On Wednesday, May 22, 2013 11:25:54 AM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
Now that folks have experience with both approaches, are Moving Map PNAs in fact a big step forward?



Do the advantages of Moving Map PNAs outweigh the disadvantages?

Heck yes! I kind of look at it this way:

- Generation 1: LCD-based displays (including pointers, numerical values, stuff like that) give you basic situational awareness. I'm 10 miles from the turnpoint and it's "over there". A big step up from a paper map and trying to figure out if that lake there and that road there are really Smithsburg or maybe it's Jonesville.

- Generation 2: Initial moving maps added much more visual information, so you can quickly compare the view out the window to the view on the screen. This allows you to also anticipate terrain options (hey, there's a ridge over there) or other landing options (3 airports jsut off course to the right).

- Generation 3: The latest fully integrated devices mix situational awareness with tactical awareness for racing or serious XC. If you invest some time toward configuring to your liking and chose a device that maps to your style (some people like to fiddle with numbers and values; I like pictures), you can not only know where you are going but where to go to optimize distance on tasks and stuff like that.

The longer answer is much longer, but it's just heck yes with more details.

P3