Garmin Expands Availability of Retrofit Autopilots

Garmin has made its retrofit GFC-series autopilots available to additional airplanes, providing a path to safer, more relaxed flying for many more pilots.

The GFC 500 is now available for the Cessna 210, Grumman AA-5, and four Beechcraft Bonanza/Debonair models: C33, E33, F33 and G33. The Beechcraft Baron 58P and 59TC, as well as the Cessna 208B have been added to the STC list for the GFC 600. Click on the links for a list of other aircraft that have already been approved or are soon to be added for the GFC 500 and GFC 600.

The GFC 500 and GFC 600 were first introduced about one year ago. The GFC 500 is designed for light, simple, single-engine piston airplanes while the GFC 600 is better suited for high performance pistons and turbine aircraft. The systems integrate with the G500 and G600 glass panels, Garmin’s navigators and other flight displays. The autopilots also integrate with Garmin’s recently introduced, low-cost G5 electronic flight instrument.

In addition to flying a selected altitude, vertical speed and heading, the autopilots have a level mode, underspeed and overspeed protection, Electronic Stability Protection and much more. When used with navigators, the new autopilots can fly a variety of instrument approaches.

The cost for the autopilots vary greatly depending on the type of airplane and avionics installed. Starting price for the GFC 500 is $6,995 while the GFC 600 starts at $19,995.