In most glass panels the autopilot itself is the display's software and a pair of servos out of sight. What takes room in the panel is the mode controller, the row of buttons a pilot presses to engage the autopilot and choose a mode. It's a small box, but where it goes matters, because it's the one the pilot reaches for most in a busy approach.
Garmin GMC 507: $1,520
The GMC 507 works with Garmin's G3X Touch and GFC 500 autopilot. Its buttons cover heading or track, navigation, approach, altitude hold and select, vertical speed, indicated airspeed, vertical navigation, flight director, yaw damper and a level button. Garmin gives it as 6.25 x 2.1 in., 2.61 in. deep, 0.68 lb, drawing 0.2 A at 14 V. It's the most-placed autopilot control in Hangar Flying's Panel Designer this year: 348 of the 2,455 designs members started hold one.
Garmin GMC 307: $1,525
The GMC 307 is the same width and height as the GMC 507, 3.43 in. deep and 0.62 lb, drawing 0.12 A. Garmin documents both in its G3X Touch installation manual, so the choice comes down to the autopilot it's paired with and the depth available.
Dynon SkyView autopilot panel: $698
Dynon's SV-AP-PANEL is a narrow module in Dynon's 3.53 x 1.8 in. size, the same size as its com radio and intercom controls, so a row of them lines up neatly. Dynon gives it as 1.27 in. deep and 0.3 lb, drawing 0.05 A at 12 V, not counting trim motors. Aircraft Spruce lists it at $698 in either vertical or horizontal form, and Dynon's autopilot servos from $918 each. In Hangar Flying's 2026 designs it's placed 157 times vertically and 126 times horizontally.
Trio Pro Pilot: from $3,185
Trio's Pro Pilot is a complete autopilot rather than a controller for a display's autopilot. Trio lists it from $3,185. Aircraft Spruce gives the instrument-mount control head as a 3-1/8 in. instrument, 6 in. long and 12 oz, and each servo as 27 oz. It's in 71 of this year's designs.
Choosing the place
A mode controller is used by feel and at a glance, often at the moment workload peaks. That argues for a place within easy reach of the hand that isn't on the stick or yoke, close to the display that shows the selected modes, and clear of the flap and trim switches it could be mistaken for.
Sources
- Garmin, G3X/G3X Touch Avionics Installation Manual 190-01115-01 Rev. AZ, Tables 2-2 and 2-4 (GMC 507, GMC 307). Garmin list prices as read for Hangar Flying's Panel Designer, October 27, 2026; Aircraft Spruce, GMC 507.
- Dynon, SkyView System Installation Guide Rev AX, Tables 3-5; Aircraft Spruce, Dynon SkyView (SV-AP-PANEL, servos). Read October 27, 2026.
- Trio Avionics, Pro Pilot, list price as read for Hangar Flying's Panel Designer, October 17, 2026; Aircraft Spruce, Trio Pro Pilot (control head and servo weights).
- Hangar Flying, Panel Designer: count of members' panel designs started January 1 to October 27, 2026; the buttons as drawn from Garmin's and Dynon's photographs.