Yingling Ascend 172 at Oshkosh/EAA Will Feature New Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot, Additional Upgrades
Wichita, KS—Yingling Aviation’s comprehensively remanufactured light single engine airplane, the Ascend 172, with a new updated panel and avionics suite featuring Garmin’s recently-announced GFC 500 autopilot, will be on display at the Garmin exhibit during the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture 2017, July 24-30 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The revitalized N172UF sports a new panel with dual, flush-mounted Garmin G5 Electronic Flight Instruments and a new Garmin GFC 500 solid state attitude-based (AHRS-derived) autopilot situated at the bottom of the center stack. It also features Garmin’s GMA 350 audio panel, GTN 650 GPS/NAV/COM, GNC 255A NAV/COM, and GTX 345 ADS-B In/Out Transponder. The updated panel configuration, along with others offered in the Ascend by Yingling, eliminates the need for a vacuum pump. N172UF will be on display throughout the show.
“Having the opportunity to work with Garmin with the showing of their newly announced GFC 500 autopilot and G5 Electronic Flight Instruments in our Ascend 172 is another example of how we are trying to bring the latest technology into the cockpit,” explained Yingling CEO Lynn Nichols. “The Ascend 172 we currently have for sale at Oshkosh is fully-equipped and compliant with all Next Gen air traffic requirements and still consider-ably less expensive to acquire and operate than new factory models,” he added.
Priced at $6,995, the GFC 500 is designed specifically for less complex single engine aircraft. It is built to interface with Garmin’s G5 electronic flight instrument. The dual installation on the Ascend 172 offers reversionary display capability plus added redundancy as well as exceptional performance, reliability and ease of installation as a drop-in replacement for primary attitude and/or directional gyros in type-certificated fixed-wing aircraft.
“It’s a direct response to customers who have been asking us for an autopilot for the retrofit market that shares the GFC 700’s DNA. This is it! Once certified, it will be a readily available and affordable upgrade for an impressive list of aircraft included on a comprehensive approved model list (AML),” noted Jim Alpiser, Director of Garmin’s Aviation Worldwide Aftermarket Sales. “The compact and cost-effective G5 electronic flight instrument has provided modern ‘glass cockpit’ reference to thousands of aircraft that would otherwise depend on older, vacuum-driven equipment. Now, with the addition of the GFC 500 and 600 autopilots, we plan to take this technology as far into general aviation as possible, tailoring autopilot solutions to all of GA. Our goal is to reduce the pilot workload and improve safe aircraft operation significantly.”
Garmin’s recently-introduced G5 electronic flight instrument offers onscreen autopilot mode annunciation and provides cross-check of the autopilot's own self-contained roll and pitch sensors. The G5 flight instrument is also used for data input and for arming the altitude preselect, setting the heading bug, vertical speed and target airspeeds, plus it displays autopilot flight director command bars.
The GFC 500 can be expanded with optional automatic electric pitch trim, which re-quires the installation of an additional trim servo, but installations on lighter and more basic airframes will make use of the system's standard trim prompting, where the system prompts the pilot to manually trim the aircraft. This saves installation time, cost and complexity.
Yingling’s AirVenture display aircraft, N172UF, is outfitted with Yingling’s Signature paint scheme with Snow White base color and Granite Gray and Tan stripes. In addition to the dual G5 flight instruments and a mock-up of the GFC 500 autopilot, it is equipped with a GTN 650 Global Positioning System (GPS/Nav/Com), GMA 350 audio panel, GNC 255A Nav/Com, GTX 345 ADS-B In/Out transponder, LED lighting, and optional Wheel Fairings.
Garmin says the initial STC for the GFC500 is expected to be completed on the Model 172 in the fourth quarter of 2017. Total system price including the G5 flight instrument will be less than $10,000, before installation.
About Garmin
Garmin’s aviation business segment is a leading provider of solutions to OEM, aftermarket, military and government customers. Garmin’s portfolio includes navigation, communication, flight control, hazard avoidance, an expansive suite of ADS-B solutions and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and value. For more information about Garmin’s full line of avionics, go to www.garmin.com/aviation.
About Yingling
Yingling Aviation was founded in 1946 and was named the first Cessna dealer that same year. Its approximately 100 Wichita-based employees are dedicated to serving customers. A full general aviation services provider at Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Wichita, Kansas, Yingling is a Beechcraft, Cessna and McCauley Propeller Authorized Service Center servicing a broad spectrum of piston, turbine and jet aircraft. It has long been the largest independent Cessna parts supplier in the world, as well. It provides comprehensive support to new and legacy Textron aircraft, offering the experience and expertise of top-notch FlightSafety trained technicians, proximity to the both Cessna and Beech factories, and familiarity with local vendors. Providing avionics, interiors, propeller, aircraft sales, and management services, Yingling Aviation can be reached by calling Jerry Pickett at (316) 943-3246 or on the web at www.yinglingavi-ation.com.
