdie told me Dynon engineers recently traveled to a facility with a lot of Mooneys outside of the currently approved J & K models so they could research what they needed to do to expand their autopilot AML and serve the vintage Mooney fleet.  I have no idea of any time frame, but at least they are actively working on it.  They will still be at the mercy of the FAA as well.

[Paul Thomas]

45 minutes ago, AJ88V said:

Appreciate the notes, everybody.

@cliffy, you wrote:  "Running the right aileron cable out thru the wing will take planning for the autopilot".   I'm thinking I would do the panel first and hold off on the autopilot, both to control cost and get to minimum down time, but is the cable you're referring to something that I might 'pre-install' while I'm in there doing something like temp or AOA probes?

Also... Maybe I should take the design / buy-list questions over to the Avionics section, but I will ask one here:  What do you do about VOR receivers/diplays?  The Dynon radio appears to be comms only, and if I use a Garmin GPS/Comm like the GNC355, that leaves me without VOR or Glideslope receivers.  Would really like to dump my King stuff with fading displays.

My familiarity with Dynon is all based on the experimental market. I would run all the wires for the autopilot during the install because the only added cost is the servos/mounts (assuming the additional autopilot control head is not required for certification). You really don't want to have to re-open the panel once you're back flying.

[cliffy]

2 hours ago, KSMooniac said:

A birdie told me Dynon engineers recently traveled to a facility with a lot of Mooneys outside of the currently approved J & K models so they could research what they needed to do to expand their autopilot AML and serve the vintage Mooney fleet.  I have no idea of any time frame, but at least they are actively working on it.  They will still be at the mercy of the FAA as well.

Well they could have come here and I could show them most every model and tell them what they need to know  !! :-)

[cliffy]

The Dynon HDX does NOT have VOR/ILS capability. Its built in GPS is NOT IFR certified SO---

For IFR GPS work it needs to be fed with an approved GPS signal   (GPS 175 ?) 

One would need to have a separate Com/nav for 2nd com and VOR/ILS capability with an indicator in the panel (I use Dynons com radio and xponder connected thru the HDX). 

I choose the HDX as I didn't need IFR capability (no other GPS installed)  

It cleaned up the panel to only 2 screens total. No more problems with old engine/fuel gages either. 

Compatible with the Aerocruze 100 A/P (installed and working fine). 

It works for me and my flying YMMV

[Aaviationist]

6 hours ago, cliffy said:

The Dynon HDX does NOT have VOR/ILS capability. Its built in GPS is NOT IFR certified SO---

For IFR GPS work it needs to be fed with an approved GPS signal   (GPS 175 ?) 

One would need to have a separate Com/nav for 2nd com and VOR/ILS capability with an indicator in the panel (I use Dynons com radio and xponder connected thru the HDX). 

I choose the HDX as I didn't need IFR capability (no other GPS installed)  

It cleaned up the panel to only 2 screens total. No more problems with old engine/fuel gages either. 

Compatible with the Aerocruze 100 A/P (installed and working fine). 

It works for me and my flying YMMV

The hdx can display a nav radio from a Garmin or Avidyne nav com in addition to gps. 
 

no need for a separate indicator.