MikeS
Pre-takeoff checklist
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- Oct 16, 2014
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MikeS
Otherwise known as Flight Cheetah. This really intuitive and value-packed nav software seems to have almost disappeared from the discussion, lost in the swarm of iOS/Android solutions out there, not to mention Garmin too of course. This program is Windows-based. Not CE as Anywheremap was. It comes with a year of TERPs and chart updates and is as neat as anything I've seen. Looking at it recently, as well as having one conversation with the developer, I see the manual is way out of date and way behind the curve in its support of peripherals. It seems to be a bit neglected these days and also, since one follows the other, completely off the radar of those discussing portable navigators. We've seen a number of solid (and otherwise) players come and go in this arena. Blue Mountain. Anywheremap. Bendix-King with their AV8OR, Lowrance with their aviation products, probably others I can't think of just now. True Flight is still in the game but I can't help but wonder for how long. Windows-based "apps" are rare these days, in fact True Flight may be the only one extant. The DELL Venue 8 Pro is the platform currently promoted by TF, although the software will run on anything with a Windows OS, including 10. DELL just came out this month with a pretty fancy version of this 8" tablet and it's not expensive, certainly not when compared to iOS stuff.
This software has been around for at least ten years and has been improved along the way with features like synthetic vision, HITS, approach overlays, satellite imagery of not just airports but the entire landscape below those clouds. You've basically got an image of Google Earth directly below you. I haven't seen anybody with that feature. If looking for a flat place to set it down with no airports or roads around, having this reference could make the difference between destroying the plane or landing in a field with minor damage.
Only pilots who have been around a while will be familiar with this product so this post is aimed at those who have had some exposure or experience with Flight Cheetah/True Flight. What has been your experience with this company and this product? I'm puzzled as to why something that appears to have such value is not given more attention. I never see it mentioned in the threads on POA and even with a dedicated search can't find anything more than an occasional very casual mention. Over on Van's I see more of a discussion but still not much. The iPad and Google seem to have eaten everyones' lunch.
Anyway . . . anybody have any comments about this software? I'm ready for a new portable navigator and really like the features of this one. At $195 for the software and another hundred bucks or so for the tablet (eBay) and perhaps a GPS puck it isn't at all expensive so I'm thinking to give it a try. I looked at it back in 2006 and chose Anywheremap's ATC at that time because my cockpit space requires something small. I think I can live with an eight inch tablet though. Back then there were no Windows tablets, nor even any iPad minis so I went with what fit. AWM is no more although my ATC still works fine, as does my Lowrance 600C. Their databases grow ever more out of date as time goes by so I'm playing with options. True Flight is currently at the top of my list. It's interesting. And cheap. Get it talking to a Stratux and it would be amazing.
Comments anyone?
This software has been around for at least ten years and has been improved along the way with features like synthetic vision, HITS, approach overlays, satellite imagery of not just airports but the entire landscape below those clouds. You've basically got an image of Google Earth directly below you. I haven't seen anybody with that feature. If looking for a flat place to set it down with no airports or roads around, having this reference could make the difference between destroying the plane or landing in a field with minor damage.
Only pilots who have been around a while will be familiar with this product so this post is aimed at those who have had some exposure or experience with Flight Cheetah/True Flight. What has been your experience with this company and this product? I'm puzzled as to why something that appears to have such value is not given more attention. I never see it mentioned in the threads on POA and even with a dedicated search can't find anything more than an occasional very casual mention. Over on Van's I see more of a discussion but still not much. The iPad and Google seem to have eaten everyones' lunch.
Anyway . . . anybody have any comments about this software? I'm ready for a new portable navigator and really like the features of this one. At $195 for the software and another hundred bucks or so for the tablet (eBay) and perhaps a GPS puck it isn't at all expensive so I'm thinking to give it a try. I looked at it back in 2006 and chose Anywheremap's ATC at that time because my cockpit space requires something small. I think I can live with an eight inch tablet though. Back then there were no Windows tablets, nor even any iPad minis so I went with what fit. AWM is no more although my ATC still works fine, as does my Lowrance 600C. Their databases grow ever more out of date as time goes by so I'm playing with options. True Flight is currently at the top of my list. It's interesting. And cheap. Get it talking to a Stratux and it would be amazing.
Comments anyone?
