Garmin Gets Green Light For Piper Autopilot STCs

The avionics maker gets approvals for four more popular PA- models.

Garmin GFC-500
Garmin GFC-500

Garmin announced earlier this week that it had earned FAA approval for the installation of its popular GFC 500 autopilot into four models of Piper aircraft. The approvals add to those already in the books for a number of popular Cherokee-branded planes. The latest batch of approvals are for the PA-28 201T and PA-28 236 models known as Dakota, among other monikers, and both major flavors of the iconic Cherokee Six, the 300 and 260 models.

Subscribe today to Plane & Pilot magazine for industry news, reviews and much more delivered straight to you!

Introduced earlier this year, the GFC-500 is one of the new products from Garmin that adds great value to older airframes at an affordable price. A digital, two-axis autopilot with altitude hold, vertical speed and heading capabilities as well as available altitude pre-select and airspeed hold, approach coupling, and others, depending on the installed equipment, the GFC-500 is an extremely advanced unit. At the same time, because of its low price of $6,995 (or $10,000 with a G5 electronic flight instrument) it makes sense for many models of aircraft that before now had values too low for most owners to justify the purchase of an autopilot, let along an advanced one.

For more information on the GFC-500, visit Garmin’s website.

Plane & Pilot

Plane & Pilot Magazine is a trusted source for general aviation pilots, delivering aircraft reviews, flight training tips, product recommendations, and industry news. Whether you're a student pilot or seasoned aircraft owner, our expert content is designed to inform, inspire, and support your aviation journey. With over 50 years of history, we bring a personal, pilot-first approach to everything we publish.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest Plane & Pilot Magazine stories delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE