aktango58
FRIEND
18AA
Last night I remembered a conversation I had years back as we were fighting the compass in a cub, no matter what it would read north due to the location and metal around it. The mechanic I was good friends with came into the conversation and started laughing, and reminded us that the compass was archaic and would always be a problem. "Put a hand held GPS in and don't worry about it!"
It made sense. We quit worrying about demagnetizing the plane, and all the other stuff. The GPS paid for itself in fuel over the next year, and was handy.
Today we pilots have a plethora of easy options for "Getting out of Jail" in bad weather. iPad Pro: $950, Strtux antenna: $250, FlyQ Electronic Flight Bag Subscription with IFR charts: $159/year (The sometimes do lifetime subscription deals also); For less than $1,500 you have more information at your fingertips than airliners had ten years ago, including ADSB and synthetic vision.
That is a whole lot less weight also than a full panel, GPS radios, antennas and coax. Best part is with a little velcro a guy can stick the iPad when desired to the panel and remove when not needed to help seeing out, and it is not installed equipment so the FAA does not care.
My iPad has actually lasted longer than my last vacuum pump.
It made sense. We quit worrying about demagnetizing the plane, and all the other stuff. The GPS paid for itself in fuel over the next year, and was handy.
Today we pilots have a plethora of easy options for "Getting out of Jail" in bad weather. iPad Pro: $950, Strtux antenna: $250, FlyQ Electronic Flight Bag Subscription with IFR charts: $159/year (The sometimes do lifetime subscription deals also); For less than $1,500 you have more information at your fingertips than airliners had ten years ago, including ADSB and synthetic vision.
That is a whole lot less weight also than a full panel, GPS radios, antennas and coax. Best part is with a little velcro a guy can stick the iPad when desired to the panel and remove when not needed to help seeing out, and it is not installed equipment so the FAA does not care.
My iPad has actually lasted longer than my last vacuum pump.