iFLY 720 GPS

[mtgsxr]

ok next question... Anyone find it cheeper than $699 ?

[Paul Z]

I found it for $689 on My Pilot Store. http://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/

[Paul Z]

Chase you have an iFly 720? I am needing to get something, I dropped my iPad P.O.S. when I got home from Oshkosh, and fractured my screen really bad. It's not worth repairing because it tends to overheat. Either I get one of the newer iPads or something else. Any recommendations?

[dginok]

Looks like the iFly web site has "re-certified" 720s available for $599.

[avidflyer]

I got a Nexus 7 tablet last fall and uploaded Avare aviation GPS software on it. (free android software) Worked good for me. Easy to see in the sunlight. The Nexus 7 is the tablet recommended on the Avare site. I got a new Nexus 7 (2012 version, 32 GB) on ebay for $149 with free shipping. Way less than Walmart wanted. I havn't used the IFLY or others, but this worked well for me. Cheap also! The tablet works good for going on the net when on a trip also if you can get wifi. Jim Chuk

[jrevens]

I got a Nexus 7 tablet last fall and uploaded Avare aviation GPS software on it. (free android software) Worked good for me. Easy to see in the sunlight. The Nexus 7 is the tablet recommended on the Avare site. I got a new Nexus 7 (2012 version, 32 GB) on ebay for $149 with free shipping. Way less than Walmart wanted. I havn't used the IFLY or others, but this worked well for me. Cheap also! The tablet works good for going on the net when on a trip also if you can get wifi. Jim Chuk

I almost got a Nexus 7 instead if the iPad. I wish I had. It looks like a good unit.

[jrevens]

?.. Either I get one of the newer iPads or something else. Any recommendations?

Paul,
I have one of the newer iPads, & it sometimes overheats & shuts down in the cockpit.

[Paul Z]

My iPad would shut down CONSTANTLY.. Once I taxied from the Hanger to the North end of the runway for Take Off, when I was holding waiting on clearance to T/O it gave me the Overheating message and shut down as I was taking off!

[dholly]

Some additional observations...

- Dual processor loads info fast, works in landscape or portrait view. The chart detail, screen brightness and resolution are all very good, and the function touch buttons 'disappear' allowing more info display on screen. I like the ability to shut off the terrain alerts but still display a vertical moving terrain profile.

- The WiFi database updates work flawlessly, but internet browser is almost useless. It does 'bookmark' visited sites to make subsequent visits load quicker. Good for Wx and TFR updates via WiFi if your phone dies I suppose.

- The remote is more handy than I expected. Not full featured but allows quick access to the most commonly used functions and airport info, including private airports (love the satellite 'realview' of airports and taxi ways).

- All of the electrical connections are made on the sides, not the back, of the unit. The back of the unit is flat, which means the Velcro hook & loop 'poor man's' mounting option direct to the panel or another flat surface mount in your collection works great.

- I originally had the GPS mounted overhead between the 'V' just aft of the forward carry thru tube using the supplied iFly suction cup mount. The mount has multiple articulation joints and is fairly long overall, so I got a very noticeable and annoying jiggle that made the unit hard to read. I found using a shorter RAM mount helped.

- The glass skylight, even with my re-positionable auto shades overhead, made viewing the screen detail difficult due to the glare at times. Enough so that I want to move it down to my panel with a slightly angled, quick remove mounting option flush with, but not cut into, the panel. FWIW, setting the unit to vector maps in night view provided the best high-contrast map for sunlight glare. Will try anti-reflective screen film someday, this stuff was recommended by another user. LINK

- I spoke to the good folks from Adventure Pilot at OSH about surface mounts and they recommended trying this 2-part mount: Swivel Base with Mounting Plate. Interesting but pricey. I am also considering two other base mount alternatives: a RecMounts REC-B43G suction cup mount LINK (which will require a RAP-B-375U 1-inch 'T-slot' adapter ball LINK; and, in the event I can't find a good spot for the suction cup mount, a PanaVise 651-TS 'T-Bolt' Adjusting Knuckle short post mount LINK. Both of these socket base options should position the iFly closer to the panel than the typical Ram ball base with double socket arm, and still allow quick angle changes to minimize reflections.

- I used the Streets GPS function driving to and from AirVenture this year and found it quite adequate, once I shut off the "You are over the speed limit" voice warning . Only real nits were the display was too bright at night regardless of the night scheme selected, ie. no manual night brightness control (I just put down the sun visor to cover), and the voice announce turn warnings on non-highway roads often came so close to a turn that I simply couldn't slow fast enough.

Still learning but it seems like a very good bang for the buck, no regrets yet. Might try their new app if you have a tablet already.

[SkyPirate]

I just mounted mine in the panel with remote connections including SD card