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STEC 30 or Century 2000 any suggestions?
About ready to pull the trigger on an autopilot system. Got quotes on both STEC 30 (w/alt hold) and a Century 2000. Price difference is the Century will cost about 2K more installed but allows ILS coupled approaches and climb and descent settings. Any suggestions from the masses on which one? Do not have a GPSS output from my Apollo GX50 so no need for steering module (so far that is!)
Wringing my hands and pacing the floor in anticipation of the decision!
Thanks,
Paul
Paul Klouda- ICS member
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:46 am
Re: STEC 30 or Century 2000 any suggestions?
Expect to hear from both sides. We've been happy with Century 2000 since 1994 when they sponsored us and it helped win the Gold Medal in the pilot-skilled around the world air race. Added the GPSS in 2005 - awesome capabilities to do holds etc. It has needed maintenance on the attitude indicator as this is where it gets the sensing info. If we were to buy one today, I would still choose Century.
Patricia Jayne (Pat) Keefer ICS 08899
PA-39 #10 Texas
N3322G- ICS member
- Posts: 1911
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 1:58 pm
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas area
Re: STEC 30 or Century 2000 any suggestions?
Regards
jvb
- VANBLADEREN
- ICS BOD member
- Posts: 203
- Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2001 8:55 pm
Re: STEC 30 or Century 2000 any suggestions?
Never flown an S-Tec, but have a couple thousand hours behind C-2000 autopilots in 4 different Comanches.
At least 1000 hrs of that in a 250 with a GX-50, and loved it. As I aged and wanted more help I upgraded to 430W, altitude pre-select and GPSS - first with an HSI, then, (and now), with Aspen.
Like Pat, I did have an issue with one AI; that Century took care of promptly.
If had to do it again today would stick with the C-2000.
Good luck on your decision.
Best regards, Don
Don Nelson- ICS member
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2003 5:57 pm
- Location: Burlington, Washington; KBVS
Re: STEC 30 or Century 2000 any suggestions?
I'm in the market for an autopilot also but just can't stomach the price/features equation.
It may be 'pie in the sky' but do you think the Small Aircraft Revitalisation Act passing will have any near term positive affect on which autopilots we are able to fit to our aircraft? Even the lowest specification Trutrak autopilot or G3X autopilot blows the socks off either the S-Tec or C-2000 at about 1/10th of the price.
Very frustrating that those features and the price point are available but just out of our reach....
Cheers,
James.
James Turner- Posts: 102
- Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:20 am
Re: STEC 30 or Century 2000 any suggestions?
PA-39 N8934Y
ICS 268