Skyforce Skymap IIIC
Since our last review of the Skyforce Sky-map in February 1997, a lot has changed. The British company was bought by aerospace giant AlliedSignal, the display is now in eye-pleasing color, and the price has climbed to $2,670.
In 1997 we praised the monochrome Skymap II's intuitive and easy operating logic. Everybody who tried the unit could master basic functions without having to crack open the manual. The IIIC carries on that ease-of-use tradition. Soft keys and a mini joystick make it easy to navigate through the Skymap's menus, and the number of keystrokes needed to input information is kept to a minimum. As before, we like the fact that the Skymap's display has so much information overlaid on the map screen, eliminating the constant need to page through layers of menus for more information — one page has just about all the information you would need.
Unfortunately, the conversion to color required several compromises — most notably the inability of the unit to run on battery power. According to AlliedSignal, the Skymap IIIC would ravage a set of six AA batteries in about 15 minutes. The reason is clear as soon as you turn on the unit in a relatively quiet environment. Fan-forced cooling is required by the liquid crystal display (LCD), which, after several minutes of operation, turns into quite a leg warmer. Power comes from a cigarette lighter that provides 10 to 33 volts. The Skymap can also be panel-mounted (more on that later).
With the conversion to color, the Skymap also grew thicker to make room for the new LCD and fan cooling. The increase in size makes the unit a little more cumbersome to use than the Skymap II while resting in your lap. Those with airplanes that have little clearance between the yoke and the pilot's legs may have trouble finding the right place for the IIIC. Moving the unit high up on the thigh is an option; however, its leg strap may not reach around. Besides, looking in your lap is not the most comfortable exercise for your neck throughout a long flight. Fortunately, AlliedSignal offers myriad mounting schemes for the IIIC: a $65 yoke mount, $95 gimbal mount, $165 pedestal mount, and a $240 setup that allows the IIIC to be mounted in your avionics rack with an antenna permanently installed on the airplane. All except the yoke mount will require a field approval for installation in certified airplanes. Most mounting schemes will solve the dilemma of snaking power and antenna cords throughout the cockpit area. A nice feature of the rack setup is its ability to detach the Skymap from its dock in the panel so that it can be used as a handheld for nonaviation purposes.
In flight, we found that the IIIC has reaction times much faster than those of its predecessor. Although not quite real-time, the Skyforce's processor makes sure that the GPS is no more than a second or two behind the aircraft's movements. A convenient feature of the unit is the extended track line, a feature found on other units as well, which forecasts where the airplane will be in a specific amount of time, based on current track and groundspeed — an excellent tool for VFR circumnavigation of airspace.
All special-use airspace is depicted, as are railroads, roads, obstructions (with elevations), cities, and bodies of water. When approaching airspace, simply place the cursor over the border of the area; information and contact frequencies, if applicable, pop up on the screen. There is also an IFR mode that deselects the cartographic information and leaves just the essential route and navaid information. Constant position updates provided by one of the on-screen banners reference your position to a prominent waypoint. This feature is excellent for stating your position to ATC on an initial call-up for VFR traffic advisories.
Although the amount of information on screen does not require flipping through layers of pages to obtain information, the many banners cover much of the unit's excellent map depiction, especially in the portrait mode. None of the fields of information are user-customizable — what you see is what you get. We'd prefer to have the bearing and track to the current waypoint closer together for easier and quicker reference. For those with less-than-perfect vision, the Skymap does allow you to display information in larger type.
Day or night, the screen is not as visible from viewing angles as wide as the Skymap II's. For example, the IIIC is hard for the pilot to read when it's resting in the copilot's lap. At night, our test IIIC was far too bright; however, AlliedSignal has already solved that problem by extending the lower range of the brightness control/power knob.
To accommodate the many different ways in which the Skymap IIIC can be mounted, the screen can be oriented four different ways for custom setup. When the unit is strapped vertically to your leg, the portrait mode works best. When panel-mounted, the landscape orientation is the preferred method. It's worth mentioning here that AlliedSignal just introduced the KMD150 multifunction display, which uses the IIIC's color display technology. This unit should be available in August and offers an interface to display lightning hits fed to it from BFGoodrich's remote WX-500 lightning detector (see " Pilot Briefing," page 30).
For those who think that color is too expensive or unnecessary, AlliedSignal still offers the very competitive Skymap II for $1,299. If you already have a GPS but are smitten with the Skymap's display, you can interface it with the $2,420 Tracker IIIC, which is basically the Skymap display minus the GPS receiver. The monochrome Tracker II is also still available for $929. The Skymap IIIC's price is dangerously close to that of many very capable panel-mounted moving-map GPSs, so choose carefully. Comparably priced panel-mounts aren't in color, however, so the Skymap may be the unit of choice for the renter pilot needing a first-rate portable that's also a real eye-pleaser. For more information, contact AlliedSignal General Aviation Avionics, 23500 West 105th Street, One Technology Center, Olathe, Kansas 66061; telephone 877/712-2386 or 913/712-0400; or visit the Web site ( www.bendixking.com). — Peter A. Bedell
Polaris GPS 990 Moving Map System
Oftentimes in flight, my nonpilot passengers ask, "Where are we?" or "What's that river or highway?" As a pilot, I know I am 20 nm west of some VOR, but I can't always give them a geography lesson in unknown areas. We pilots are always looking for something new for our cockpits, but seldom do we think of useful tools that can benefit those who travel with us.
With the introduction of the Polaris GPS 990 Moving Map System, there is a product that truly enhances the light airplane flying experience for your passengers. About the size of a hard-cover book and weighing 2.2 pounds, the Polaris 990 contains one of the brightest high-resolution screens that I have ever seen. It is easily viewed, even in direct sunlight. The Polaris Skyshow software serves up all the geographical data that you would ever want, in full color. In addition, it has in its database more than a million businesses selected for the travelling pilot. The unit can be programmed to show distance traveled, time to destination, speed, and other data. You can set the display range from the entire United States all the way down to one-quarter of a mile. All of this is done with eight soft keys at the bottom of the screen (a touch-screen version is available for an extra $349).
Besides the brilliant 640-by-480, 256-color display, this device is designed around a Pentium 133 MHz processor, with 32 megabytes of RAM and a 4.3 gigabyte hard drive. Its Windows operating system provides plenty of flexibility and allows you to load other software, including the popular flight planning programs such as RMS, FliteStar, and Destination Direct. A very capable 12-channel Rockwell GPS is built into the 990, and the antenna is about the diameter of a silver dollar. I found it tracking several satellites even when mounted on a rear side window of my Cessna Skyhawk. It's powered by a standard cigarette lighter adapter providing 12 to 28 volts DC.
After you land, it's the pilot's turn to use the Polaris 990. Plug it into a car, RV, or boat and navigate to an exact location or street address. For surface, marine, and air transportation, the Polaris 990 certainly answers the question, "Where are we?"
Polaris lists for $2,995 and includes the cigarette lighter adapter. Optional equipment includes a keyboard, serial and parallel cables, CD-ROM drive, and an AC adapter. For more information, contact Stenbock & Everson, Inc., Post Office Box 291, Aurora, Oregon 97002-0291; telephone 503/678-1417; or visit the Web site ( www.stenbock.com). — Phil Boyer
Briefly Noted
Need to practice instrument approaches constantly to keep sharp? Jeppesen Sanderson now offers FlitePro simulator software for $99.95. It offers all the features of Jepp's more expensive FS-200 PCATD system, plus a moving-map GPS, flight replay over Jeppesen approach charts, improved worldwide navigational map screens, and an integrated multimedia instrument course. The software includes 200 approach charts and 10 ATC scenarios. FlitePro integrates VectorPlus Mapping Technology, the FliteSchool instrument multimedia course, and the simulation technology already proven in FS-200 software now in use at FBOs around the country. FlitePro requires a PC using a Pentium 166 MHz or faster processor with Windows 95 or 98, 32 megabytes of memory, a 200-MB hard drive (400 for full worldwide database installation), and a fully compatible Soundblaster or equivalent sound card for sound features. For information, contact Jeppesen, 55 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, Colorado 80112-5498; telephone 800/621-5377 or 303/799-9090; or visit the Web site ( www.flitepro.com). — Alton K. Marsh
From the crew that developed GAMIjectors comes a new stand-by alternator called the Supplinator. Based on a modified Nippondenso alternator found on numerous automobiles, the 30-amp GAMI alternator mounts to an unused AN pad on Continental and Lycoming engines and features an internal regulator that's capable of self-exciting the alternator in the event of a total electrical-system failure. The Supplinator is designed to "float" while the main alternator is working, but it will step up and take over charging duties should the primary fail. There will be no need for the pilot to manually engage the Supplinator. Suggested retail price is expected to be near $2,995. For information, call 888/359-4264 or 580/436-4833, or visit the Web site ( www.gami.com). — Marc E. Cook
Advanced Technology Products has introduced the ATP Start Stick, a compact, lightweight, rechargable battery designed for limited use, such as when you are stranded with a dead battery at a remote airport on a weekend. The two-pound Start Stick is available in 12- or 24-volt versions and has various connections to fit external power plugs of most popular aircraft. For more information, contact ATP at 618/833-3187, or visit the Web site ( www.startstick.com). — PAB
Dahon California Inc. has introduced a new X-frame, full-size, aluminum folding bicycle called Zero G. Features include 24 speeds, front shock-absorbing suspension, and Dahon's Lite-Touch folding system that allows for one-step collapsing. The bicycle weighs in at 28.5 pounds and folds to a dimension of 13 by 28 by 38 inches. For more information, call Dahon at 626/305-5264. — PAB
Unless otherwise stated, products listed herein have not been evaluated by AOPA Pilot editors. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors. However, members unable to get satisfaction regarding products listed should advise AOPA. To submit products for evaluation, contact: New Products Editor, AOPA Pilot, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701; telephone 301/695-2350.
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