OLD OLD Autopilot support

[TUPilot]

Looking for 60 and 70s era twins and many of them come with autopilots that aren't really supported anymore. Obviously the easy solution is an STEC or similar replacement, but in the interest of saving $$ I'm curious if there are any shops that work on these aging units.

I've heard good things about Autopilot Central/Sparks in Tulsa, but one of the aircraft has an Altimatic II and I don't think even they touch those anymore. Anyone know of shops that work on the Altimatic II?

Thanks!

 

[Bill]

I don't know about the Altimatic, but these guys did a great job of refurbing our King KFC200 servos. We later had them refurb an older King radio as well. Good prices, competent service. Call them and see if they work on the units you're interested in.

http://www.butleravionics.com/Service-Department

 

[ahkahn]

Pretty sure that Autopilot Central does Altimatic II's. That is actually a very common autopilot, IIRC. I believe most of the Piper autopilots of the 60's and 70's are rebadged Altimatics.

 

[Henning]

Looking for 60 and 70s era twins and many of them come with autopilots that aren't really supported anymore. Obviously the easy solution is an STEC or similar replacement, but in the interest of saving $$ I'm curious if there are any shops that work on these aging units.

I've heard good things about Autopilot Central/Sparks in Tulsa, but one of the aircraft has an Altimatic II and I don't think even they touch those anymore. Anyone know of shops that work on the Altimatic II?

Thanks!

Which do you think are unsupported? The fact is, most of them are supported far cheaper than modern ones that are. They are all common part systems that field tech guys can keep going pretty easily with no factory support or pricing. They just buy off the shelf components and fix it. There are still gyro shops that can fix all the gyros.

 

[BGF_Yankee]

AC took care of the problems I was having with my Altimatic IIIc. Barry is awesome!

 

[TUPilot]

Which do you think are unsupported? The fact is, most of them are supported far cheaper than modern ones that are. They are all common part systems that field tech guys can keep going pretty easily with no factory support or pricing. They just buy off the shelf components and fix it. There are still gyro shops that can fix all the gyros.

Altimatic Pilot II... several things I've read on PofA and elsewhere says Autopilot Central doesn't work on older than the Altimatic III. There website does not list it either.

I agree about the price to maintain; IF the parts can be bought the older units are simpler and cheaper. Apparently some stuff in the II is simply not manufactured anymore and most of the people that know the system have retired or passed on. If we go with the Altimatic II plane and can't service it, I'd think about installing a used Century system or maybe go to Brittain. I fly with S-Tecs regularly and they are good units, but between the purchase price and the ongoing MX costs associated with them I'm thinking an older unit would be better for basic two-axis functionality.

 

[TUPilot]

Pretty sure that Autopilot Central does Altimatic II's. That is actually a very common autopilot, IIRC. I believe most of the Piper autopilots of the 60's and 70's are rebadged Altimatics.

The Altimatic was Piper's marketing name... I believe the Altimatc III and up were rebadged Century units (all of which AC and some of the other autopilot specialists support), but the II is the red headed stepchild as best I can tell. Not sure of its lineage or who supports it.

 

[Henning]

What irked me about S-Tec was I had a perfectly good used 60-2 lined up out of a tornado totaled plane, yaw damper and all. I asked S-Tec about getting an STC, and basically they told me I had to send it to them and basically pay them the price of a new system to get it back with an STC for my plane. I told him to **** off, I'd never buy an S-Tec.

 

[ahkahn]

The Altimatic was Piper's marketing name... I believe the Altimatc III and up were rebadged Century units (all of which AC and some of the other autopilot specialists support), but the II is the red headed stepchild as best I can tell. Not sure of its lineage or who supports it.

That's right! I got it backwards. My bad.

 

[Ted]

Check with Griffin Avionics at KHYA.

I don't believe the Altimatic II is unsupported per se, but most of the 60s and 70s era twins I've dealt with had a Century/Altimatic III of some sort.

The C/A III(B/C) isn't a bad autopilot, but it's definitely nowhere near as good as the KFC150/200s. I have about 2000 hours flying C/A IIIs. None of them ever worked 100%. It provides you with a healthy distrust of autopilots.

 

[Henning]

Check with Griffin Avionics at KHYA.

I don't believe the Altimatic II is unsupported per se, but most of the 60s and 70s era twins I've dealt with had a Century/Altimatic III of some sort.

The C/A III(B/C) isn't a bad autopilot, but it's definitely nowhere near as good as the KFC150/200s. I have about 2000 hours flying C/A IIIs. None of them ever worked 100%. It provides you with a healthy distrust of autopilots.

Yeah, the few planes with "working" autopilots I flew would make sudden 90° turns and crap like that, one was even a King. The only 2 reliable ones I have used have been Av's S-Tec 55x, and surprisingly Bob Gerace's Cessna 400B, and both of those guys spent big bucks on that stuff frequently.

 

[Clark1961]

Yeah, the few planes with "working" autopilots I flew would make sudden 90° turns and crap like that, one was even a King. The only 2 reliable ones I have used have been Av's S-Tec 55x, and surprisingly Bob Gerace's Cessna 400B, and both of those guys spent big bucks on that stuff frequently.

The cheapest thing you can do in autopilot maintenance is take it to a good shop like Autopilots Central and tell them to fix it.

You won't like the bill but it will work and it will be a one stop fix. The local shop, prolly not so much and you'll pay labor again and again along with a healthy mark-up when they send components out for repair.

 

[Henning]

The cheapest thing you can do in autopilot maintenance is take it to a good shop like Autopilots Central and tell them to fix it.

You won't like the bill but it will work and it will be a one stop fix. The local shop, prolly not so much and you'll pay labor again and again along with a healthy mark-up when they send components out for repair.

For sure a specialty shop is the way to go, but even then, those trips are not exactly what I consider infrequent when I consider the bill. It takes a good few hrs to make the per her cost into a less frightening number. I have seen some people who spend engine level money keeping them working.

 

[KLRDMD]

Altimatic Pilot II... several things I've read on PofA and elsewhere says Autopilot Central doesn't work on older than the Altimatic III. There website does not list it either.

The Altimatic Pilot II bears no resemblance to the Altimatic II or Piper Altimatic of any flavor. It is an ancient, totally unsupported, mechanical, geared autopilot.

There's one guy that may be able to help you figure it out yourself, his name is Ronnie Hughes <rhughes4@swbell.net>.

 

[brien23]

Altimatic Pilot II... several things I've read on PofA and elsewhere says Autopilot Central doesn't work on older than the Altimatic III. There website does not list it either.

I agree about the price to maintain; IF the parts can be bought the older units are simpler and cheaper. Apparently some stuff in the II is simply not manufactured anymore and most of the people that know the system have retired or passed on. If we go with the Altimatic II plane and can't service it, I'd think about installing a used Century system or maybe go to Brittain. I fly with S-Tecs regularly and they are good units, but between the purchase price and the ongoing MX costs associated with them I'm thinking an older unit would be better for basic two-axis functionality.

Nothing is impossible to the person that doesn't have to fix it.