Upgrading Systems
The foundation of all S-TEC flight control system designs is our "building block design concept". By engineering components which work in the most sophisticated systems as well as in our basic systems, we have accomplished a number of very desirable results.The resultant component interchangeability means better serviceability, higher component usage for volume buying considerations which hold costs down, better production processes which lead to higher quality, and excellent inventory controls which again aid cost control and facilitate delivery. A very important benefit of this design concept is our ability to deliver any flight control system to the S-TEC dealer within 5 to 7 working days of the receipt of his order.
However, the primary benefit to you, the S-TEC user, is the ability to upgrade our systems in a cost effective manner. The upgradeability feature of the S-TEC product line allows a new buyer replacing an outdated competitive system, or adding a system to an aircraft originally built without a flight control system, to buy what they can afford now knowing that the system can be upgraded later as resources allow or flying needs dictate.
S-TEC upgradeability also means any system can be upgraded when the airplane changes hands and the new buyer wants greater capability and performance. In this article we will discuss what upgrades are available to you and how the upgrade of an S-TEC flight control system will be priced.
PSS & Yaw Damper
There are a couple of products in our line that are stand alone upgrades. The S-TEC PSS System is a pitch axis upgrade to virtually any competitive roll axis only flight control system. When you add a PSS to your existing roll axis system manufactured by one of our competitors, you gain vertical speed command, altitude hold and glideslope coupling. Available as options to the PSS are an Altitude Selector/Alerter, and Automatic Electric Trim (on most aircraft). If your existing roll system becomes inoperable down the road, the PSS system can be upgraded to an S-TEC 60-2 or 65 incorporating the components and capabilities of the PSS.The S-TEC Yaw Damper System is an add on upgrade to most S-TEC flight control systems listed below allowing a small amount of rudder trim in addition to dampening adverse yaw.
Entry Level System 40
When our basic System 40 system is installed the aircraft has Roll Axis control with a Navigation Tracker. (See the article Couplers vs. Trackers elsewhere is this issue.) The pilot can command the aircraft to turn using the turn command knob on the face of the autopilot controller. Options to the System 40 include heading select using a heading bug in either a Directional Gyro or and HSI, and Manual Electric Trim.System 50
A System 40 can be enhanced to include Altitude Hold by upgrading it to a System 50, which also includes pitch trim annunciation. As with the System 40, turns are accomplished by the turn command knob or with the heading bug incorporated in a Directional Gyro or HSI. Manual electric trim is optional as well with the System 50. NOTE: If you are installing a System 40 in an aircraft with the intention of later upgrading to a System 50 we recommend installing a System 50 harness. This equips the airplane with pitch axis cables thereby reducing installation expense at upgrade. Accordingly, if a System 40 equipped aircraft is to be upgraded to a System 50 the total upgrade price will include the cost of installing a System 50 harness unless one was installed originally.System 60-1
The System 60-1 is another Roll Axis only system which is a step up from the System 40 since it includes turn command capability using an integral Directional Gyro Heading Bug and course intercept capability employing a Navigation Coupler. ( See the article Couplers vs. Trackers elsewhere in this issue.) Upgrading a System 40 would require a harness change since the intercept capability requires more computer electronics in the form of a remote mounted computer. Options for the 60-1 would be an HSI and Manual Electric Trim.System 60-2
A System 40, 50 or a System 60-1 can be upgraded to a System 60-2 giving the pilot complete pitch and roll functions. The 60-2 pitch control incorporates Vertical Speed Command, Altitude Hold and Glideslope Coupling. The upgrade of the 40, 50, or 60-1 will require the installation of a System 60-2 cable harness and a remote mounted pitch computer. Options available for a System 60-2 autopilot include an Altitude Selector/Alerter, a Flight Director and Automatic Electric Trim (on most aircraft).Component Interchangeability
The System 40, 50, 60-1 and 60-2 all require one 3” ATI panel space and the system upgrades described above can be accomplished with no reconfiguration of the panel or additional panel space requirements.Upgrades to a System 55
A System 40, 50, and 60-1 equipped aircraft can be upgraded to a System 55 Pitch and Roll axis system with the removal of the 3” ATI control head which frees up a 3” panel cutout for another instrument. The System 40, 50, or 60-1 control head is returned to S-TEC as part of the upgrade pricing and in the case of of a 60-1, the roll computer is also returned. The System 55 Controller mounts in the radio stack and is similar to the size of a transponder. The turn coordinator, heading system, servos and altitude transducer all stay with the aircraft to become part of the System 55. A new harness will be required.Upgrades to a System 65
System 40, 50, 60-1 Flight Control Systems can also be upgraded to a System 65 with the removal and return to S-TEC of the control head and installing the flat programmer component and remote annunciator. The System 65 incorporates automatic electric trim as standard as well as all the pitch control functions. Options for the System 65 include an HSI, a Flight Director and an Altitude Selector/Alerter.Upgrade Pricing
Our upgrade pricing works this way. You select the System you would like to upgrade to and your S-TEC dealer will take the List Price of that System from the current S-TEC Price List and subtract from it the current List Price of the system you currently have in your aircraft. The difference is what the upgrade costs from S-TEC. The dealer will add to that the cost to install the components, any harness changes necessary and any options you want to add and you have your upgrade cost. Pretty simple, isn't it - and very fair as well. As you can see the system currently in your aircraft has appreciated with every price increase since the day it was installed.We hope the schematic shown below will help understand S-TEC systems and upgrades available.
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