Garmin GTN series

TangoWhiskey

TangoWhiskey

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Feb 23, 2005
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Midlothian, TX
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3Green
OK, this is just very cool; G1000-like (from an MFD perspective), but a LOT less buttons due to the touchscreen capability. Rubber band route planning by touch? Nice. Should be great for panel center stack retrofits in older aircraft.

http://sites.garmin.com/gtn/
 
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Is this the "magic" they have been advertising the past few weeks?
 
It looks nice. My biggest doubt would be using the touchscreen in turbulence.
 
Lance F said:
It looks nice. My biggest doubt would be using the touchscreen in turbulence.
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Agree that it is a concern, but I think we'll find that it is easier, not more difficult, to used in the bumpies. Angels on a pin-head, because I cannot afford one ennyhoo.

I can dream, though!
 
I don't have a touch screen in the plane... I do have one in the boat... In chop that touchscreen is an adventure in "I hope I just hit the right spot on the screen." Mostly, I didn't...

I like a real button where I can anchor a couple of fingers on the edge of the screen then carefully probe with one finger until I am sure I am on the correct button, then push...

denny-o
 
They designed it with finger-rest positions on both sides and the bottom, so you can hand-anchor to stabilize pre-punch. That, plus big buttons, I think will work well.

And yes, it has Victor airways - very easy flight planning.

Me wantum... just not enough to be me spendum.
 
Everyone get's fingerprints all over the G1000 and G430's anyway:incazzato:,.. might as well make a touch screen. :idea:
 
Looks pretty cool - They have GPS-only, GPS/COM, and GPS/NAV/COM versions, just like the 400/420/430 and 500/520/530. The 750 looks to be larger than the 530, but it looks like they're pushing the remote audio panel and transponder options. (The remote txp is the same one used for the G1000.)

I wonder if they're still going to sell the 430W/530W, and how well those are going to be supported going forward. (Yes, airways would be nice, Garmin...)

Garmin's web site also SUCKS - If you "compare" the 650 and 750, it looks like the only difference is that the 750 is larger and can display approach plates. But, the videos appear to imply that there is more of a functionality difference, and that's what I'd really like to know. For example, comparing a 530 to a 430, the 530 has a much nicer "Default Nav" page and will identify navaids for you. That's the kind of stuff I want to know about, but there's no easy way to tell the difference on their site. :incazzato:
 
Looks spiffy.

But it shares the same problem as all other big screen things - temptation to spend too much time looking at the pretty colors and not enough time looking outside in VFR conditions. IMO, of course.
 
Trapper John said:
Looks spiffy.

But it shares the same problem as all other big screen things - temptation to spend too much time looking at the pretty colors and not enough time looking outside in VFR conditions. IMO, of course.
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Isn't that why they make synthetic vision :eek::thumbsup:
 
Damn. I get my bird back with it's brand new GNS 530w tomorrow. I even mentioned to my wife that we might want to wait for the 530 replacement but we had no idea how long that would be. Oh well, I guess the 530 isn't bad but I hate spending that kind of money for something that is already being replaced.
 
JOhnH said:
Damn. I get my bird back with it's brand new GNS 530w tomorrow. I even mentioned to my wife that we might want to wait for the 530 replacement but we had no idea how long that would be. Oh well, I guess the 530 isn't bad but I hate spending that kind of money for something that is already being replaced.
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Hey, call the avionics shop and beg - Maybe you can get 'em to swap it out for a 750 for a couple grand. I think the price difference between the 430W and 650 is ~$1,500 and between the 530W and 750 is ~$2,000. It sounded like the 650 is identical to the 430 size-wise, though the 750 is noticeably larger than the 530 so they might have to shuffle some things around.

Either way, after you pick up the plane your 530W is "used" - Were I in your situation, having dropped all that dough, I'd spend the extra bucks now, if the shop will do it.
 
The interface and functionality look nothing short of incredible. I second the concerns about the touchscreen, though. I like the tactility of actual buttons for when it's turbulent. To be honest, the whole concept of the frame being designed to make it easier to use the touchscreen seems to me to be Garmin's way of accepting that there's a real problem with use in turbulence, and providing a half-baked solution. Touchscreens can be annoying enough to use when you're not bouncing around in moderate or greater turbulence!
 
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