Spoke with them at OSH 24 and it was all but complete. STC was approved in September/October and the PMA is coming this month, shipping planned for December. I expect to have mine in time for install during annual this winter.

FWIW looks like $6400 for the stc & parts for a C180.

https://www.thestcgroupllc.com/products ... opilot-stc

Great news. I can't wait to get a test ride.

Install is slowly in progress. Keeps tabs on the instagarm @thescarlet_170

redacted wrote:Keeps tabs on the instagarm @thescarlet_170

Post pics here Nate and don’t tease the IG. I know you want 557 followers, but don’t be a dingleberry.

Following

Hmmm I've had one in the 180 since May, all signed off STC and everything. Loving it.

This will be a great upgrade, very little requirements creep. Don't need a G3x to run the thing.

You can run the garmin GFC500 with just a G5, which is cheap.

Ross4289 wrote:You can run the garmin GFC500 with just a G5, which is cheap.

Unfortunately the GFC is not approved for the C170. I'm running into that in the 170B Im building now... Prewire the bird in hopes it will be approved, or just go with the less capable (and no where near as nice) Trio.

The issue though, is that the Trio is not approved for use with the GI 275s, nor do they plan on the integration any time soon... only Aspen E5, Aspen Pro Max, Dynon SkyView HDX & Garmin G5.

I suppose a basic wing leveler with the ability to do a "GOTO" function via a navigator is useful, but a pain as you have to now enter the barometric pressure into another box as a separate action with every new update... but... it looks like it will "perform bendover and track the descent profile on LPV/RNAV approaches but must be disengaged at 500 feet AGL."

Havent gotten to do a "bendover" in a while...

Update: Talked to my Garmin rep today RE: the 170B, and he said that Garmin plans on beginning the certification for the 170B in the next 12 mo... so looks like for the two Super170 projects Im involved with now, we'll pre-wire the aircraft for the GFC. Fingers crossed...

So 3-4 years before you see it certified. But doing the wiring now is smart. Will be a good upgrade to mine if I ever redo the panel. Still might have to sell if I lose my hangar next summer, but cross that bridge when I get to it!

The GFC5 series is probably best served as a VFR only autopilot due to some significant design limitations that turn it into basically a heading, v/s, IAS only auto pilot if it loses GPS signal at any point from takeoff to landing, even if it’s flying VORs or on a ILS.

With a loss of GPS signal it has no approach capability whatsoever (even non GPS approaches)

https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/gfc- ... ot#p374197

redacted wrote:So 3-4 years...

no. probably this year

NineThreeKilo wrote:probably best served as a VFR only autopilot

This is absurd

Bigrenna wrote:

NineThreeKilo wrote:probably best served as a VFR only autopilot

This is absurd

A AP that will drop a ILS approach if it loses GPS signal seems a serious IMC tool?

To me that’s a fair weather AP / wing leveler type device

It’s cool, nice tech if GPS doesn’t glitch, it’s cheap (ish), but having done a ton a working single pilot IFR stuff, it’s not a serious AP, seen GPS glitch in the US, seen how often it’s spoofed outside of the US, seen how easy it is to disrupt for a few grand and the gov paranoia of often GPS based drones, plus Mr Murphy is asshole.

Based on that, IMHO the GFC 5 ain’t something I’d put into a plane that’s going to be flying much bad weather, if garmin allowed it to still fly a ILS/VOR approach regardless of a GPS glitch I’d add a GFC to my sky wagon, but based on that not being the case, I’m interested in alternatives outside of my existing proven STEC, I’d take my STEC over a GFC 5 every day of the week