Clouds
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Canada
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Though I cannot state a price for an autopilot in a Z 701, I did oversee the installation of a two axis coupled autopilot on a friend's C 182 a few years back. The cost exceeded US$30,000. Thereafter, there is more costly maintenance to assure it's correct operation. And, you're carrying around a few pounds of extra equipment the who life of the plane. Though, in theory, any airplane could be equipped with an autopilot, I would not assume good function of an autopilot in an aircraft as light as a Z 701, the rates of the controllers might not be adequate for and aircraft that light and agile.
Ironically, most of my long past hard IFR flying was hand flown, as those aircraft (Aztecs) were not autopilot equipped back in the day. Since then, with more autopilot availability, I rarely use them, I enjoy the flying!
People at the beginning stages of piloting are better to focus on learning the basics well, and perhaps then getting an instrument rating with a few hundred hours of experience as a pilot. Thereafter, consider autopilots.....
Ironically, most of my long past hard IFR flying was hand flown, as those aircraft (Aztecs) were not autopilot equipped back in the day. Since then, with more autopilot availability, I rarely use them, I enjoy the flying!
People at the beginning stages of piloting are better to focus on learning the basics well, and perhaps then getting an instrument rating with a few hundred hours of experience as a pilot. Thereafter, consider autopilots.....
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Barbados
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Cost of a basic wing-leveler in a an experimental type, the kit would be about US$2,000 - plus your own time to install it.
If you want fancy GPS steering, alt hold etc - assuming ne has the GPS already (you can feed from some handhelds) say double it.
The time if billed would likely run to about $15,000 - but if one has an experimental I assume one would do it oneself.
Only last month the FAA approved some low cost AP systems for 172/182, other types soon to be approved including the PA28 - the same month I spent $10,000 getting the ones in my PA28 refurbed
If you want fancy GPS steering, alt hold etc - assuming ne has the GPS already (you can feed from some handhelds) say double it.
The time if billed would likely run to about $15,000 - but if one has an experimental I assume one would do it oneself.
Only last month the FAA approved some low cost AP systems for 172/182, other types soon to be approved including the PA28 - the same month I spent $10,000 getting the ones in my PA28 refurbed
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Oxford, UK
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Improve your skill, money well spent!
Visiting family in Texas, I signed up to study for the full instrument rating at Georgetown. And so was able to file IFR for all my US of A flying, in a rented spam can with nothing so elegant (and unnecessary) as an autopilot. I prefer to stop for coffee etc every two or three hours on any trip, and don't get too tired....Feels a lot safer to know the controllers are there to help if needed.
Much easier to fly solo, then you don't have to worry about your passengers.
Once you have the IR and are in practice, it is a pleasure and challenge to fly in clouds of every sort (except CB!). However, as a previous poster has mentioned, in the UK and Europe gliders are frequently found under cumulus clouds. Seldom actually in them.
Much easier to fly solo, then you don't have to worry about your passengers.
Once you have the IR and are in practice, it is a pleasure and challenge to fly in clouds of every sort (except CB!). However, as a previous poster has mentioned, in the UK and Europe gliders are frequently found under cumulus clouds. Seldom actually in them.
