Glad to help!

MW

Looks like my preferred shop is scheduling in March. Not ideal, but better than June.

What about the yaw damper? The shop thinks it’s something assumed, but I don’t see why. When I had a Bonanza, a yaw damper made a huge difference. But I can’t imagine what it accomplishes in a 185.

Getting ready to install GFC500 and I too have the same question with regards to yaw damp servo. Is it really necessary in a skywagon?

I’m halfway through a GFC 500 install right now. I did not purchase the yaw dampener option.

What would it do? These were my considerations:

Refine the ball centring during climb out and provide a bit of force feedback to indicate my feet are net perfectly coordinated?

Refine turns the same way?

Stabilize yaw during cruise flight?

I’m sure it would do all of that. I’d have to ask a passenger if it made a difference. Being a bit uncoordinated in flight never bothers me. I’ve never experienced a Dutch roll in a Cessna. I have felt nauseous in a Beech B36TC with the yaw dampener engaged while seated backwards. I only ever had one complaint from a third seat row passenger in the T210. Never rode in the back of that airplane.

Configurations: I’m told that the autopilot is only certified for flight in wheel plane configuration. I’ll fly it on amphibs and skis. (I don’t expect the breaker for the autopilot to be disabled, so we’ll see what it does). I have a ventral fin with my Aerocets. I have TrickAir skis. Haven’t noticed any yaw instability with either, but I have a friend who flies Edo 3500s, and he does. He might opt for the dampener if he were installing the GFC 500.

To sum it up: the cost and weight of a yaw dampener didn’t seem to have a significant benefit in my application, and if I’m wrong, it’s an easy add. Avionics shops up here aren’t busy. I could have it installed later as fast as it could ship from Garmin if I wanted.

Thanks

I have it and like it. The weight was negligible. Personal preference.

MW

Midwest, please expand on your experience. When do you notice the yaw dampener the most? Do you trim for yaw on climb out and again for cruise and descent? Configurations? Rough air?

I might be wrong in passing it over. I’d like to learn more. TIA.

Pinecone,

I'll admit I installed the yaw damper on a whim. I'd had it in my Bonanza and Baron and knew how valuable it was in those aircraft. Yes, I do know we have very little dutch roll in our Skywagons. At the time of my install, which I believe I was one of the first 3 or 4 to get at GFC-500 installed, nobody had any good advice. I figured it was only a slight incremental cost so I went for the install.

I've found the YD to to help greatly in climbs. I climb in IAS and it takes care of all P-Factor. I also like the fact the plane flies coordinated in a stiff crosswind in cruise with the wings mostly level. Helps me maintain a better fuel balance. My aircraft has rudder trim. Some Skywagons do, some don't. My rudder bungee is a bit stretched and I have a lot of trim in the plane to fly coordinated or I have to hold some rudder in to keep the ball centered. I'll get that fixed this winter. That being said the YD keeps the ball centered all the time.

I've noticed in moderate turbulence the AP is rock solid. I've not had it kick off on its own as of yet. I can only think the YD helps. I don't know from any empirical data.

All I know is it's an added level of precision for me. I find flying approaches in crappy weather, with a crosswind or not, the ball is centered. One less thing for me to worry about. I also have the GAD-39 (I think that's what it is) which gives me a wind vector and velocity on my G-5's so I have an idea as to what I may encounter once I click the AP off.

Again it's all about personal preference. We can buy a car with many different options. I figured for me the it was worth the additional $1500 for the servo and half pound in the back.

Hopefully that helps.

MW

That really does help. Thanks. I have rudder trim also, but your point about early skywagons that don’t is excellent. Impressive that you hardly have to trim, it will even hold enough right rudder to counteract the torque on the climb out! Does it indicate trim needs for the rudder the same way that pitch trim is indicated? I’ll definitely give it some serious consideration for a future upgrade.

It truly isn’t very heavy or expensive. My current upgrade is quite pricey and I had to draw a line. Otherwise there’d be a GTN 750 and a G3X going in also.

I too drew a line. Unfortunately, I regret my decision to go with the GTN 650 instead of the 750. If you are investing in a platform for IFR capability, the 750 is a much better unit and more suitable for single pilot IFR. Now with the autopilot, you will have more time to scroll through alphanumeric windows than without, but considering the differences in human interface, the 750 is worth the extra money in my opinion. Also, the option of displaying geo referenced approach plates on the 750 is an advantage. I have an MFD that does the same on my G500, but I would prefer to display the approach plate on the 750 leaving my MFD screen set to the standard map.

750 just isn’t in the cards. I figured before I splurged on a 750 that GX3 would have been higher on my list. I did go with the FS510, so I’ll be able to input on my iPad, and transfer to the 650. Didn’t want to pay the chart subscription for the 750 either.

FLTPlanGo offers free geo-referenced charts. I pay for ForeFlight, but it requires an upgrade to Pro for charts.

Appreciate the input though.

Yes it does fly coordinated in the climb. There is no indication of how much trip the servo is inputting from the YD.

Glad to help.

On a side note my plane had a 750 when I bought it and I'm grateful. It is a great platform.

MW

Thanks for posting thoughts on the yaw damper. I probably would not have considered it were it not for this thread.

Thanks for posting thoughts on the yaw damper. I probably would not have considered it were it not for this thread.

I just turned the ESP off on the G5. Stene aviation put a GFC 500 in my 55 180 last year and I love it

Has anyone used the GFC500 on floats? Curious how well it works. I'm putting one in my 185 soon

You are welcome! I'm not sure the STC is approved for floats. I'd have to read it closely. I would not think the AP would know if it were on floats honestly other than a few more "trim" requests. Let us know. I'm curious.

MW

I'm told it's not approved for use on floats. I wonder if the drag/yaw/pendulum effect of the floats confuse it with the gain settings for the plane on wheels.

I'm not an autopilot expert by any means, but I can't think of a valid reason not to install a yaw damper if you're installing one of these systems. Granted, it's a bit more money, but in the grand scheme of things???? If I were doing this, I'd do the full meal deal.

There are some fairly serious yaw effects in these airplanes.

MTV

Mike speaks the truth!

Midwest