wrote:

Thanks! I've used the sim to see how it works. I'll need to practice
some more before I use it for real in the plane, but that's helped me
immensely.

I probably only know about a tenth of what this thing can do...

Glad to help. I extensively used the USER waypoint functionality of the
GNS430 one time when flying a long VFR x/c.

My HSI gyro went, which disabled the heading bug mode of the autopilot.
However, the AP still had GPS NAV mode, so I simply created a series of
USER waypoints along the way using distance off VOR radials to fly around
parachuting NOTAMs.

That same trip I also used the user waypoint feature to map the boundaries
of a presidential TFR in my active flight plan. It really is a powerful
feature of the GPS.

--
Peter