Adding an autopilot to an M5
- snaproll
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2016 3:56 pm
- Contact:
Adding an autopilot to an M5
I have a 1980 M5-235 without an autopilot. After a few trips out west and one to Alaska I’ve decided to investigate installing one (we’re talking about Alaska again in 2021). Looks like S-Tec is about my only option (not interested in a Century). I didn’t find the drawings for servo installation on my parts CD and am not sure which models are approved.
Have any of you installed an S-Tec? Can you tell me what’s involved? Drawings available? Are there any other options?
Thanks,
Chip
Have any of you installed an S-Tec? Can you tell me what’s involved? Drawings available? Are there any other options?
Thanks,
Chip
-
- 100+ Posts
- Posts: 487
- Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:53 am
- Location: CO
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
Any idea what you think it's going to cost in total? Just curious.
1980 M5-235
Four Corners
Four Corners
- snaproll
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2016 3:56 pm
- Contact:
- HeavyLoad
- 100+ Posts
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 9:46 pm
- Location: Battle Ground, WA
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
I can only talk about the STec that was installed in my Maule M5 when I bought it. Single axis AP. And all it controls is the rudder pedals (which is about as cheap of a AP as you can get). It works in very light turbulence but beyond that it's not that great. I think I've seen this AP used forsale for around $1k-$2k. Don't know if I would pay much more for it.
To install it seems pretty easy. Just a single servo back in the tail that clamps onto the rudder cables. Then the wing level gyro and AP control head. It taps into your DG heading bug and also takes in a nav source. I've got my hooked into my GNS430w, though I mostly just use the heading bug on the DG.
To install it seems pretty easy. Just a single servo back in the tail that clamps onto the rudder cables. Then the wing level gyro and AP control head. It taps into your DG heading bug and also takes in a nav source. I've got my hooked into my GNS430w, though I mostly just use the heading bug on the DG.
===========
M5-210C
RV6
M5-210C
RV6
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:14 pm
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
There's a thread i started about A/P on my M4. I had the Century !! A/P on my M4 from the factory. All it had was an aileron servo in the right wing. I'm in the middle of a full restoration and removed the servo since it's not supported anymore.
I was interested in the S-Tec too, but heard from several owners that the roll control is not good in turbulence due it using the rudder vs aileron.
I'm still hoping Garmin or Dynon will come out with an STC for the M4/M5.
I was interested in the S-Tec too, but heard from several owners that the roll control is not good in turbulence due it using the rudder vs aileron.
I'm still hoping Garmin or Dynon will come out with an STC for the M4/M5.
- gbarrier
- 100+ Posts
- Posts: 1562
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:41 pm
- Location: 9NR4 North Carolina
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
I was really hoping for Garmin but have almost given up. Our aircraft are not in the “in the works” or the “expect to start in the next twelve months” list. A Garmin rep a while back told me that inquiries helped and if someone volunteered an airplane it would help. He also said they would probably like to start with higher model and easy to add lesser horsepower models. So, which one of you jokers with a M7-260 or M9 wants to volunteer?
Just finished GFC500 install in an older 182 and it is a pretty awesome unit.
Just finished GFC500 install in an older 182 and it is a pretty awesome unit.
-
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2020 11:47 pm
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
You will not be able to buy used STEC A/Ps and just install them.
The STC for the A/P is N number specific and STEC will not allow a change in N number unless the A/P goes back to them for "recertify" Very costly
Also for certified airplanes only an authorized shop can install them per STEC.
The STC for the A/P is N number specific and STEC will not allow a change in N number unless the A/P goes back to them for "recertify" Very costly
Also for certified airplanes only an authorized shop can install them per STEC.
- gbarrier
- 100+ Posts
- Posts: 1562
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:41 pm
- Location: 9NR4 North Carolina
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
Sounds right about S-Tec. Protect their dealers very well. Last year installed a 55x in a Navion. The Navion society had gone to S-Tec and asked for an autopilot approval. They had a group of 55x units which had been returned for one reason or the other and repaired them and certified them For the Navion. Came with a sticker on the bottom of the Unit which said repaired, not even refurbished or overhauled. Ended up sending the unit we received back for repair again before it work. Pulled my hair out but finally worked pretty well. Two big old bundles of wires compared to the little old cable for the Garmin but you take what you can get in this industry.
-
- 100+ Posts
- Posts: 298
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 1:09 pm
- Location: KY+AK
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
Out of curiosity, is this only a problem for M4/5 or are later maules plagued by a lack of autopilot options?
- psehorne
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2020 2:16 pm
- Location: Hidden Valley Airpark 5TX0, Shady Shores, TX
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
DELETED. Info may have been wrong.
Last edited by psehorne on Mon Jan 25, 2021 6:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Paul
ASEL, ASES, AMEL, Rot/Heli, Instrument Airplane, AGII, UAS
2004 M-4-180V N799ZZ
Hidden Valley Airpark 5TX0, Shady Shores (Denton), TX
ASEL, ASES, AMEL, Rot/Heli, Instrument Airplane, AGII, UAS
2004 M-4-180V N799ZZ
Hidden Valley Airpark 5TX0, Shady Shores (Denton), TX
-
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2014 8:04 pm
- Location: KFCM
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
I might be interested if there's a group forming to get an STC going. I see that TruTrak has a reasonably priced one STC'd for Piper and Cessna models. They were bought by Bendix... perhaps it's an option?
- Undaunted
- 100+ Posts
- Posts: 129
- Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:14 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
I too looked at an autopilot recently... Although the plane does trim out nicely, this year we did 2 trips each trip was 1,000 miles from home. Autopilot would have been very nice to have. Therefore S-Tec 30-2 was priced out for my 1999 M7. Very expensive ..ie north of 20K once bought and installed. We need the factory to push Garmin to add their autopilot to new planes and let us then jump on this bandwagon. The unit sells for almost 6K less for the equipment.
1999 M7-235C
- gbarrier
- 100+ Posts
- Posts: 1562
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:41 pm
- Location: 9NR4 North Carolina
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
If certified one should get a pair of G5s with 29B and Gmu11 as well as the GFC500 installed in the low 20s.
-
- 100+ Posts
- Posts: 487
- Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:53 am
- Location: CO
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
I'll rock the boat and say "it's a bush plane, why does it need an autopilot?"
The added weight? Not to mention the fact you can buy a lot of avgas for $20k.
The added weight? Not to mention the fact you can buy a lot of avgas for $20k.
1980 M5-235
Four Corners
Four Corners
- Andy Young
- 100+ Posts
- Posts: 1548
- Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:10 am
- Location: Alaska, Antarctica, Colorado, and Others
- Contact:
Re: Adding an autopilot to an M5
Heck, for $20k, you can just pay me to fly it wherever you want to use it, and have plenty left over to take the airliner to meet me at the other end!
Just kidding. I fly bush planes for a living, and I love using the autopilot in the ones that have it. Of course, I didn’t have to pay for it...
Just kidding. I fly bush planes for a living, and I love using the autopilot in the ones that have it. Of course, I didn’t have to pay for it...
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests