Foreflight vs Garmin Flight

Maximilian_Jenius

Maximilian_Jenius

Super User
Trying to decide between the two. My instructor has Foreflight and well, it looks awesome. I guess the decision really isn't between aesthetics. Or is it? They both do the same thing right, or does one do the thing better than the other. Or is it mainly opinion?

On the outset for me. It might just come down to Android vs iPad. I prefer Samsung and currently have a Galaxy 6. If I wanted Foreflight I'd have to get an iPad, as it is only an Apple product. So since I already have a Samsung Android product, does it make sense to get an iPad just for Froerflight? When I could just get a 128 bit 10.1 Samsung tablet, and get Garmin Flight.

I get a lot of mix reviews from people I ask in the real world. And it really seems to come down to Apple vs Android. And it seems that most pilots that I talk to have an Apple product, and thus prefer Foreflight.
 
<- has several iPads, and prefers foreflight. Great support.
(Airline and military)

Very user friendly.
 
1000% iPad mini with Foreflight

Also, get one capable to allow a data package. Not that you're going to hook it up to a data plan or even your account (I never have) but because it comes with a built in GPS so you don't have to screw around with a buggy GPS unit connecting via Bluetooth.

I've used it for over 4 years now and still love it. Very useful for terrain at night in unfamiliar areas VFR, easy to hook up with a Stratus, and you don't need one with big space. I have a 16GB. I don't download charts for the entire US though. Also, any faa publication book can be downloaded in 1 minute. Easy to highlight or reference to go back to extreme fast through the app. Filed an IFR flight plan in the airplane with it today...took about 5 easy minutes. Plus versions are getting better and better with synthetic vision for a little bit more money.

I think Foreflight is the best thing to happen to GA. I seriously doubt anything will ever be as good for the general aviation world and every update usually makes it 2x better than I thought it'd ever be.
 
I always hated Apple products so when my wife asked what I wanted for my Birthday in 2011 and I said an iPad she thought I was kidding. The first app I bought was ForeFlight. A few months later I flew my plane from SoCal to Branson MO for a Fly-In, some of it was in IMC. Five days later, I was half way home, I realized I forgot to bring my Jepps and VFR charts. I've been sold on ForeFlight ever since.

For my birthday in 2012 I said I wanted this new thing called a Stratus. I promptly canceled my XM Weather weather subscription. The following year i was heading for the TX Gulf Coast. Enroute I spent 3 hours in the leading edge of a hurricane. I asked center for a couple diversions around the heavy stuff. ATC said; I don't know what you're looking at but it's as good or better than what I have. Don't think he believed me when I told him I was looking at my iPad.

Today we see traffic on the iPad. Who would have thought that was possible a few years ago?

I've played with a few of the other apps, Jeppesen and Garmin but I like ForeFlight.
 
Foreflight hands down; esspecially now that they updated their map software.
 
Ok, I'll be the outlier...Having a Garmin GDL39 for ADSB IN, I've used Garmin Pilot for the past couple of years. Only very recently has FF supported anything other than the Stratus.

I've used both extensively. Honestly, it's six of one, half dozen of the other. I like GP for some things and FF for others. GP doesn't seem to ding you for extras but it is a bit more structured than FF, so the operating flow is a bit different.

Best thing to do is try both and see what you like. Compare features and pricing. GP is less expensive for what I need than FF.

I keep FLTPLAN (which is free)installed and updated as a backup against some kind of catastrophic bug.

Richman
 
Take a look at WingX. It's $75 a year and you get synthetic vision and all the extra stuff that ForeFlight charges. If you are military and/or becoming a CFI, it's free. Just scan your certificate and send it to their email.
 
I was considering straying away from FF but the new mapping system is outstanding - I love the way it works. I have a Stratus 2 - traffic and WX are both really nice to have for SA. I do have the synthetic vision option which I haven't had to use, but it's nice to know that I've got a basic tool to help me out in addition to partial panel skills if I lose a vacuum pump in IMC.

I have it on a mini, and I'm strongly considering going to a full-sized iPad. My eyes are middle-aged now and there are things on the mini which are harder to see - but that may also be because the original mini with retina doesn't get as bright as I would prefer. Haven't considered an iPad pro yet.

You can get a warranted iPad on Gazelle, slightly used, for a little less money - I'm looking at getting an older iPad Air 2, because it has the largest battery that Apple put in the iPad. Kind of seeing the light, as it were, for a larger screen.
 
killbilly said:
I was considering straying away from FF but the new mapping system is outstanding - I love the way it works. I have a Stratus 2 - traffic and WX are both really nice to have for SA. I do have the synthetic vision option which I haven't had to use, but it's nice to know that I've got a basic tool to help me out in addition to partial panel skills if I lose a vacuum pump in IMC.

I have it on a mini, and I'm strongly considering going to a full-sized iPad. My eyes are middle-aged now and there are things on the mini which are harder to see - but that may also be because the original mini with retina doesn't get as bright as I would prefer. Haven't considered an iPad pro yet.

You can get a warranted iPad on Gazelle, slightly used, for a little less money - I'm looking at getting an older iPad Air 2, because it has the largest battery that Apple put in the iPad. Kind of seeing the light, as it were, for a larger screen.
Click to expand...
Nice thing about the mini is if you own your own aircraft the mini fits perfectly in a radio stack
 
tcco94 said:
Also, get one capable to allow a data package. Not that you're going to hook it up to a data plan or even your account (I never have) but because it comes with a built in GPS so you don't have to screw around with a buggy GPS unit connecting via Bluetooth.
Click to expand...
I think this doesn't apply anymore. My work iPad, a full size Air 2 wifi-only, has worked fine in everything from pistons to jets (it also survived two hours in the nose baggage compartment at -55 at FL430. Oops.).

ForeFlight really is the standard for a reason. Constantly evolving and adding features like the new maps. Outstanding customer service when/if you need it.

I did a thread on building your own Stratus last year. Now they make kits you can just plug and play rather than building it yourself or forking over almost a grand for one:
http://forums.jetcareers.com/threads/how-to-build-your-own-ads-b-receiver.224744/
 
Foreflight, plus you can get documents such as A/FD, Airplane Flying handbook, Pilots handbook of aeronautical knowledge, etc. The app literally gives you everything you could ask for. Plus with the FAA mandate on transponders, a lot of them will give you live traffic on foreflight
 
Okay, let's add another wrinkle the the thread. Which written prep software is better? Either from experience (preferably) or opinion/word of mouth.

Sheppard Air, or Dauntless Software. I'm leaning towards Sheppard, heard a lot of positive stuff about it mostly here and IRL. I've never heard of Dauntless before last night, when my instructor suggested it.
 
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