New auto pilots becoming available, but........

[Pacer42Z]

Garmin, Trio and Tru Trak all announced new auto pilots, but all of them for Cessna 172/182 and Piper PA-28. I wonder if there is any plan to also make them available for the PA-22. If not, can a mechanic do a 337 after installing one in a PA-22? I think the control systems in the PA-22 a very similar to a PA-28.

Juergen
Pacer N3342Z

[Clayton Harper]

Maybe more different than one might think. PA-28 has a "stabilator".

[Zac Weidner]

I just received an email today about that approval, and that they are on track for the Comanche line next. They're looking for volunteers and we may have to look into that next week at Oshkosh as our Altimatic III is about due for some major work again, and it's getting harder to get new parts for them and might be time to kick it out. I think they will work on the shortwings next if there is enough interest, although I can't say I'm one of them for the Tri-Pacer.

[Pacer42Z]

I would love to have an auto pilot and what I read in the articles the cost would be OK. I have 58 Gallon of fuel and fly sometimes between five and six hour legs (IFR or VFR). If they need a volunteer, I'm in.

Juergen
Pacer N3342Z

[andya]

are prices established for each unit? if so could you post.

[Pacer42Z]

are prices established for each unit? if so could you post.

Here are the articles I read today. Each one has the price in it:
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/...n=170720epilot
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/...n=170720epilot
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/...n=170720epilot

I receive the AOPA ePilot news every Friday. It was in todays news.

Juergen
Pacer N3342Z

[Pacer42Z]

Every time I'm at Sun & Fun or Oshkosh I go by the GARMIN booth and talk to them about an auto pilot for our PA-20s and PA-22s. Last week at OSH I met the guy who is in charge of adding new airplanes to the approval list (Mr. Max Unruh). As Max suggested, I went on the GARMIN website and offered my Pacer for the certification process. Here is the email I received today from him:

"Hi Juergen,

I wanted to say thank you for swinging by the Garmin tent this last week at Oshkosh. It was truly impressive to find out how much demand is out there for our autopilots!

I’ve noted the PA-22 demand and am aware of a few owners who have shown interest. I would say that at the moment, Garmin would need a bit more interest from the PA-22/20 crowd before we could put the Pacer / Tri Pacer on our planned list of aircraft.

If you have a bunch of friends from the Piper Short wing club that are really passionate about this, tell them to logon to our website and show interest by volunteering their PA-22 and PA-20 aircraft.

Thanks again for your interest!

Regards,

Max Unruh

Aviation Product Manager, Retrofit Autopilots" (end of quote)

So, if any of you are serious about getting an auto pilot approved for our short wings, please sign up for it. Maybe we can convince Max that there are enough of us to put us on his list.

Juergen
Pacer N3342Z

[akflyer]

Do those who offer up their plane for testing or certification get a cut in the price? Got burned on that one last year with another manufactures goods...

[Pacer42Z]

I didn’t get into the details with Max. I figured if I don’t like the deal, I can always decline. I told him I would pay for the system and the installation as long as he certifies it. First task is to get GARMIN to even consider our airplanes.

Juergen
Pacer N3342Z

[CTJER]

Anything new on this subject?