Bendix King AV8TOR

[Kyle Wolfe]

I got to see this at OSH but didn't spend enough time playing with the unit. It would be nice to upgrade my old Garmin 196 in order to have color, but just haven't brought myself to plunk down the $ for a new Garmin. This unit looks pretty slick. Anyone using it? Comments about it?

[4-Shipp]

Lots of talk over on the AOPA forums. There appears to be a lot of issues/teething pains.

[Kyle Wolfe]

Thanks for the tip, Bruce. Doesn't sound super supportive yet for the Bendix King unit. Sounds like they rushed it a bit. Hopefully it improves, and a bit of competition with Garmin isn't bad either.

[4-Shipp]

Kyle,

There are also several threads on the AOPA forum talking about the Control Vision Anywhere Map Travel Companion. They have been around a long time and have had mixed results with their PDA based systems. The ATC however is a dedicated GPS unit and seems to be better. Although there are still some issues, there are some satisfied owners out there. Big advantage of the ATC is that you can buy a lifetime data subscription for less than two years of data from Garmin. They are priced about halfway between the Garmins and the King unit.

I am still on the fence but look to buy something with WX in the next month or so.

How about you buy one of each, and let us know which one is the best?

[flyguy]

I got to see this at OSH ................... Anyone using it? Comments about it?

WHAT? ? ? ?

[GAHorn]

Gar.... You off your meds again?

[flyguy]

Gar.... You off your meds again?

NAW JIS TRIN TU FIGGER OUT WHAT HE SEEN THAT HE DINT GIT TU PLAY WITH TOO MUCH

IFN HE WARTN TOO DURN LAZI HE CUDA DUN THIS - - - - - - -

[Kyle Wolfe]

Golly - better be more careful about what I write! Ol' Gar - you're just too observant. Of course there were plenty of things I didn't get to play with at OSH - but my posting was for the AV8TOR.

I did play the B/K demo from their website after getting home but was disappointed. I thought it was poorly done. Too short and did not do a very good job of pointing out the features and benefits. Not enough info.

Bruce's mention of the AOPA site was priceless. I'm holding off on buying this unit - for now....

[flyguy]

Golly - better be more careful about what things I didn't get to play with at OSH - but my posting was for the ???. for now....

MITA BIN THIS BABY HUH???

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Now Gar that thing you got there is COOL. I'd have to ge that running. Been looking for something like it for some time now.

[GAHorn]

GAr'.... is that a Ford Doodlebug? Looks like one. (Fer all yew sity-slikkers a doodlebug is a T or A model ford converted into a "trakter".

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Hey George I knew that Ford T's and A's were turned into tractors and other things like snow machines. And I don't think I'd be classified a country boy though I don't and would never live in the city. Didn't remember the name of them though. I had my eye on one locally here for 20 years as the brush grew up around it. It was report as NOT FOR SALE till one day it disappeared.

I was thinking this was a doodle bug except the rims look a bit big (wide) in the picture.

BTW wouldn't a AV8TOR look good on the dash of the equipment.

When I heard about the AV8TOR my reaction spcially when I heard the price was good. Maybe Garmin will has some competition, lower the prices of their stuff and we will see even more innovation from them. Competition is a good thing.

[4-Shipp]

Kyle, I have not heard any more about the AV8OR. but I did fly with a captain the last two days that brought along the Anywhere Map system on a large screen pad-type computer. He also owned the new ATC but did not bring it on this trip.

Overall, I was very impressed with the anywhere map product. It was very easy to use, only took about 10 minutes to catch on to the primary modes of operation and it was much easier to get the info off of than the Garmin 396 I had used prior. Gary said the ATC was just as easy to use and worked just as well as the larger format we payed with. He said that the ATC actually had several software features that he liked better than the system we were using, but I do not remember the specifics.

The XM link had no issues during our two day trip from all over the eastern US cruising in our 737in the mid 30's. The bluetooth connections between the GPS, XM weather box and the display was error free.

The only issue Gary has with the new ATC was that it will not keep up when ground speeds exceed 350 knots. That is why he did not bring it along on this trip. He said that control vision was aware of the issue and was working on a software fix and that there were absolutely no issues with the ATC in his C-310.

I have been holding off waiting to talk to someone who had actually used the new system. If we decide to take the plunge on a WX capable GPS I think the ATC will be it. I'll let you know how it worked if we decide to go that way.

Bruce