R182 and GFC500 STC (finally)

@denverpilot, it's great to see an installation of the GFC500 in a real (T)R182 panel! I've been pestering Garmin for more than a year about this STC. You said they're installing all the options....where does Garmin list the options for the A/P that would apply to the R182? I've looked for info and haven't found much. Thanks.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Great post, Troy! Thanks for the details! :thumbsup: And please, stick around! We missed you here!
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You’re welcome! I’ll see what I can do!


flyingcheesehead said:
Woohoo! See you there. I would *definitely* like to see it!
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You got it! Maybe we can find a way to fly.

flyingcheesehead said:
Did they recommend you put it there, or did you ask for it there? I've been trying to figure out where that button should go eventually when we do the GFC 500. I have similar push/pull controls in the Mooney. That's one spot I had thought of, but I was also thinking that it could replace the CWS button we currently have on the yoke, since the GFC 500 doesn't do CWS.
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I suggested/asked, and they said that made sense to them.

Landing Fees said:
I feel like a teenage girl all over again. If I was one the first time. Thanks for the write-up @TangoWhiskey
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You’re welcome!! I’m glad you were able to get your install of the other product canceled in time!!
 
JimSD said:
@denverpilot, it's great to see an installation of the GFC500 in a real (T)R182 panel! I've been pestering Garmin for more than a year about this STC. You said they're installing all the options....where does Garmin list the options for the A/P that would apply to the R182? I've looked for info and haven't found much. Thanks.
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I think you meant to ask me.

Options will be known by the dealer. I can tell you that as of now, all options are available. Yaw damper and automatic electric pitch trim.
 
Sorry about my confusion. Have you flown the plane with the new install yet? Eagerly awaiting a flight report.
 
@denverpilot isn't all that bad for a straight legged 182 guy. I certainly had my doubts before meeting him. I think we will skip the yawn dampener in our, plane is pretty fun and exciting, I never have to stifle a yawn.
 
Flying a 182 is as engaging as dragging my @ss behind my weef at Hancock Fabrics. Ditto for me ol' spam can. Only yawn dampener I've ever flown to date:

upload_2019-5-18_15-53-6.png

But I agree though, straight tail piston spam cans of most make/models largely do not need a YAW dampener.
 
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JimSD said:
Sorry about my confusion. Have you flown the plane with the new install yet? Eagerly awaiting a flight report.
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Garmin Flight Test has flown it, and said there were no issues. I’ll get to fly it when they finish certification work and give the plane back to me, likely the first few days in June (2-3 weeks from now)
 
hindsight2020 said:
But I agree though, straight tail piston spam cans of most make/models largely do not need a YAW dampener.
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That was what I was thinking, since I have electric rudder trim and a pretty yaw-stable airplane already, but some of the others who have had them installed are amazed by how nice they are, and it seems a lot more people are going for them than I would have thought. So, I'll at least consider it strongly...
 
hindsight2020 said:
Flying a 182 is as engaging as dragging my @ss behind my weef at Hancock Fabrics. Ditto for me ol' spam can. Only yawn dampener I've ever flown to date:

View attachment 74217

But I agree though, straight tail piston spam cans of most make/models largely do not need a YAW dampener.
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I used to think that. Then I flew an SR22T a week ago, with a slightly balkly right knee. YD went on at 1000 feet.
 
GFC 500 Certification Programs Currently In-progress:
(Subject to change.)

  • Cessna 172
    • Models: R172K, FR172K
  • Cessna 182RG
    • Models: R182, FR182, TR182
 
hindsight2020 said:
But I agree though, straight tail piston spam cans of most make/models largely do not need a YAW dampener.
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I kinda wished I had one today. Kid (who LOVES flying, and turbulence) was in the back seat and stopped enjoying the ride - I wasn't looking so I'm not sure if he got green, but he did answer in the affirmative when my wife asked if his tummy felt funny. I'm glad it didn't get to the point where he hurled, but it would have been nice to have some help in the very turbulent ride.
 
TangoWhiskey said:
Garmin Flight Test has flown it, and said there were no issues. I’ll get to fly it when they finish certification work and give the plane back to me, likely the first few days in June (2-3 weeks from now)
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I see according to FlightAware the test airplane was flown for two hours today. Must be getting closer!
 
flyingcheesehead said:
I see a flight plan indicating they may have taken it back to Texas today, which would mean they're done! :)
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Hopefully it went home with a standard airworthiness certificate (STC revision is done, airplane returned to service using new STC revision)
 
bnt83 said:
Hopefully it went home with a standard airworthiness certificate (STC revision is done, airplane returned to service using new STC revision)
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Huh... The flight plan that was filed earlier wasn't flown, and there was another local flight in Kansas. So, I guess it's not done yet. Maybe @TangoWhiskey was filing flight plans to mess with us for fun? :rofl:
 
Looks like they did another test flight.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Huh... The flight plan that was filed earlier wasn't flown, and there was another local flight in Kansas. So, I guess it's not done yet. Maybe @TangoWhiskey was filing flight plans to mess with us for fun? :rofl:
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Well, it turns out @TangoWhiskey was filing flight plans with no intention to use them, but it wasn't really to mess with us:

Screen Shot 2019-06-07 at 3.51.09 PM.png
 
I spoke with Troy today. They flew the hell out of it today, but as long as all went well (dunno yet), that should be the end of the certification.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
I spoke with Troy today. They flew the hell out of it today, but as long as all went well (dunno yet), that should be the end of the certification.
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Set up an alert on FlightAware (we are watching you Troy!) so that when I see the plane head back south I will know we are in the final stretch.
 
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flyingcheesehead said:
Huh... The flight plan that was filed earlier wasn't flown, and there was another local flight in Kansas. So, I guess it's not done yet. Maybe @TangoWhiskey was filing flight plans to mess with us for fun? :rofl:
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I wish I were that devious. Just to mess with you, Kent! ;-)

bnt83 said:
So basically 6 months start to finish adding a new make/model airplane to an existing autopilot AML STC?
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Yes... three months to do the certification install and flights, then 8-12 weeks lead time for kit production so they have something to ship to your dealer.

That being said, they had possession of and were working on my plane for 4-6 weeks before it showed up on the “Certification in progress” list. So maybe ~5 months after you see it hit that list, assuming no surprises?

Tell y’all what... when it’s time for me to go pick it up, I’ll post here!

The STC work is complete, but they flew the airplane right up until my annual expired and kept the plane a month longer than planned, so like the awesome company that they are, they offered to do my annual inspection at their cost too if I so desired. My other option was ferry permit to get it home and then straight into the shop. I accepted their generous offer.
 
TangoWhiskey said:
The STC work is complete, but they flew the airplane right up until my annual expired and kept the plane a month longer than planned, so like the awesome company that they are, they offered to do my annual inspection at their cost too if I so desired. My other option was ferry permit to get it home and then straight into the shop. I accepted their generous offer.
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Free autopilot AND a free annual?

OK, now I officially hate you. ;)
 
TangoWhiskey said:
Well, basic annual inspection. I’ll still be on the hook for any issues needing remediation.
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Still, that's worth a couple AMUs. Nice bonus!

Now that I'm flying with a GFC 700 in the day job, my KFC 150 is annoyingly inept in comparison:

1) I still have to hit "Arm" or the set altitude won't be captured.
2) It has choked hard on glideslope captures twice in the last week - Pitching up sharply on an RNAV, and completely missing glideslope capture on an ILS where ATC vectored me on pretty much at glideslope intercept (their MVA was about 1000 feet higher than the FAF altitude). I need to go out and have it fly some approaches to be sure it even works.
3) Vertical speed is off. It usually climbs about 100-200 fpm higher than what it's set at, and descends somewhat lower than where it's set. And this is simply because the shop "fixed" it so that it successfully captures the correct altitude when descending (it used to overshoot the set altitude by 100-200 feet, not good when descending in IMC).
4) Altitude is often off by 60 feet or so after capture and has to be adjusted a lot.
5) Heading isn't quite on the bug, but it's been adjusted as far as it'll go.

It's just so... Analog! Really wish I had the GFC 500.
 
In a few years, we will have to ‘splain analog autopilots, kind of like the conversation I had with my boy today about the original digital camera - the Polaroid.

I would be worried about a new IA doing her annual lady exam.
 
Landing Fees said:
I would be worried about a new IA doing her annual lady exam.
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I think it’s good to get a different pair of eyes on the airplane every five years or so. Mechanics can be subject to expectation bias too, just like pilots, when they see the same airplane over and over again.

But I’m a little nervous about it for sure! $$$$
 
TangoWhiskey said:
Tell y’all what... when it’s time for me to go pick it up, I’ll post here!

The STC work is complete, but they flew the airplane right up until my annual expired and kept the plane a month longer than planned, so like the awesome company that they are, they offered to do my annual inspection at their cost too if I so desired. My other option was ferry permit to get it home and then straight into the shop. I accepted their generous offer.
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Just got word that the annual is nearly complete, no major issues found, and they expect to sign it off Monday the 15th. I've called my insurance agent to put the airplane back on my coverage, and have made arrangements to get up to Olathe on Monday afternoon.

My wife said I'm levitating. That's probably true.
 
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