Originally Posted by
NoseUpAttitude
I'd save for a 295 or 296, you'll love it! Before I had the GPS I would always give the Bravo-SFC ring a very wide birth, like 5-10 miles now I can skirt right up to the SFC ring with confidence because I know exactly where I am. The 296 is a little nicer, but not worth twice the price... if they are still selling for $600 or so. I figure my $300 Garmin 295 has paid for itself in reduced flight time and it also makes finding grass strips much easier.
now: as far as grass strips go, I've heard the 496 has a much better database for private airports/strips/parks.
Is there a way to get that on the 296? like an addon, or a download through an expansion card?
I would hate to use the nearest function and find that a strip 3 miles away isn't showing up for an emergency because of a database function.
(I guess at that point I could use my sectional but you get the idea)