Oscar (old KRNet timer like myself:-) The 396 has become the mainstay of pilots who want the ultimate in portability, situational awareness, weather and various data bases. Yes, there are other units out there but Garmin did capture the market with their unit. I have not bought one as I am only hanging my engine this weekend and all those new and fabulous electronic thingees only get better, and from more vendors, as time passes. I know several, probably more than that, that fly the 396 regularly and swear by it's reliability and feel naked without the weather function. I can download weather onto my 430 but for twice the price of the 396..............hum, I may be a dumb@$$ sometimes but this ain't one of them.
The airplanes we are building are go fast airplanes. The country gets small but that only brings the weather to bear sooner and more often. Check the stats, weather is the #1 killer in the sky whether it is controlled flight into terrain or structural failure after VFR flight into IMC. If you haven't seen the weather version of the 396, go to garmins site and download the free trial. Dana Overall 1999 & 2000 National KR Gathering host Richmond, KY i39 RV-7 slider, Imron black, "Black Magic" O 360 A1A, C/S C2YK-1BF/F7666A4 http://rvflying.tripod.com/id30.html do not archive _________________________________________________________________ On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement
