Garmin Aera 760 released

Kent Wien

Kent Wien

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Kent

Looks like a larger version of the 660. Trying to find all the differences other than the size.

Here are the main differences listed:

“includes some significant upgrades, like full instrument approaches and a sunlight-readable 7” screen. It also has new pre-flight capabilities and robust avionics connectivity.”

And the bottom line:

“The aera 760 costs $1499 and shipping in late May; orders are being accepted now.”
 
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It will allow transfer of flight plans between itself and a panel mounted navigator that has those capabilities, like something connected to a Flightstream 210. Not sure if the 660 did that before.

But regardless, what can this thing do that an iPad can't?
 
I sure do like the instrument approach capability on the 760. I really feel like that's lacking in my 660, Unfortunately it just seems too big to panel mount whereas my 660 slots PERFECTLY into my radio stack. If they upgraded the 660 with this capability I'd probably end up buying it.
 
Groundpounder said:
I bought a $150 mount with a fan that solved the overheating issue. Still way cheaper than a 760.
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I'm willing to pay more for a dedicated aviation product than a cobbled together device with a crap-ton of bloatware on it that isn't pertinent to what I need. The Aera line-up also plays VERY well with the other Garmin products in the cockpit (of which I have many) and even can turn my Garmin VIRB cameras on and off which is just outstandingly useful.

An Ipad can do about 90% of what the Aera can and it's cheaper, but that last 10% the Aera does very VERY well.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
I'm willing to pay more for a dedicated aviation product than a cobbled together device with a crap-ton of bloatware on it that isn't pertinent to what I need. The Aera line-up also plays VERY well with the other Garmin products in the cockpit (of which I have many) and even can turn my Garmin VIRB cameras on and off which is just outstandingly useful.

An Ipad can do about 90% of what the Aera can and it's cheaper, but that last 10% the Aera does very VERY well.
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Well, its your money, so......
 
I’m a big fan of my Aera 660. I use it in conjunction with my iPad mini running Garmin Pilot and actually prefer using the 660 in flight for referencing airport information and finding frequencies. The screen is super bright- much easier to read in bright sunlight- the interface is very intuitive, and the touch screen is ultra-responsive. If this 760 had been out a couple years ago, I would have it in my panel instead of the 660. Will this replace my iPad mini? Probably not, it’s nice, but not $1500 nice!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Groundpounder said:
But regardless, what can this thing do that an iPad can't?
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If you have an aera hard-wired to a GTN it can talk MapMX and can draw your holds. I don't think you can do that over Bluetooth.

If you don't have a panel mount GPS, you can drive stuff that takes RS232 with an aera where you can't with an iPad (ELT, COM radios, G5, autopilot, etc).

And it's nice touch to have the thing power up/down with the master switch.
 
no one said Aera is the cheapest solution... paper chart and E6B is even cheaper
 
AK737pilot said:
I’m a big fan of my Aera 660. I use it in conjunction with my iPad mini running Garmin Pilot and actually prefer using the 660 in flight for referencing airport information and finding frequencies. The screen is super bright- much easier to read in bright sunlight- the interface is very intuitive, and the touch screen is ultra-responsive. If this 760 had been out a couple years ago, I would have it in my panel instead of the 660. Will this replace my iPad mini? Probably not, it’s nice, but not $1500 nice!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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This!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
But can I watch Youtube videos on my Aera?

I have no doubt the Aera is a great product, but flying represents only a small portion of my life. The fact that I can use the iPad for other things in addition to serving as a charting solution is one of the biggest selling features to me. Like Alton Brown, I'm not a huge fan of unitaskers. And it's not as though I could just leave it attached in my plane, since I'm going to need to pull it out every 28 days to update the database. That's annoying enough for my 530W, I don't really want another device getting outdated sitting in the hangar.
 
Brad Z said:
And it's not as though I could just leave it attached in my plane, since I'm going to need to pull it out every 28 days to update the database.
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You can leave it in the plane. It can be updated over its own WiFi.
 
If the 760 was $500, I would probably pony up the bucks for it, but $1600 is a big chunk of money. Maybe I am just a CSOB....

I can see the value in using it as a panel mount in a VFR only aircraft to drive the autopilot though.

And guess what, if I start running into issues with my iPad overheating and causing operational issues, I may very well buy one of these, and I will immediately come to this thread and eat a nice slice of crow.
 
Regarding this product:

1. If ships powered does it have to go thru the USB C port? Or is it the other connector?
2. Are basic updates (ie sectionals, not IFR stuff) free or is it the same subscription and Garmin Pilot? How much a year?
3. Assuming it auto logs flights - wondering if it would backup to the Garmin website once on a wifi
4. Do you think it would be able to control the radio in a GNC355 (something a tablet + GP can not do).

...I've seen the other Aera and its easily brigher than iPad. And even though the Android tablets are brighter than the iPads this should be sunlight visible at all times. So that, being ships powered, being 7" and the ability to control the radio would be nice. Not $1500 nice....but maybe $800 nice. Also, I would hope it would render maps, SynVis at least as fast as the ipads if not even more smooth.
 
asicer said:
That's what the 660 is for. :)
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I bought one and ended up returning it. I was using an old iPhone 8 as a second MFD, running foreflight. I replaced it with the 660, and just didn't get anything from it that the iPhone didn't provide already for almost free.
 
For the present time I’ll stick with my IPad and the stratus.
 
I've been an IFLY customer since inception but I've always wished they would provide some upgraded hardware as their screens and processors are low end. The Aera 760 seems to be a higher end product. The quick glance at update costs in the video seemed on the high side and it won't display open protocol ADSB in.
 
Sinistar said:
1. If ships powered does it have to go thru the USB C port? Or is it the other connector?
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In the box:
  • Mount cradle with CLA power cable
  • USB-C 27W AC adapter
  • USB-C to USB-C cable
  • USB-C to USB-A cable
Sinistar said:
2. Are basic updates (ie sectionals, not IFR stuff) free or is it the same subscription and Garmin Pilot? How much a year?
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not free . think about 169 for the entire package VFR + IFR. G has pilotpak and other subscription bundles that covers IF you have a panel mount avionics

Edit: $149
US Database Bundle - aera 660
Covers: Includes Navigation Data, SafeTaxi, IFR/VFR Charts, Obstacle, Airport Directory, FliteCharts, Terrain

Edit 2 : the Price is $169.95
Ref: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/a...arminInTheAir+(Garmin+(Aviation+News+-+U.S.))
 
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Is the subscriptipn price for the Aera one time only or per year? The video almost made it seem like it was one time only. Many if it was one time only then just a few years of GP subscriptions makes this more appealing.
 
Walboy said:
Stay powered up in the heat and/or direct sunlight? iPads have spotty track record in this regard from what I have seen.
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Garmin units never quit in the heat. They are high quality.
I love my ipad pro but here in Texas it always overheats and shuts down. Have you noticed the ipad is super thin? The Garmin units are thick and all the stuff inside is insulated.
 
pigpenracing said:
Garmin units never quit in the heat. They are high quality.
I love my ipad pro but here in Texas it always overheats and shuts down. Have you noticed the ipad is super thin? The Garmin units are thick and all the stuff inside is insulated.
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Or heat sinked...still a good thing though!
 
Sinistar said:
Is the subscriptipn price for the Aera one time only or per year? The video almost made it seem like it was one time only. Many if it was one time only then just a few years of GP subscriptions makes this more appealing.
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I heard that too, but i think he is mistaken, the subscription price is /year. someone with Aera can confirm
 
thanks for that. Figured a 1 time only was too good to be true.
 
Sinistar said:
1. If ships powered does it have to go thru the USB C port? Or is it the other connector?
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From the pictures, looks like it has the same pogo pin connection on the back as the aera 660.
 
I wish they hadn't gotten rid of Sirius XM (audio) functionality on these devices (over the 796 and 696). I would have readily gone with something like this over the 796 I have mounted in my panel. Did they give any reason why they stopped offering this?
 
BGF_Yankee said:
I wish they hadn't gotten rid of Sirius XM (audio) functionality on these devices (over the 796 and 696). I would have readily gone with something like this over the 796 I have mounted in my panel. Did they give any reason why they stopped offering this?
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Could it be because of antennae and/or that they offer Sirius XM in the GDL5x series input devices.
 
Sinistar said:
Is the subscriptipn price for the Aera one time only or per year? The video almost made it seem like it was one time only. Many if it was one time only then just a few years of GP subscriptions makes this more appealing.
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You don't HAVE to subscribe at all to the Aera, it is 100% functional without any subscription. The subscription only get you up-to-date charts, if you are okay with out-of-date charts then there are no recurring fees. Since it is a VFR navigator and not my primary means of navigation I update it about once every two years.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
I sure do like the instrument approach capability on the 760. I really feel like that's lacking in my 660, Unfortunately it just seems too big to panel mount whereas my 660 slots PERFECTLY into my radio stack. If they upgraded the 660 with this capability I'd probably end up buying it.
Click to expand...
Doesn't the 660 have approaches as well? I've had the understanding the approaches are available to pattern altitude. It's been awhile since I've gone over the specs on the 660 - I still plan on getting one. I might be thinking that they are part of Garmin's FliteCharts . . . or I may be thinking of some features it has that makes a DIY approach easy for emergency situations. You would know . . . Does the 760 have published terminal procedures? Even if it does, it's way too big for my cockpit. I'm still planning on the 660. Maybe now the 760 is out they'll drop the price on the 660 by the time I'm ready for it.
 
MikeS said:
Doesn't the 660 have approaches as well? I've had the understanding the approaches are available to pattern altitude. It's been awhile since I've gone over the specs on the 660 - I still plan on getting one. I might be thinking that they are part of Garmin's FliteCharts . . . or I may be thinking of some features it has that makes a DIY approach easy for emergency situations. You would know . . . Does the 760 have published terminal procedures? Even if it does, it's way too big for my cockpit. I'm still planning on the 660. Maybe now the 760 is out they'll drop the price on the 660 by the time I'm ready for it.
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Yes, 660 has the IFR charts, but you can’t load a full approach/departure/arrival, unless you manually add waypoints. You can load an approach but you get just the FAF and the MAF, no IAF/IF fixes.
They use flitecharts for main map, then use FAA VFR/IFR for “En route charts” map view. All Garmin have their standard “button” interface, so if you will have a common look and feel. Because of the size, if panel mounting, you’ll want it in the left stack.
 
WannFly said:
I heard that too, but i think he is mistaken, the subscription price is /year. someone with Aera can confirm
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If you have a Garmin GTN/GNS, you can get a package subscription that includes the updates for the GPS, GNC(com/nav), Aera, and upgrade of GP to premium, it’s around $600/year depending on your GPS model. So add $75 for base subscription for GP and that’s your total for the year. They will let you suspend your subscriptions once a year if you are having major work done or don’t fly during the winter months for example.
 
i still don't get it..... compared with garmin pilot on a tablet (ipad or android)
other than the ipads being sensitive to overheating...what does this thing do?
 
Brad W said:
i still don't get it..... compared with garmin pilot on a tablet (ipad or android)
other than the ipads being sensitive to overheating...what does this thing do?
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See post #12
 
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