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DA-20 Autopilot
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2019 5:18 pm
by RMarkSampson
I'm going to populate this topic over the next month or so. Flight schools did not need them but I have read several times where other DA-20 owners have lamented over their desire to have an autopilot - most recently on the "how to value a DA-20" blog. 20 years ago, DAI made a brief attempt at building a bling DA-20 which included an autopilot. I was lucky that I was in the market when one of those aircraft came up for sale. But it pains me to know that many of my fellow DA-20 owners can't get the same. So I'm going to try and help.
Call me naïve, but from what I can see, it is not a major effort to install a STEC-30 autopilot in a DA-20. DAI already built the path to do so. You can see that path by looking at the Integrated Parts Catalog (IPC), Chapter 22. The challenge as I see it is to dig into chapter 22 without needing to file Chapter 11 (bankruptcy). I saw a STEC-30 for sale used on eBay for about $5K. I'm guessing they are reasonable available and reasonably priced due to other upgrades to other aircraft where they are tossing a STEC-30 to the back of their hangar. I'm inclined to think that many DA-20 owners would elect to make this upgrade if they could see one that has been installed by DAI. So I will attempt to photograph the guts of my aircraft (under the seat pants and behind the panel) to show my DA-20 brethren how it was done. My next annual is not until next year so some pictures might wait until then, but most pictures are doable without a major disassembly.
More to follow...
Re: DA-20 Autopilot
Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2019 12:16 am
by Pascal
Thanks Mark. I’m interested.
Re: DA-20 Autopilot
Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2019 1:53 am
by okent
Me too, thanks Mark.
Re: DA-20 Autopilot
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:38 pm
by C-1Pilot
RMarkSampson wrote: ↑Sat Aug 03, 2019 5:18 pm
I'm going to populate this topic over the next month or so. Flight schools did not need them but I have read several times where other DA-20 owners have lamented over their desire to have an autopilot - most recently on the "how to value a DA-20" blog. 20 years ago, DAI made a brief attempt at building a bling DA-20 which included an autopilot. I was lucky that I was in the market when one of those aircraft came up for sale. But it pains me to know that many of my fellow DA-20 owners can't get the same. So I'm going to try and help.
Call me naïve, but from what I can see, it is not a major effort to install a STEC-30 autopilot in a DA-20. DAI already built the path to do so. You can see that path by looking at the Integrated Parts Catalog (IPC), Chapter 22. The challenge as I see it is to dig into chapter 22 without needing to file Chapter 11 (bankruptcy). I saw a STEC-30 for sale used on eBay for about $5K. I'm guessing they are reasonable available and reasonably priced due to other upgrades to other aircraft where they are tossing a STEC-30 to the back of their hangar. I'm inclined to think that many DA-20 owners would elect to make this upgrade if they could see one that has been installed by DAI. So I will attempt to photograph the guts of my aircraft (under the seat pants and behind the panel) to show my DA-20 brethren how it was done. My next annual is not until next year so some pictures might wait until then, but most pictures are doable without a major disassembly.
More to follow...
Hi Mark,
I’m new to the forum and just came across this thread. I ordered my DA20 C1 and took delivery at the factory, June of 2004. I was one of the first DA20’s, new from the factory with the STEC 30, w/GPSS steering installed by Diamond. It was coupled to a Garmin 530. I built mine towards more of a cross country aircraft, rather than a trainer. Of course it had leather interior. I was downsizing, having previously partnered in a Grumman Twin and before that a Tiger.
Sadly, I sold my DA20, late 2009, as I felt I wasn’t putting enough hours on her the last year and saw the bleak fiscal times we were headed towards. I got out, figuring I could get back in, which I did recently with an LSA. Again, sadly, I found out my prized DA20, met its fait, in September of this year. I’m still trying to find out more, thankfully there were no fatalities, but it appears it won’t fly again.
More to the point, the STEC 30, as installed in the -20, w/GPSS, is a great tool. Coupled with a good navigator, it flys approaches and all you do is manage speed. I highly recommend this combination. Although our planes are not IFR certifiable, I do wish I had ordered a heated pitot, which at the time was only installed on the personal DA20, of Christian Dries, Diamonds owner, but was told they could install it. I declined.
Re: DA-20 Autopilot
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2020 1:16 am
by RMarkSampson
I've been through two annuals at a Diamond Service Center - alas, that means I don't get to spend as much time doing the owner assist thing anymore. My original plan of mapping out my entire STEC-30 autopilot has fallen to the side. It was a STC install by the factory before delivery to the original owner. My STEC-30 is still a great feature - sadly not very common in the DA-20 fleet. I recently added a G5, replacing a SANDEL 3308 Electronic HSI. It now provides GPSS and my DA-20 now can fly an automated lateral approach. Autopilot can hold altitude but cannot fly a glideslope by itself. Needed to change one of my two GNS-430s to a 430W to make it compatible but it now has LPV capability. While she is VMC only - she can get you out of IFR if you get trapped above. Inexpensive IFR trainer in VMC too...
Re: DA-20 Autopilot
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 12:15 pm
by Derek
Very nice! An autopilot would be a great addition for longer x country flights.