Jonathan Sorger wrote:
Passed my private pilot checkride last week and now want to learn about
GPS.

I've searched a bit but have found no threads pertaining to my question
- I'd like opinions or if someone can refer me somewhere...

Someone has offered to give me a Garmin Streetpilot 2610 - is there any
use for one of these in a plane? The 'official word' from Garmin is
that you can't put aviation map data into an automotive unit, but I'm
sure someone has tried...

I realize that an aviation GPS unit is ideal, but would a Streetpilot be
of any use?

Thanks,

I have used a simple Garmin 12xl for about 3 or 4 years now and am quite
happy with it. It is not an aviation GPS but works just great as one if
you don't need all the whistles and bells. It updates fast (1 sec) and
allows manual insertion of 500 waypoints and 16 routes. I love the way
you can repond to the tower's position inquiry with, "Errrr...I am 7.6
nautical to your SSE" instantly.

I have manually entered over 400 airports, waypoints, vors, ndbs, etc.
by punching in lat and long coordinates. Mine has a moving map mode,
gives me eta, ete, ground speed, altitude, 10 nearest airports, instant
GOTO, etc. It actually saved my bacon once when I inadvertantly entered
a towering cumulus on an IFR flight which wiped out my panel because of
the static. The little GPS in compass mode allowed me to keep the plane
upright with no visual references and no panel instruments.

The aviation GPS's are great with their built in databases though I
think the handhelds are all about the same as far as usefulness goes.
It comes down mainly to preferences--Do I want a database? Do I want a
big screen? Do I want WAAS capability? Do I need one that doesn't such
up the batteries? Do I want a color screen? Do I need the street maps
and airport data? ....etc.

However, if someone is offering a free GPS to you then why not just try
it out?

Happy flying!
Antonio