January 2, 2010 8:32:26 PM CST
I'm fortunate to have 2 onboard GPSs: a KLN 94 that I do not update and a Garmin 430W that I update monthly. I also have a Garmin 496 with weather that I wouldn't be without. I have the 430 and 496 corded together in the plane which gives me the best of both worlds. My 430 drives my autopilot and sends the route info to my 496 which shows the weather along the way. Too hard to tell which is my favorite :-)
Joyce
January 4, 2010 11:48:53 PM CST
The perfect general aviation panel... Garmin 530w over a 430w, Avidyne 5000 MFD, GDL 69A (gotta have my tunes), Skyview traffic watch, and one or two Garmin GTX 330's. All of this brought together with a Garmin GMA 347. I know it's expensive, trust me my boss about had kittens when I gave him the price, but after he's seen the reduced workload, the ability to get around weather (at least in northern Mexico, the Satellite only shows the cloud cover and temps on southern Mexico) and the increase in aircraft availability he told me it was well worth the cost.
February 14, 2010 10:16:58 PM CST
What about portable GPS and EFB's any thought on which way to go thinking a 696? But that is alot of $$.
February 14, 2010 10:27:48 PM CST
Take a look at the review on the Control Vision ATC which I fly with regularly. While that may not be exactly what you are looking for it is a start perhaps and they do offer other models. I also have a Lowrance Airmap 2000 C that I really like and was preparing a review of it but I have found that it may be out of production and no longer available.
I have no direct experience with the Garmin 696. It looks like a great unit yet, as you pointed out, a bit expensive though the price seems to have fallen by about $300 lately. The biggest concern I hear deals with the six month limit placed on some software and without updates it will go inactive. I agree that our units need to be updated regularly but out of date data would be better than no data. I am sure others will give you their opinion and maybe someone have more experience with the 696.
February 15, 2010 10:01:08 PM CST
My FAVORITE ground transportation GPS is my HP dv6 laptop with a usb Garmin antenna and one of several appropriate software packages. Nothing like a 15" moving map, especially as my eyes get a little worse with age :)
For the air, I like my Garmin 295. It's got more functions than I really need.
February 16, 2010 8:54:35 AM CST
Interesting comment Phil. I think most of us have features on the gps units we use to navigate that we do not use. I sometimes think that when you have to take a course and study pages of documentation just to learn how to use something that is designed to make flying easier someone over designed. I think the phrase is "less is more". Just my opinion.
September 16, 2010 4:20:15 PM CDT
I've been flying with a G1000 for 2 years now. There is an impressive amount of technology in the cockpit thanks to this panel. In FL the nicest feature is the XM weather. It's makes flying during the summers so much easier!
