Add auto pilot to '65 Cherokee 180

[Steven Barnes]

Looking for opinions on adding a wing leveler to a Cherokee 180. Something
simple just hooked to a heading bug would help me & my partners with our IFR
ratings we got last year.
What kind of cost / weight is involved? Is it more hassle than what it's
worth?

--



PP-ASEL, instrument

[Jon Kraus]

What about a STEC-20 system... I think it weighs around 10# and will
couple to a VOR and a heading bug. If you had a compatable GPS you could
get the GPS Steer option and it would follow your magenta line... If yo
decide for this I have a great contact for you. Let me kow.

Jon Kraus
'79 Mooney 201
4443H @ TYQ

Steven Barnes wrote:

> Looking for opinions on adding a wing leveler to a Cherokee 180. Something
> simple just hooked to a heading bug would help me & my partners with our IFR
> ratings we got last year.
> What kind of cost / weight is involved? Is it more hassle than what it's
> worth?
>

[Steven Barnes]

We do have a King KLN90 (VFR only) GPS. 10lbs isn't bad. We pulled a bad ADF
last year. That gave us another 4-5 lbs to play with.

I'm based at KSPI.


"Jon Kraus" > wrote in message
. ..
> What about a STEC-20 system... I think it weighs around 10# and will
> couple to a VOR and a heading bug. If you had a compatable GPS you could
> get the GPS Steer option and it would follow your magenta line... If yo
> decide for this I have a great contact for you. Let me kow.
>
> Jon Kraus
> '79 Mooney 201
> 4443H @ TYQ
>
> Steven Barnes wrote:
>
> > Looking for opinions on adding a wing leveler to a Cherokee 180.
Something
> > simple just hooked to a heading bug would help me & my partners with our
IFR
> > ratings we got last year.
> > What kind of cost / weight is involved? Is it more hassle than what it's
> > worth?
> >
>

[Matt Barrow]

"Steven Barnes" > wrote in message
...
> We do have a King KLN90 (VFR only) GPS. 10lbs isn't bad. We pulled a bad
> ADF
> last year. That gave us another 4-5 lbs to play with.
>
> I'm based at KSPI.
>

S-TEC lists their Model 20 as being 5.1 lbs.

http://www.s-tec.com/prodintro.html (Selection guide)

(You might have a problem with their web site; they must have fired their
web developer/master about 18 months ago and not hired a replacement)


Matt

> . ..
>> What about a STEC-20 system... I think it weighs around 10# and will
>> couple to a VOR and a heading bug. If you had a compatable GPS you could
>> get the GPS Steer option and it would follow your magenta line... If yo
>> decide for this I have a great contact for you. Let me kow.
>>
>> Jon Kraus
>> '79 Mooney 201
>> 4443H @ TYQ
>>
>> Steven Barnes wrote:
>>
>> > Looking for opinions on adding a wing leveler to a Cherokee 180.
> Something
>> > simple just hooked to a heading bug would help me & my partners with
>> > our
> IFR
>> > ratings we got last year.
>> > What kind of cost / weight is involved? Is it more hassle than what
>> > it's
>> > worth?
>> >
>>
>
>

[[email protected]]

About six months ago my partners and I added an S-Tec 20 to our Archer.
It was right at $7000, installed by Avionics Unlimited, Conroe Texas.

This included a new DG with a heading bug and an interface to the CDIs.

It increases safety in IMC by about 1000%.