WingX Pro7 vs Garmin 796

[WmInce]

http://www.hiltonsoftware.com/Popup-Compare796.html

[FastEddieB]

Very interesting.

 

When looking at the prices of iPhones and iPads, I'm frankly amazed at the versatility one gets for the money.

 

And not to start a war, I 'm sure the same can be said for Android and Windows devices as well.

 

I still use the 496 in my panel as primary, but over time I can see the iPad becoming primary - it's just a matter of getting used to it. I already use the iPad as primary for airport info, since I only update my 496 aviation database annually. Nearly everything is more intuitive and clearer on the iPad screen.

[WmInce]

. . . "Nearly everything is more intuitive and clearer on the iPad screen." . . .

Exactly.

Technically, my primary is Dynon SkyView, then Garmin 396 as primary backup, and iPad WingX Pro as my secondary backup.

Practically though, the iPad is my primary device, hands down.  Display is large and very crisp.  Not to mention, it is so easy to use.  Firmware updates are timely and navigational updates are a snap.

Of course, the final backup for both are paper charts.

[Jim Meade]

I like to see people list the priority of relying on their devices, as my experience is that when things get very scary in the cockpit and items one relied on don't work or are untrustworthy, it is important that one has a hierarchy of devices one is quite familiar with, can operate will giving primary focus on flying the airplane, and that can be expected to maintain power and do the job.

Granted - we're basically VFR fair weather pilots - but if weather closes in or something like that happens, it's good to be really comfortable with really trustworthy devices.

No message - just an idle observation.

[S3flyer]

The comparison is a bit old. You can now get a 796 annual VFR Subscription for $99, can also get real pitch/bank and ADS-B weather through the GDL-39 series.

 

In the cockpit, my 795 is still my primary with I-devices serving as backup. Of course, my 795 is panel mounted and is fairly integrated into other avionics (SL-40 frequencies, Dynon AP, ADS-B weather and traffic, D100 for wind calcs) so it is more than an EFB for me.

[FlyingMonkey]

Thanks Bill.  Though your chart is for WingX, I think the favorable comparison holds for any of the other major apps (Garmin Pilot, Foreflight) as well.  As Eddie said, I am amazed at the utility an iPad (or Android tablet) provides.  In addition to all the aviation tricks it can do, once you land you can take it with you to the hotel and have a full-featured computer with you that you can use to check e-mail, surf the Web, or even watch NetFlix movies on.  Try that with a Garmin portable!

 

I use my iPad as a primary navigation device, but I use my 496 in a way similar to how you'd use a second radio.  When just flying around locally, before taking off I set a route direct to my home airport, so I always have a device set up to show me distance and direction back to home base.  The 496 also drives my autopilot, so for longer trips I'll set up both devices with the same route and let the autopilot drive the plane if needed (I don't use the AP much though) and I can follow and look at upcoming route info on the iPad.  I get redundancy and increased utility by playing the two devices off of each other.

[WmInce]

I like to see people list the priority of relying on their devices, as my experience is that when things get very scary in the cockpit and items one relied on don't work or are untrustworthy, it is important that one has a hierarchy of devices one is quite familiar with, can operate will giving primary focus on flying the airplane, and that can be expected to maintain power and do the job.

Granted - we're basically VFR fair weather pilots - but if weather closes in or something like that happens, it's good to be really comfortable with really trustworthy devices.

No message - just an idle observation.

Concur completely.

[WmInce]

Thanks Bill.  Though your chart is for WingX, I think the favorable comparison holds for any of the other major apps (Garmin Pilot, Foreflight) as well.  As Eddie said, I am amazed at the utility an iPad (or Android tablet) provides.  In addition to all the aviation tricks it can do, once you land you can take it with you to the hotel and have a full-featured computer with you that you can use to check e-mail, surf the Web, or even watch NetFlix movies on.  Try that with a Garmin portable!

 

I use my iPad as a primary navigation device, but I use my 496 in a way similar to how you'd use a second radio.  When just flying around locally, before taking off I set a route direct to my home airport, so I always have a device set up to show me distance and direction back to home base.  The 496 also drives my autopilot, so for longer trips I'll set up both devices with the same route and let the autopilot drive the plane if needed (I don't use the AP much though) and I can follow and look at upcoming route info on the iPad.  I get redundancy and increased utility by playing the two devices off of each other.

Exactly.

[Doug G.]

Here's my list in order of preference - 696, Skyview, D2 watch or Android phone, Sectional.

[WmInce]

Here's my list in order of preference - 696, Skyview, D2 watch or Android phone, Sectional.

 

To each his own, eh? . . .

[Doug G.]

To each his own, eh? . . .

Of course - comes with being a pilot, doesn't it?

[Scrapman1959]

Can u fly practice coupled approaches with a 796? I currently have a 430 WAAS which obviously does fly coupled approaches to minimums, but about ready to trade for new CTLS again, and wondered if the 796 that will be standard in the new planes with Dynon auto pilot, breaks off the coupled approach 1500 ft AGL like my old 696 always did. In other words, the 696 would fly the approach with vertical navigation till 1500 AGL and then would not go any lower. This was slaved to tru Trac vs2 .

[ralarcon]

Here's my list in order of preference - 696, Skyview, D2 watch or Android phone, Sectional.

Exactly , except I use 796, by the way I still have the original 696 that was OEM on my aircraft. I really should sell it , I have no use for it.  If anybody is interested in it let me know.

 

Cheers

[S3flyer]

Can u fly practice coupled approaches with a 796? I currently have a 430 WAAS which obviously does fly coupled approaches to minimums, but about ready to trade for new CTLS again, and wondered if the 796 that will be standard in the new planes with Dynon auto pilot, breaks off the coupled approach 1500 ft AGL like my old 696 always did. In other words, the 696 would fly the approach with vertical navigation till 1500 AGL and then would not go any lower. This was slaved to tru Trac vs2 .

Pretty sure the 795 does vertical guidance to 500ft above the final approach fix. This may be a setting that can be lowered.

 

I'd suggest checking out the G3X which will do a fully coupled ILS approach with Garmin's AP.