Question Replacement Autopilot

Hi Darren,
Thanks for sharing your insight on this autopilot question.
I appreciate your help.

Steve

In a twin engine airplane to use the gfc500 will require the GI275 not the G5. I have a 1979 seneca 2 and am currently getting a full Garmin panel upgrade but am leaving the old autopilot in until the gfc500 is certified for the Seneca. It will be worth the wait.

I contacted Garmin support and was told that Garmin expected the certification process to start within the next 12 months. So the proper answer is no one knows when it will be certified for your airplane.

Can anyone confirm that the Garmin GFC-500 has been certified for the Seneca? According to Garmin’s website it is projected within the next 12 months, but I do not know when the last time they updated this projection.
Thanks
Dan

Hi Jerry,
I'm much more savvy on nuts and bolts and standard engine and airframe service and repair but I'll start this conversation.
The most popular options include the Garmin GFC 500 (list price 2 axis 7295; 3 axis $9595). However according to the avionics sales manual I have, it requires the installation of a Garmin G5 Primary Flight Display.

The other most popular full featured option is the Genesys S-TEC 3100 that lists for $16,495 and the S-TEC 55X that lists for the same price.
Less expensive, but still appproved for installation into certified airplanes are the Bendix/King AeroCruze Autopilot. It is a turn coordinator based system.

Dynon also provides an autopilot system that interfaces with its Skyview EFIS display, but I'm not sure it's approved for installation in certified airplanes yet.

One of the biggest avionics sales and service shops on the East Coast is Gulf Coast Avionics (www.gulfcoastavionics.com) in Florida.
I can provide contact information that may be closer to you if you'll give me your location.

This information is very preliminary--time spent defining what you want from an autopilot and talking over the options with an experienced avionics specialist will be time well spent.
Steve

Could someone recommend a good replacement autopilot for my 1977 Seneca 11. It currently has the Altimatic 111c, but it is worn out and I don't want to invest money in something that was not that good to start with. For avionics, I have the Garmin 750 and the Aspen 1000 pro. I am looking for something that would work well with these boxes. I am also looking for a good avionics shop on the East coast to install it.

Thanks
Jerry