Last week after Garmin announced its first retrofit autopilots, the GFC 500 and GFC 600, the aviation community cheered — and then wondered if more products from other manufacturers would quickly follow. Boy did they ever. This week at AirVenture, the autopilot party continues as sub-$20,000 systems from Genesys Aerosystems (formerly S-TEC), BendixKing, TruTrak and Trio Avionics hit the market, bringing autoflight capability to the general aviation masses.
A Wave of Low-Cost Autopilots Emerges at AirVenture
Key Takeaways:
- A wave of new, affordable autopilot systems (many under $20,000) for general aviation certified aircraft was announced at AirVenture, significantly expanding autoflight capabilities.
- Genesys Aerosystems introduced the S-TEC 3100 Digital Flight Control System, designed for integration with both legacy and modern avionics, featuring advanced capabilities and a sub-$20,000 price point.
- TruTrak and Trio Avionics received STC approval for their Vizion and Pro Pilot autopilots, respectively, making systems available for as low as $5,000 for certified aircraft, while BendixKing launched the AeroCruze for digital upgrades to existing autopilots.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
