Garmin GPSMAP 295
One of the best handheld GPS units on the market just got a little better and a whole lot more colorful. Garmin's GPSMAP 195 has been among the most lusted-after aviation products since its introduction in 1996. The 195 and its smaller sibling, the GPS III Pilot, feature a robust 12-channel receiver and a full complement of aviation and terrain data. All aviation navaids, as well as roads, lakes, towns, railroads, and other features of interest to pilots and nonpilots, are depicted in an easy-to-understand format.
Today, we've watched Garmin's 400-series panel-mount, color map units take over instrument panels around the world. It's no surprise, then, to learn that the same color moving map display that is used in the GNS 430 has found its way into a new handheld, the Garmin GPSMAP 295.
In the 295, Garmin decided to marry the features of the popular Street Pilot ground-bound GPS unit with those of the 195. The result is a GPS that can double as your in-flight best friend, and with an optional street database, navigate your rental car to your final destination.
The 295 chassis is slightly smaller than the 195's, and it presents its information in a landscape rather than portrait view. It does not allow the user to view the screen either way as the III Pilot does. Six AA batteries power the unit. We saw about four hours of life from a set of alkalines when we used the 295 sporadically. Garmin claims that you'll get 2.5 hours of continuous use out of the unit. Expect less if you use rechargeable batteries. Those figures are far less than the battery life in a Garmin 195 or GPS III Pilot, but that's the price you pay for a nice color map. Or, you can plug the unit into a cigarette lighter with the supplied adapter.
Garmin's 12-channel receiver used in the 295 and other units has always been impressive with its ability to receive satellites quickly, even when it's viewing only a fraction of the sky. It's likely that you won't need to string up the external antenna, thereby reducing the amount of wire clutter in the cockpit.
Five main pages of information are available for viewing: satellite status, map, position, horizontal situation indicator (radio magnetic indicator in land mode), and active route. You can leaf forward through the information with the Page key or backward with the Quit button. Like the 195, this unit allows you to undo whatever you've done with the Quit key — a very handy feature for the new user. Of course, a simple direct-to function will get you navigating to a waypoint quickly without having to reference the manual.
A day or nighttime mode allows you to control the color of the terrain depicted. It's yellow during the day and black at night. Brightness is controlled with the power key. All of the same features of the 195's latest software are present in the 295, including instrument approaches. Although no handheld is certified for approaches, the 295 can provide situational awareness as you progress along an instrument approach. Of course, pilots of airplanes already equipped with an IFR-certified GPS (especially those models lacking maps) can monitor GPS approaches with the 295. A nice feature is a vectors-to-final function that will allow the pilot to join an approach course at somewhere other than an initial approach fix.
The excellent horizontal situation indicator (HSI) function of the 195 is present in the 295, although it can now be shown simultaneously with the map beside it. This saves the user from needing to scan through several pages to see the desired information. Simply customize the unit to your tastes by putting whatever information you want to see on one page.
Those who have never used a Garmin handheld or a 400-series panel-mount unit are in for a bit of a learning curve. The operating logic makes sense, but there are so many customizing features and different ways to do the same thing that a newcomer may feel a little overwhelmed. The simulator mode is a savior in this area. Some quality time with the 295 in the comfort of your favorite armchair is a must to master the operating system and keystrokes.
In flight, we found the 295 a joy to use. We've had lots of experience with a 195 and III Pilot, so getting used to the 295 was no problem. We stumbled across some new features to reduce button-punching and head-down time in the cockpit, such as the ability to measure distances between two points right on the map. There is also a quick-declutter function that allows you to drop unnecessary information from the map by pushing the Enter key. The 195 requires you to wade through layers of menus to declutter the map.
We also liked the ability to scroll the map cursor to special-use airspace and have a little window pop up and give you the name, type, and effective altitude of the airspace highlighted. If you need more information, you can press Enter and the 295 will tell you who the controlling agency of the airspace is and provide you with the frequency to contact it. Speaking of airspace, the 295 provides airspace warnings depending on your altitude. So if your GPS-derived altitude is well above 7,000 feet approaching the New York Class B airspace, the 295 won't constantly tap your shoulder to remind you that airspace is ahead.
A good feature to make us pilots look more knowledgeable is the nearest-city feature. When your passengers look out and spy a town and ask, "What town is that?" you'll have the answer in a couple of keystrokes. Besides telling you where the nearest airports, navaids, airspace, and towns are, the 295 has a database of all major interstate exits and rest areas. Have an emergency landing on Missouri's Interstate 44? Walk to Exit 110, where the 295's database reveals that there is a phone, rest area, restrooms, and a picnic area.
Naturally, such information is meant to be used when the 295 is in the land mode. For $199, you can obtain the street-level-mapping MetroGuide CD-ROM for the United States and download (via a PC interface cable) the street database for entire metropolitan areas. Heading to St. Louis? Download the St. Louis metro area data into the unit's datacard, and the 295 is ready to navigate to your final destination. The 295 will not provide turn-by-turn directions like you'll find in some rental cars these days, but it will provide a detailed map of the roadways, your position, and your destination.
As in the aviation mode, the land mode's Nearest function points you to the nearest airports and navaids but adds restaurants, lodging, shopping, and attractions, among others. Punch in a specific address and the 295 will point the way. In the land mode, the HSI becomes a simple pointer like a radio magnetic indicator or slaved ADF. In flight, however, this function comes in handy for airplanes not equipped with an RMI. DME-arc approaches? No problem.
The 295 comes with a yoke mount, dashboard — or glareshield — mount, carrying case, cigarette-lighter adapter, and PC-interface cable. A clever beanbag mount is available as an option. Minimum advertised price for the 295 is $1,449. If that price is a little too steep for your budget, Garmin intends to continue production of the 195 and III Pilot, which list for around $950 and $600, respectively.
For more information, contact Garmin International, 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062; telephone 913/397-8200; or visit the Web site ( www.garmin.com). — Peter A. Bedell
Transferring fuel from a container to an airplane (or vice versa) has never been an easy or fun task. The containers are heavy when they are full, so forget about hefting one up a ladder to fuel high-wing airplanes, where the risk of damage to you or your airplane becomes quite high — to say nothing of the spilled fuel. Robert Kube of Northern California has created a portable refueling pump to ease the transfer of fuel from containers to the airplane or any vehicle. The $199 pump can also be used to defuel airplanes for weight and balance purposes. The portable refueler transfers five gallons per minute through its crank-operated pump and comes with hoses, nozzle, grounding wire, and a one-year warranty. A 10-micron inline fuel filter is a $25 option. For more information, contact Kube at 530/459-5700, or e-mail [email protected]. — PAB
Tired of always replacing your landing light? LoPresti Speed Merchants has introduced the Boom Beam, a high-intensity-discharge xenon landing light system. LoPresti claims that the Boom Beam has five times the candlepower of a standard reflector landing light and a bulb with such a low failure rate that the company warrants it for five years. In addition, the lamp is said to draw less current and create less heat than standard landing lights. The Boom Beam is currently certified for installation on Mooney 201 airplanes. Certification for the Beech Bonanza and the Grumman Tiger are expected soon. Eventually, LoPresti hopes to make it available for most general aviation airplanes. The Boom Beam lists for $699, and the Mooney installation kit adds another $135. For more information, contact LoPresti at 800/859-4757 or 561/562-4757; or visit the Web site ( www.flyfast-lopresti.com). — PAB
Briefly Noted
Sigtronics has introduced the SCI-S4 and -S6 voice-activated stereo intercoms for four- or six-place applications. The SCI-S-series intercoms are designed to replace the venerable SPA-400 and -600 intercoms with a minimum of labor. The box occupies the same panel space, and a minimum of wiring is required to make the swap. Features include crew and pilot isolation and the ability to pipe in music from two separate sources. Music for the rear-seaters can come from a different source than the one used by front-seat passengers. A muting function lowers the music during intercom and fully mutes the music during ATC communications. List price is $625 for the -S4 and $665 for the -S6. For more information, contact Sigtronics at 909/305-9399, or visit the Web site ( www.sigtronics.com). — PAB
Pilots living in the eastern United States who are looking for places to fly may want to pick up the Pilot's Guide to Recreational Destinations-Eastern United States. Author Poldi Mikula provides more than 300 pages of information about things to do at or near airports from Maine to Florida and as far west as Tennessee and Michigan. Whether you are looking for golf courses, art museums, amusement parks, or bird-watching, this book is a must-read for planning weekend jaunts or day trips in the region. The Pilot's Guide to Recreational Destinations is available through Sporty's Pilot Shop (800/SPORTYS) or Internet booksellers. For more information, contact Beyond the Clouds at 410/604-2840, or e-mail [email protected]. — PAB
AVtracker has introduced a new version of its Windows-based cost-tracking software called AVtracker-Single Owner. Designed for owners of single aircraft, this $99 version of AVtracker keeps a log of everything relating to costs, maintenance events, pilot logs, and reminds you if you are overdue for your medical or flight review. AVtracker also offers a version for owners in a partnership. Either can be downloaded off of the company's Web site for a free 30-day trial. For more information, call AVtracker at 888/444-2299, or visit the Web site ( www.avtracker.com). — 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. Links to all Web sites referenced in this issue can be found on AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/pilot/links/links0004.shtml).
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