Garmin GFC500 Autopilot

Bring your aircraft in for a no obligation discussion about autopilot options. 

Leveraging attitude-based control technology from Garmin's high-end flight deck systems, the GFC 500 digital autopilot offers great performance and value for owners/pilots of light, fixed-wing aircraft.

• Thousands of existing GA aircraft can now be upgraded with reliable GFC 500 flight control.
• View modes and flight director cues on your select Garmin digital instruments and flight displays.
• Digitally driven “smart” servos provide crisp control inputs and a silky-smooth ride.
• Fly with safety-enhancing Garmin ESP™ electronic stability protection, return-to-level (LVL) mode and more.
• Scalable 2-axis (pitch and roll) control can be expanded with optional pitch trim and yaw damper *.
• Pair with your compatible GPS navigator to fly coupled approaches and other procedures.

ELECTRONIC ATTITUDE

Forget failure-prone mechanical gyros. Instead, the GFC 500 system is digitally controlled, using solid-state ADAHRS sensors for greater precision and reliability.  A digital flight instrument, such as our G5 or GI 275 (sold separately), provides the required attitude reference for your system. Or you can optionally add glass flight displays such as the G3X Touch™ or G500 TXi systems — while using G5 or GI 275 as your required standby display2.

ADD REVERSIONARY DISPLAYS

Up to two each of the GI 275 or G5 electronic flight displays (sold separately) can be interfaced with the GFC 500 autopilot in your aircraft to provide full reversionary backup in case of display outage or malfunction.

SIMPLIFIED MODE SELECTION

An included mark-width mode controller offers easy access to such lateral and vertical mode selections. An intuitive up-down control wheel on the unit allows for easy and precise adjustment of aircraft pitch, airspeed and vertical speed modes.  AUTOMATIC LVL MODE.  Distracted or disoriented? A dedicated LVL mode button on the autopilot controller commands the autopilot to automatically return the aircraft to straight-and-level flight.

 

ADAPTABLE ARCHITECTURE

The autopilot’s scalable design supports full pitch-and-roll axis control capabilities with optional pitch trim for automatic and manual electric trim offered for select aircraft. Yaw damper capability is also optionally available for select aircraft models.

 

VERTICAL MODES

The advanced vertical modes make it easy to manage climbs, descents and more with the GFC 500 system. Vertical modes include pitch hold, altitude hold with preselect, vertical speed, approach and more.

 

FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTEGRATION

Guidance from your compatible navigation source (such as the GTN™ Xi, GTN™ or GNS™ series navigators) enables the GFC 500 system to offer fully integrated flight director coupling plus GPS roll steering inputs.

AUTOPILOT-COUPLED NAV

With guidance from your GTN Xi, GTN or GNS series navigator, the GFC 500 can fly a wide range of precision, nonprecision and GPS-guided approaches — as well as holds, procedure turns, missed approaches and more.

COUPLED VNAV

When the GFC 500 system is paired with your GTN or GTN Xi series touchscreen navigator and compatible flight displays, fully coupled VNAV mode can fly a fully coupled vertical descent profile with automatic step-down altitude captures.

COMPATIBLE WITH SMART GLIDE™ TECHNOLOGY

In the case of an engine power loss situation, our Smart Glide technology can help reduce your workload. When paired with your Smart Glide capable avionics, GFC 500 will automatically engage in IAS mode at best glide speed — using the GPS guidance to fly the aircraft near the selected airport.

GARMIN ESP TECHNOLOGY

When a pilot is hand-flying, this proactive feature functions independently of the autopilot, using the system’s servos to gently nudge the controls back toward level flight if pitch or roll deviations exceed recommended limits. Garmin ESP can be disabled to allow for intentional maneuvers.

OVERSPEED/UNDERSPEED PROTECTION

To help the pilot keep the aircraft flying at safe airspeeds, GFC 500 provides overspeed and underspeed protection with automatic pitch adjustments and audible “airspeed, airspeed” pilot alerts.

LATERAL MODES

GFC 500 makes it easy to track your desired lateral course. Roll, heading, NAV (GPS/VOR/LOC) and more are available.

 

 

POWERFULLY SMART BRUSHLESS SERVO MOTORS

Digitally controlled speed and torque limits on the GFC 500n servos allow faster, crisper and more powerful response — ensuring optimum smoothness and comfort in flight.  For maximum reliability, GFC 500 servos incorporate brushless DC motors. This results in greater system efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements. The servos also provide virtually no control system friction with the autopilot turned off.

SIMPLY GO-AROUND

With support for a remote takeoff/go-around button, the autopilot can be cued to automatically capture the correct pitch attitude required to fly a missed approach then follow the procedure loaded in your compatible GPS navigator.

EXTENSIVE MODEL LIST

The GFC500 autopilot can be installed in hundreds of light GA aircraft.  New aircraft are being added to the list regularly.  Installation is easier than you might think.

*Yaw damper and pitch trim are not available for all aircraft models
^G500 TXi requires either a GI 275 or G5 flight instrument with GAD™ 29 adapter