Hi,

I have been looking for a nice Cesssna 180 for several months now. One of the items I would like is a 2axis autopilot. Like a S-Tec30 or 60-2.
A new installation costs about 20k or a little more. This has me trying to narrow my search to planes with one already installed. A few otherwise decent planes I have passed on because it was going to cost 20k to add an autopilot.

In both Ebay and Wentworth I have seen complete autopilot systems from similar 182, 206 etc aircraft for sale for between 4k-6k and from wentworth with a 3o day warantee.

The servos and head seem the same. Would it be possible to buy one and send it back to S-Tec and have them test it out and reprogram it for my particular airplane and buy a new install kit? Would they have to issue an stc for my plane to legally install it? Can an A/I legally install an autopilot without being a factory dealer or rep?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Tom

Id stick with your first plan and just buy one with the AP, and 85% the panel you want.

Tom,

You will find that the cost to re-install is marginally better than new. STEC wants a pretty penny for the stc transfer...etc. You might want to give them a call and let us know an exact number.

Tim

I did receive an email back from S-Tec about costs.

IF I found one out of a C-180 It wold be $1595 plus the installation hardware kit. They make it expensive to go this route for sure.
One out of a different plane would not be at all cost effective. My best guess is that one from the same model might be cost effective.

Tom