Autopilot upgrade

[patrolpilot]

Originally Posted by etv100Fly

Hell members! Anyone installed a new autopilot in there plane with a current STC? I see a lot of units available but no STC. Looks like either going rouge or nothing. Thoughts? Thanks Capt L

Does your airplane currently have an autopilot?

I mention this because the airplane I just bought has the Cessna 400A and I was impressed with its performance. There have only been two previous owners of this '77 airplane. The fellow I bought it from, the second owner, said the AP was not working very well when he purchased it, so he took it to Autopilot Central in Tulsa. A few days later it was as good as new. He suggested that I schedule a stop there every two years as he as done, for a tuneup and tweaking. Given the performance on my journey home, I think I will take that advice as it worked as well as the brand new airplane I flew in '77.

Waiting for the recent tropical weather to clear across my flight path, I filled out the Garmin GFC-500 STC Interest and Canidate Aircraft Application forms. I just assumed it wouldn't work that well as every seller I had talked to lead the subject "About the autopilot,..." Seems, I might have jumped the gun.

[Learjetter]

Question for the gurus:
My 337G model has a 400A (Af530) installed. Has anyone installed the 400B (AF550), say as removed from a Cessna 210, in a 337?

I’ve got 400A manual, would anyone have a 400B manual available so my shop technicians can compare the wiring diagrams, part numbers for servos, etc for compatibility?

-LJ

[patrolpilot]

Look in the AFM Equipment list and see if the "B" was offered. Another source would be Autopilots Central just NE of you. The boss man told me that the B would outfly the STEC 55 as it uses torque motors for control input, very smooth.

[Learjetter]

My equipment list shows all manner of 400 options, but no 400B. Back to the idea of getting DER approval to interface Garmin to 400A.