GTN 750 PIREPs

[Jeff_S]

I thought I'd start a new thread for people to share their actual experiences, if any, with the new Garmin "magic" boxes. I'm sure most people won't have had time on an actual box yet, but a few will. I was a Sun n Fun and played around briefly on it, but got the simulator and loaded that up last night and spent a few hours with it. Here are my thoughts so far:

It's actually not as difficult to figure out the UI as I first thought. Like any software, once you get the "zeitgeist" of the designers' philosophies it becomes fairly intuitive. And for users of any previous Garmin product there is a decent amount of crossover so the learning curve doesn't seem that high. Still, lots of trips to the Home screen...

It does airways quite well, in much the same flow as the 480. Using the menus is easier than trying to do it by dragging the path around the screen. But for those who file IFR this finally provides most of the same functionality we've grown to love in the 480.

I say "most" because there is one feature that is sorely lacking, or at least I haven't found yet, and that includes looking through the whole users manual. The 480 has a menu option to automatically set a holding pattern on any waypoint, using either timed or distance legs from any radial. It's really awesome. Now, many would say "who cares?" because ATC never gives us GA folks holding patterns so big whoop...but you do get them occasionally, and beyond that, it's just such a cool feature I think they should have left it there.

While it does things differently, I wouldn't say that from a pure functionality standpoint the 750 is any better than a 480 with an MX-20 or 200. Maybe a bit easier to use in some respects, but as I was futzing around with the sim I didn't find anything that would help me fly the plane any better or more safely. And as I fantasize about spending money on something like this, I have to remind myself that at the end of the day what matters a whole lot more is flying the plane and not futzing with the panel.

Still, if I were in the market for some upgrades right now I don't see any reason to hold back. I was originally thinking that if I were to have a spend, it would be to add a 650 to my 480, get a G500 system and consolidate my panel much like Brian has done. But now that I've seen how the 750 can work as an MFD, maybe the strategy is to just dump the old KX-155 and MX-20 and put in the 750, and then add an Aspen PFD when the AI and HSI finally head south for good.

So many options!

[NotarPilot]

Anyone use one yet?

[DonMuncy]

Over on the MAPA list, Don Kaye has written fairly extensively about the GTN. My impression is that his impression is that he prefers the 696 to the GTN, because of unresolved problems. But don't take my word; go over and read his.  

[fantom]

I flew behind one yesterday. The PIC was smart, well trained, and a good stick. All I can say is too much data and stuff going on in one place, with way too much heads down button mashing during IFR approaches for me. Plus the damn thing cut out for 15+ seconds during a practice ILS approach. In real turbulance, the button mashing must be a pain.

I might like it more if I had more experience with it, and if a certain "know-it-all" dentist didn't claim it was the best thing since sliced bread, but for me, no thanks. I'll suffer behind my 530W.

[PTK]

Quote: DonMuncy

Over on the MAPA list, Don Kaye has written fairly extensively about the GTN. My impression is that his impression is that he prefers the 696 to the GTN, because of unresolved problems. But don't take my word; go over and read his.  

[fantom]

Quote: allsmiles

....do you mean the 796 handheld perhaps rather than the GTN?

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

My bird is over @ Sarasota Avionics getting a panel clean up of sorts for the new year!  The old ADF, DME, as well as the CD player, and 430W are out going.  Incoming is a GTN 650 which will crossfill to my 696 which they are also going to panel mount.  Hope to have some pictures and PIREPS by the weekend if all goes according to plan.

[DonMuncy]

No, he and I both have a 696, and he got a GTN.