Auto Pilot recommendation

I'd upgrade if you plan to fly a lot of IMC or very long XC trips. The STEC 50/55x/60 are nice as well as Century 2000 and KFC200. Finding a used one with some warranty might be the most cost effective solution or getting the Brittain repaired.
 
JOhnH said:
I have never had an autopilot, and I have never had an IFR rating, so I don't really know what capability I NEED. That is why I am asking for advice.

My budget is pretty much whatever it takes for a reasonable system. I am retiring soon and unless my investments do surprisingly well, I don't foresee selling the Bonanza to buy anything better, newer or faster before I decide to give up flying.

My current avionics include:
530w and a connected Garmin 696
Garmin 225 NAV
HSI
Shadin fuel totalizer (that is as old as the Brittain AP, but is still accurate).
Stormscope (which I haven't had the opportunity to test yet)
GTX 330 mode s
GMA 340 audio panel
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If you don't even have an instrument rating, no less plan to get one, then your autopilot needs are minimal, but I'm guessing you do a good bit of XC flying in your Bonanza so you want something which takes the "straight and level" load off your arm. I think all you need is a basic 2-axis system such as an S-Tec 30 with GPSS module, which will follow your 530W and keep the plane on altitude. You're looking at about $15K for such a system installed. I see no need for the sort of highly sophisticated autopilot with approach coupling, vertical speed command, or altitude preselect which someone doing heavy IFR operations would want, and would pay $20-25K installed to have.
 
RotorAndWing said:
Actually in Part 135 you can have a SIC, or an autopilot in lieu of SIC to operate IFR (on demand, 9 or less).
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Indeed

Didn't bother bringing it up as I didn't figure the OP would be bringing on a SIC in his Bo :wink2:
 
I think your advice is exactly right, with the exception that my wife will be going for her IFR rating soon.

And here is my annual reminder for those that never heard, or have forgotten: I lost my medical in 1980. I was out of flying until my wife suddenly decided at age 53 that she wanted to learn to fly. That was one of the best days of my life. She did so well that I bought her a 172 on completion of her ppl. We have been a flying team ever since. Even if we have had an argument, when we climb in the plane, safe and fun flying is all that matters, and at the end of any flight, any argument we had is forgotten.

We have had a blast, but we do like to take a lot of long VFR x-countries, so we bought a faster airplane. The GPS (er, I meant AP) will be primarily to make those long trips easier. But she does want to get her IFR license so that we don't get stranded so often, or for so long. But generally, there are two of us flying, even though I am no longer licensed, so that is why your recommendation is probably the right one.

Ron Levy said:
If you don't even have an instrument rating, no less plan to get one, then your autopilot needs are minimal, but I'm guessing you do a good bit of XC flying in your Bonanza so you want something which takes the "straight and level" load off your arm. I think all you need is a basic 2-axis system such as an S-Tec 30 with GPSS module, which will follow your 530W and keep the plane on altitude. You're looking at about $15K for such a system installed. I see no need for the sort of highly sophisticated autopilot with approach coupling, vertical speed command, or altitude preselect which someone doing heavy IFR operations would want, and would pay $20-25K installed to have.
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edit to point out that I meant AP instead of GPS.
 
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I'd look at prices, if it's only 5k more to have a fully coupled autopilot, you'd be a fool to spend 15k but cheap out on a 5k upgrade which would buy you way more autopilot.
Also your resale value would be better with the vnav autopilot.

In addition if anything happened to one of you and you needed to get the plane down, frankly a chimp could hit the buttons and have the plane fly a ILS to 200' AGL in hard IFR 90% hands off.

It's like when someone spends the $$ to buy a V8 Camaro RS with all options, but doesn't want to spend a few more bucks to just buy the SS.

Again if it's only 5k more, I'd go for the vnav unit.
 
Yeah, that is another one of the difficult decisions. My guess is that I will try to get the Brittain fixed. Failing that I will put in a nice AP, but at some point, the extra nickel for the extra option starts to make less sense. I hardly ever buy the cheapest, or the most expensive of anything. Even Scotch.


James331 said:
I'd look at prices, if it's only 5k more to have a fully coupled autopilot, you'd be a fool to spend 15k but cheap out on a 5k upgrade which would buy you way more autopilot.
Also your resale value would be better with the vnav autopilot.

In addition if anything happened to one of you and you needed to get the plane down, frankly a chimp could hit the buttons and have the plane fly a ILS to 200' AGL in hard IFR 90% hands off.

It's like when someone spends the $$ to buy a V8 Camaro RS with all options, but doesn't want to spend a few more bucks to just buy the SS.

Again if it's only 5k more, I'd go for the vnav unit.
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JOhnH said:
I think your advice is exactly right, with the exception that my wife will be going for her IFR rating soon.

And here is my annual reminder for those that never heard, or have forgotten: I lost my medical in 1980. I was out of flying until my wife suddenly decided at age 53 that she wanted to learn to fly. That was one of the best days of my life. She did so well that I bought her a 172 on completion of her ppl. We have been a flying team ever since. Even if we have had an argument, when we climb in the plane, safe and fun flying is all that matters, and at the end of any flight, any argument we had is forgotten.

We have had a blast, but we do like to take a lot of long VFR x-countries, so we bought a faster airplane. The GPS will be primarily to make those long trips easier. But she does want to get her IFR license so that we don't get stranded so often, or for so long. But generally, there are two of us flying, even though I am no longer licensed, so that is why your recommendation is probably the right one.
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Thanks. And even with your wife going for the IR, it sounds like you always fly together. The benefits of a highly sophisticated autopilot like the S-Tec 55x with all the bells and whistles (which is a lot more like $25K or more, not just an extra $5K) are not nearly as great when you're essentially a 2-pilot operation already. You can spend the extra money on ADS-B compliance which is both required in less than 5 years and a pretty nice thing to have (if you include the ADS-B-in weather and traffic capability for your GNS530W).
 
STECs are fine autopilots ...have you thought about a King system ? I always loved the KFC150/250 in the bonanza especially with alt select ....having a flight director adds aton of value and safety and the yaw damper is nice as well
 
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jesse said:
The problem with S Techs is that they tend to wag the wings a fair amount in turbulence. If I have passengers I usually always end up turning them off as a result since I can do a smoother job by hand.
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this is where a yaw damper really makes a difference
 
S-TEC 30 installed with GPSS and heading bug preselect on an old Bonanza is over $20k. Ask me how I know. Just the parts are about $15k, plus install. Removal of the Brittain stuff will push it well over $20k. The S-TEC cannot/will not use the existing servos. Ask me how I know.
 
taters said:
this is where a yaw damper really makes a difference
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I've had high end king units do a slight wing wag too, though I was DUE to the yaw damp, turned it off, re trimmed the rudder, re engaged and it was fine.

They all have their quarks
 
James331 said:
I've had high end king units do a slight wing wag too, though I was DUE to the yaw damp, turned it off, re trimmed the rudder, re engaged and it was fine.

They all have their quarks
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Ya depends on the YD too some have an adjustable pot on the panel that can fine trim the rudder servo ...but having your plane in perfect trim across all axis is a must for maximum AP performance

When YD computers get out of whack they can start "kicking" or pulsing on the rudder .... Totally annoying
 
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