before that I was using an Excel sheet any time it was something I didn't know for sure would be in the envelope (i.e. "more than just me, another human-sized person and some fuel")
aerobalance looks really slick
I like the pre-programmed checkable bits
@egid do I have to enter fuel consumption and time in flight to get the zero-fuel computation and plot? that's a long-standing bug in Aviation W&B that I've been waiting for them to fix & might be worth changing apps at some point :)
AW&B plots landing weight, and their code is Starting Weight --> Landing Weight --> Zero-Fuel Weight -- if the details to compute landing weight are missing it kinda "stops" and forgets about zero fuel
I like 2 because of the improved GPS, and I think I can fabricate a mount for it in the back of the plane where it will be able to get a decent signal and be out of my way
I've got no desire for ADS-B in panel-mount equipment. Just wanna get (an IFR approved) WAAS GPS so I'm good for 2020 and flying GPS approaches and I really don't care so much after that :P
(I think my disdain for the panel-mount traffic & weather stuff is it's so much easier to do all the pre-flight route planning in Foreflight. Clearly what is needed is "connected panel" to get to the point where I can send my route to the plane's GPS/FMS from my iPad.)
it's like turn - push - turn - push - turn - push - turn - push --- let's take EVERYTHING I HATE about my crappy AT-150 transponder and make it FOUR TIMES WORSE!
@egid nobody loves single input knobs after they've had to use them :P
I keep eyeing the Avidyne IFD 440 and thinking they may have actually got it right
I just can't bring myself to plunk down a deposit until (a) the paint is done and I find out how much the inevitable surprises are gonna cost me, and (b) I can poke at the thing with my own grubby little fingers
@egid the other bit about ADS-B questions is there are (in the US, for most of us GA people) 2 routes - 900something MHz UAT or 1090MHz ES transponders - "cheap" (and in some cases "annoying") varies depending on which you pick.
On the other hand, in the newer of the two that I fly, I can enter it on my FMS too instead of using the one knob.... Then I have a full keyboard. Not the old one though. ;-)
Ahh, I don't have time to read all of the replies, but I can tell you "yes" it sometimes is. Especially when you consider the value of your time (consider what that is for someone like Bill Gates).
Also, I used to fly sometimes on light airplanes and avoided paying mileage for the trip in the car and hotel rooms... Worked out cheaper sometimes.
And I was in the office more, so was more productive.
You have to feel my passion here. I want to pilot helicopters, and be able to soar the sky, and have the power to do so.
However, I am exempt from obtaining a driver's license, and I can't take any pilot training without one, cold turkey. I do not want to fly illegally, but there's no other opti...
> To qualify for the Sport pilot certificate, an applicant must: Have a valid US State drivers license or a current 3rd class or higher Airman Medical Certificate
Don't have any new photos yet.... since that photo, I added the TPM panel: http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/tpm.html, and the Trim Wheel: http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/trimwheel.html
I have a small 7" monitor directly above the yoke, that is only the instruments. Then I don't have any instruments on the big-screen (26"), it is entirely an outside view.
And I reorganized the panel, so it looks more like a real cockpit, and isn't stacked so high that it blocks part of the screen.
I have the saitek multi-panel which is somewhat nice, but pretty awful compared to what it should have been.
The mode selector knob was literally impossible to turn when I got it. I had to disassemble the panel and the knob, then bend some metal to make it reasonable.
With the Cessna Trim Wheel, Cessna Yoke, and Cessna Rudder Pedals, they seemed to acknowledge that realism counts for something. Hoping they come out with new versions of everything.
(re-reading the helicopter question): I like how the poster implies that flying illegally is a viable option... just one they don't want to do. :)
" I do not want to fly illegally, but there's no other options." (eg. I guess I'll go the illegal route if I have to... because there's no other options)
Consider this driving route: http://goo.gl/maps/tMfvr (3:30 hours) vs. this flying route: http://skyvector.com/?ll=47.45650857951796,-123.28692627161354&chart=301&zoom=4&plan=A.K1.KBFI:A.K1.KUIL
(less than 1 hour)
However, the downside to flying v. driving.... when you fly somewhere and land, you can't really go anywhere. :) Or you have to procure a car.
When you drive somewhere, you already have your car.
@BretCopeland the response I got from a friend who is a controller: "...There's some restrictions on what you can do but I'm not sure what they are. I'll look into it."
The Hangar
The Hangar