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It’s the Autopilot Solution GA Aircraft Owners Have Been Waiting For
- Cost-effective, precise and smooth in-flight characteristics, built-in self-monitoring capabilities and lower cost of ownership when compared to older autopilot systems
- Designed for existing light single-engine piston, fixed-wing aircraft, initially planned to be available for the Cessna 172, Cessna 182 and Piper PA-28
- Leverages certificated G5 electronic flight instrument1 for primary attitude reference — plus input and display of altitude preselect, heading, vertical speed, airspeed target and flight director cues
- Robust feature set, including safety features such as underspeed and overspeed protection, a dedicated return-to-level (LVL) mode button, Garmin ESP™ (Electronic Stability and Protection), Flight Director (FD), coupled approaches and missed approaches when paired with a compatible navigator and much more
- Offers 2-axis (pitch and roll) capabilities tailored to your aircraft; optional pitch-trim servo adds automatic trim and manual electric trim
The revolutionary GFC 500 autopilot brings unprecededented levels of capability, reliability and affordability to light single-engine, fixed-wing general aviation aircraft. GFC 500 leverages Garmin's advanced attitude-based flight control technology developed for the popular GFC 700 autopilot, which drives their most advanced glass flight deck systems.
To help prevent incidents caused by loss of control, the FAA and other regulators encourage the use of key technologies, such as angle-of-attack indicators and autopilots, to help increase situational awareness, reduce pilot workload and enhance safety of flight. GFC 500 is the right product — at the right price — for popular certified light GA aircraft such as select Cessna 172 and Cessna 182 models as well as Piper PA-28 series aircraft. Boasting a superior feature set, GFC 500 incorporates a number of safety-enhancing technologies, including Garmin ESP, underspeed and overspeed protection, automatic LVL mode, flight director (FD) command cues and more.
Mode Control at Your Fingertips
A mode controller is included with your GFC 500 package, and its compact size and mark-width design require only minimal space in your avionics stack while providing easy access to all autopilot modes and functions. You can select advanced lateral and vertical modes such as pitch hold, altitude preselect, altitude hold, vertical speed and indicated airspeed hold as well as roll, track and selected heading. For added safety, a dedicated LVL button on the controller lets you command the autopilot to automatically return your aircraft to straight-and-level flight.
Hand-fly with Stability Protection
Any pilot who’s ever been startled to attention by a stall warning horn in a busy cockpit will appreciate the proactive stability augmentation of our ESP technology, which is standard on the GFC 500 system. When the aircraft is being hand-flown, this ESP feature functions independently of the autopilot — although it uses the same control servos — to nudge the controls toward stable flight whenever pitch or roll deviations exceed the recommended limits or underspeed/overspeed conditions occur. After the system detects that it has been activated for a specified period of time, the autopilot will engage with the flight director in level mode, bringing the aircraft back to level flight and helping to avoid the onset of inadvertent stall/spins, steep spirals or other loss-of-control scenarios. Additionally, ESP can be manually disabled to allow for intentional flight maneuvers.
Plus, pairing GFC 500 with a GTN Xi series navigator enhances our Smart Glide™ technology for emergency engine power loss situations. Once Smart Glide is activated, GFC 500 automatically activates IAS mode at best glide speed and flies the generated route near the airport so the pilot can land.
Hladké ovládání servopohonem
Pro maximální spolehlivost a bezpečnost jsou serva GFC 500 vybavena bezkartáčovými stejnosměrnými motory a převodovkou, která eliminuje potřebu mechanické kluzné spojky a střižných kolíků. Tato konstrukce vede ke zvýšení účinnosti systému - a zároveň snižuje požadavky na údržbu/kontrolu. Serva váží každé pouze 1,4 kg, takže jsou o více než 40 % lehčí než většina ostatních serv autopilotů této třídy. Každé servo je ovládáno vlastním vestavěným mikroprocesorem, který poskytuje "chytrou" logiku, jež výrazně zlepšuje výkonnost snímačů, odezvu a schopnosti samokontroly - a zároveň zjednodušuje celkovou konfiguraci a instalaci systému.
An Autopilot Knows Its Limits
With the autopilot engaged, GFC 500 also provides overspeed and underspeed protection. In a high airspeed situation — for example, if you’re descending and your aircraft is approaching VNE or VMO — the system will increase the aircraft’s pitch attitude, preventing a further increase in airspeed and potential structural damage. Likewise, at the other end of the speed spectrum, GFC 500 provides underspeed (stall) protection. For example, in the event the pilot does not immediately advance the throttle to full power, with the autopilot engaged while flying a missed approach sequence, the autopilot will help prevent an aircraft stall by reducing pitch attitude and provide the pilot with an “airspeed, airspeed” audible alert.
It’s a Total Peace-of-mind Investment
There is no substitute for a safe and vigilant pilot. But there are times when a “helping hand” at the controls can have a significant impact on the safety, comfort and enjoyment of your flight. Backed by a comprehensive warranty and the industry’s No. 1-rated product support team, our GFC 500 autopilot system is a price- and peace-of-mind breakthrough for pilots who want to add these valuable capabilities to their existing light piston GA aircraft. Installation approval via supplemental type certification (STC) is expected to be completed on a range of popular models. See your authorized Garmin installation center for more details on configuring a GFC 500 retrofit package for your aircraft.
In addition to traditional autopilot capabilities such as altitude hold, vertical speed and heading modes, the GFC™ 500 also includes:
- Premium functions and advanced capabilities such as altitude preselect and indicated airspeed hold mode. VNAV will be a growth function when appropriately equipped.
- Pilots can select, couple and fly various instrument approaches, including GPS, ILS, VOR, LOC and back course approaches with a compatible navigator.
- Built-in GPS roll steering capability eliminates the need for external roll steering converters, allowing for smoother navigation tracking when installed with a compatible navigator.
- Level Mode button, which automatically engages the autopilot to restore the aircraft to straight and level flight.
- Underspeed and overspeed protection helps prevent the pilot from stalling the aircraft or exceed the maximum aircraft speed (VNE), respectively.
- Flight Director command bars can be displayed on the G5.
- Pilots can fly coupled ‘go-arounds’ during missed approach sequencing when paired with a GTN™ 650/750 navigator.
- An optional pitch-trim servo adds automatic trim and manual electric trim.
Backed by a comprehensive warranty and the industry’s No. 1-rated product support team, the Garmin GFC 500 autopilot system is a price and peace-of-mind breakthrough for pilots who want to add this valuable capability to their existing light piston GA aircraft.
Aircraft Models Currently FAA Approved for GFC 500 Installation:
Beechcraft Bonanza - Models: S35, V35, V35A, V35B, 36, A36, A36TC*
Beechcraft Bonanza/Debonair - Models: 33, A33, B33, C33, C33A, E33, E33A, E33C, F33*, F33A, F33C*, G33*
Cessna 172 - Models: E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, F172E, F172F, F172G, F172H, F172K, F172L, F172M, F172N, F172P, FR172K, R172K
Cessna 182 - Models: E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, T182, T182T, F182P, F182Q
Cessna 180 - Models: 180, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K
Cessna 185 - Models: 185, A, B, C, D, E, A185E, A185F
Cessna 210 - Models: 210K, T210K, 210L, T210L, 210M, T210M, 210N, T210N
Grumman (American General) AA-5 Series - Models: AA-5 Traveler, AA-5A Cheetah, AA-5B Tiger, AG-5B Tiger
Mooney M20 - Models: J, K, M, R, S
Piper PA-28 - Models: 140, 150, 151, 160, 161, 180, 181
GFC 500 Certification Programs Planned to Begin in the Next 12-months:
Cessna 172RG - Models: 172RG
Cessna 177 - Models: 177B, 177RG
Cessna 206 - Models: To be determined
Cessna 210 - Models: To be determined
Mooney M20 - Models: M20, A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Piper PA-28 - Models: 235, 236
Piper PA-28R - Models: 180, 200, 201, 201T
Piper PA-28RT - Models: To be determined
Piper PA-32R - Models: 300, 300T, 301, 301T
Piper PA-32RT - Models: To be determined
GFC 500 Certification Programs Currently In-progress:
Cessna 182RG - Models: R182, FR182, TR182
