Do I Need The GFC700?

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HPNAviator
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Re: Do I Need The GFC700?

Post by HPNAviator »

cbrinton wrote:
Im located at HPN if you want to link up and share thoughts.

Chris, I also have a DA40 2007 XL model (actually 1/3rd) at HPN at Panorama. Would love to get your perspective on the XLS vs the XL. As you know not a lot of DA40's around here. We do not have WAAS or SV and would like to swap experiences.
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Re: Do I Need The GFC700?

Post by Jean »

Lance Murray wrote:The GFC700 is nice but the KAP 140 is good enough to do the job well.
Ditto.
GFC700 was an extra 40K cost when I purchased in 2009, so I went for a 2004 G1000 KAP 140.
Sure would prefer GFC700 but KAP 140 does all I need.
I did my IFR training and check without autopilot and I usually turn it off when I practice. That's a lot of work.
I wouldn't want to fly IFR alone without A/P.
40.446, G1000, KAP 140, Hartzell Metal
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cbrinton
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Re: Do I Need The GFC700?

Post by cbrinton »

HPNAviator wrote:
cbrinton wrote:
Im located at HPN if you want to link up and share thoughts.

Chris, I also have a DA40 2007 XL model (actually 1/3rd) at HPN at Panorama. Would love to get your perspective on the XLS vs the XL. As you know not a lot of DA40's around here. We do not have WAAS or SV and would like to swap experiences.
Absolutely. Im at MillionAir and Im parked directly across from a DA42, but I think the three of us are it :) . Im sure we can find a time one of these weekends to meet up at the field. I did my PPL training at Panorama so am very familiar with it.
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Re: Do I Need The GFC700?

Post by Colin »

My DA40 has the KAP140.

I regularly fly a friend's XL so I get to use the GFC700. I wish I could upgrade.

I have had the plane in the shop once a year for autopilot issues. When I last had it in (replacing the pitch servo, again), I asked whether they saw similar issues on the Garmin Autopilot. "I wouldn't know." They were a Garmin shop, aren't they authorized to repair the autopilots? "Yes, we've just never had one come in with an issue.

It bummed me out.

It is simpler to have a single place to set barometer and altitude bugs. It is better in turbulence (faster processor, stronger servos).

I am thinking of a DA42, and it kills me that they took so long to put the GFC700 in the plane.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
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Re: Do I Need The GFC700?

Post by Tkramer »

Coming from your point in experience, I believe you will be very happy with a KAP-140 autopilot. I am a Cessna certified G1000 instrument instructor with 500 hours and 30 students trained using the GFC700 autopilot. Yet, when I was shopping for a DA-40 a year ago, I was specifically looking for a non-WAAS KAP-140 plane to avoid about $50k expense. Yes, those features would be nice to have but there are really few times you actually need them. You will be able to do 99% of your flights with something built before 2007. The only feature the GFC700 gives is constant airspeed climbs and descents (FLC) and I have learned to achieve the same result with the KAP140 simply by selecting a moderate, 500fpm climb rate or adjusting the throttle on descents. One dark side of the GFC700 is the failure modes connected to the AHARS/ADC which you don't have because the KAP-140 has its own, independent attitude gyro.
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Re: Do I Need The GFC700?

Post by Colin »

Tkramer wrote:One dark side of the GFC700 is the failure modes connected to the AHARS/ADC which you don't have because the KAP-140 has its own, independent attitude gyro.
Although the same is true in the other direction. If the turn coordinator mounted behind your PFD goes tango uniform, the KAP-140 is useless. And I trust the Garmin parts more than the other parts Diamond tends to select.
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Re: Do I Need The GFC700?

Post by Scotsman58 »

Tkramer wrote:Coming from your point in experience, I believe you will be very happy with a KAP-140 autopilot. I am a Cessna certified G1000 instrument instructor with 500 hours and 30 students trained using the GFC700 autopilot. Yet, when I was shopping for a DA-40 a year ago, I was specifically looking for a non-WAAS KAP-140 plane to avoid about $50k expense. Yes, those features would be nice to have but there are really few times you actually need them. You will be able to do 99% of your flights with something built before 2007. The only feature the GFC700 gives is constant airspeed climbs and descents (FLC) and I have learned to achieve the same result with the KAP140 simply by selecting a moderate, 500fpm climb rate or adjusting the throttle on descents. One dark side of the GFC700 is the failure modes connected to the AHARS/ADC which you don't have because the KAP-140 has its own, independent attitude gyro.
Timothy: Having done some flying in a '08 XLS and seen the GFC700 put through its paces, I have come to the conclusion that -- while the GFC is very impressive -- my mission does not require it. So I'm looking at '06 or earlier aircraft in order to save that $50k. I very much appreciate your viewpoint, which coming from someone who instructs on the G1000 is most helpful to me.
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Re: Do I Need The GFC700?

Post by Gary »

I'll admit that my KAP140 can be sloppy on approaches but it usually does what I need very well which is to fly headings and NAV enroute and hold altitude (as long as it is not raining too hard). With SVT I can hand fly approaches better than the KAP140 and it only cost me $5,000 as an upgrade to the G500 installation. I hope someday to own a G700 equipped airplane but the KAP140 in a DA40 sure beats hand flying a steam gauge C172 which is how I started flying IFR.
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Re: Do I Need The GFC700?

Post by Tommy »

Gary wrote:... I hope someday to own a G700 equipped airplane but the KAP140 in a DA40 sure beats hand flying a steam gauge C172 which is how I started flying IFR.
Flying on the back of a teradactyl beats flying any kind of a C172.
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Re: Do I Need The GFC700?

Post by Gary »

Tommy wrote:
Gary wrote:... I hope someday to own a G700 equipped airplane but the KAP140 in a DA40 sure beats hand flying a steam gauge C172 which is how I started flying IFR.
Flying on the back of a teradactyl beats flying any kind of a C172.
It's like driving an old beat up pick up truck instead of a sports car.
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