writes:

Sorry, I meant to ask "aviation grade" map
software that you can zoom in and out or maybe get a profile view or
3D view etc.

You can lay the sectional images over DEM data for a 3Dish view.
Commercial software like ERDAS Imagine can readily handle this. I know
there's Free software to do it, but I haven't tackled it yet. (Pointers
will be appreciated.)

I noticed recently that some of the FlightGear
http://flightgear.org/
folks are starting to use the FAA sectional images from my collection.
http://www.mail-archive.com/flightge.../msg18416.html

I'm not sure how that works, but I'm guessing you could "fly" the route
with a fairly realistic out-the-window view while monitoring your
progress on the sectional.

The next computer I make is going to be designed for FlightGear.

--kyler