Foreflight or Garmin Pilot?

[pwttogfk]

I've played around with Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, WingX, and Fltplan Go. Way too much iPad space and way too many demo subscriptions. Foreflight has been consistently good, but Garmin Pilot has improved by leaps and bounds. I've now switched to using it as my primary EFB software. Early versions of Garmin Pilot were buggy and unstable but it's now as good if not better than foreflight.

The cloud sync between my devices and flygarmin is great, international data is far beyond Foreflight, synthetic vision is awesome if you're not flying something equipped with it, and Connext is the killer feature. I can control my VIRB from within the app, get weather data on the GDL-39, and when Garmin gets the Flight Stream certified on the G1000/2000 push my ATC routing into my flight deck.

Interface between Foreflight and Garmin Pilot is a lot of personal preference. Foreflight is easier for someone familiar with the iPad GUI and Garmin Pilot is easier for someone familiar with Garmin's avionics. WingX and Fltplan Go are...generously...odd GUIs. Fltplan has the excuse of being free. Great value but you can tell it's not nearly as polished as a subscription app. WingX has a GUI that probably makes great sense to whoever wrote it, but confuses the heck out of me.

 

[cefiro]

I used garmin pilot at my last job for 2 years and loved it. Worked great with my Nexus 7, and much cheaper than the foreflight iPad combo.

 

[Vector]

I am now looking at the Nexus 7 and Garmin Pilot combo. Do I need a dedicated GPS receiver or will the built-in suffice. Also, what size should I get. I have read on other forums that the 16GB wouldn't be enough. I only intend to use it for flying and no other personal use.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Would it be fair to say that these gizmos are only applicable for those pursuing VFR/IFR x-country flights? If one wants to just rent and go enjoy the local scenery, this stuff is / isn't necessary?

 

[z987k]

Would it be fair to say that these gizmos are only applicable for those pursuing VFR/IFR x-country flights? If one wants to just rent and go enjoy the local scenery, this stuff is / isn't necessary?

Out of a Class E airport in VFR conditions.. ya. I mean... bring a sectional ya know?

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Out of a Class E airport in VFR conditions.. ya. I mean... bring a sectional ya know?

Class D around NYC metro in my case.

 

[GolfChuck]

I am now looking at the Nexus 7 and Garmin Pilot combo. Do I need a dedicated GPS receiver or will the built-in suffice. Also, what size should I get. I have read on other forums that the 16GB wouldn't be enough. I only intend to use it for flying and no other personal use.

How high and fast do you intend to fly? I use this setup and the built in receiver is fine in a light single, but anything bigger will probably require an external receiver. I also have a Garmin GLO because my previous tablet did not have a good receiver, and with the GLO it works riding in the back of a 737 up to at least F400

Class D around NYC metro in my case.

It is very handy for remaining clear of the NYC Class B and navigating the River Exclusion areas.

 

[z987k]

Class D around NYC metro in my case.

So a TAC chart then.

 

[Vector]

How high and fast do you intend to fly? I use this setup and the built in receiver is fine in a light single, but anything bigger will probably require an external receiver. I also have a Garmin GLO because my previous tablet did not have a good receiver, and with the GLO it works riding in the back of a 737 up to at least F400.

This is just flying around in GA aircraft. Everything below 10K and 180 knots at best.

 

[GolfChuck]

This is just flying around in GA aircraft. Everything below 10K and 180 knots at best.

Then the tablet should be plenty of hardware on it's own. 32gb is plenty of memory especially if you intend to use it for nothing else

 

[Vector]

Then the tablet should be plenty of hardware on it's own. 32gb is plenty of memory especially if you intend to use it for nothing else

Do I even need a 32 GB. Me thinks an 8 GB will work. How much capacity did yours use up?

 

[GolfChuck]

Do I even need a 32 GB. Me thinks an 8 GB will work. How much capacity did yours use up?

I use my tablet for other purposes and I have 9.5 GB used. I am trying to figure out a way to tell exactly how much memory an app uses. I have 10 sectionals, 6 low charts, 3 high charts, and 3 WACs stored. All associated TACs are included with the sectionals.

I know of my total memory used about 4 GB is a video I took. I didn't think they made an 8 GB version, but if you use the tablet for nothing else, 16 should be plenty for VFR flying.

Edit: Ok, the app itself takes up 52.41 MB and the associated data that I have downloaded takes up 1.3 GB, that also includes geo referenced airport diagrams and the northeast AFD that I forgot to mention before.

 

[Vector]

I use my tablet for other purposes and I have 9.5 GB used. I am trying to figure out a way to tell exactly how much memory an app uses. I have 10 sectionals, 6 low charts, 3 high charts, and 3 WACs stored. All associated TACs are included with the sectionals.

I know of my total memory used about 4 GB is a video I took. I didn't think they made an 8 GB version, but if you use the tablet for nothing else, 16 should be plenty for VFR flying.

Edit: Ok, the app itself takes up 52.41 MB and the associated data that I have downloaded takes up 1.3 GB, that also includes geo referenced airport diagrams and the northeast AFD that I forgot to mention before.

Fantastic! Thanks bud. I am going to buy a used one for $80 on craigslist and see how it holds up. I am not a gadget dude, so I know I won't be using it much other than flying light singles.

 

[FlyingScot]

I've used both, I prefer Foreflight. The Garmin product seemed to crash a lot on android or IOS. I used foreflight for years before landing a position where the department used Garmin. After giving demo's of foreflight, the flight department switched and my co-workers feel the same way I do. YMMV

I have used both. I own an android and have used IPADs at work. I like Foreflight better, just quicker to get around with it.

My current setup has a Stratus to go with the IPAD, so I have ADS-B traffic and weather, along with synthetic vision and a back up attitude indicator to go with Foreflight. I let my Garmin Pilot expire on my droid tablet and use Fltplan-go as my back up. If I only had a droid I'd pay for Garmin, if I had an ipad I'd pay for Foreflight, but Fltplan-go as backup.