FlightMaster GPS 7.01 (Shareware)
This application uses your PDA and GPS to display navigation information on your handheld device.
Features Include: Provides moving map and nearest airport locator. The information screen will show speed (GS), Track (TRK), CDI, Course (TO), satellites, ETA, ETE, UTC & Local (LOC) time, Altitude (ALT) and Distance (RNG). The moving map provides zoom-in and out, airspace, terrain information with optional airspace and obstacle highlighting on map. The navigation screen shows a rotating compass with an overlaid directional pointer, heading arc and a GPS driven attitude approximator (AA).
What's New: 7.01 - Added terrain & airspace, night mode and more, now includes Jeppesen NavData.
Also See: PalmEFIS Map
Reviewed by
Matthew Justice on 1-6-2007
Review
Pros: Multiple map views, powerful navigation information on a single screen, runway alignment cones, 320x480, simulation mode, airspace information, and night mode.
Cons: No ability to assign hardware buttons, no weather overlay, upgrade fee from previous versions, no TFR update option from inside of program.
Notes: ** Reviewed on a Treo 700P **, requires CoPilot 5.x for waypoints and flight-planning. Visit website for add-on databases such as TFRs and airspace.
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May 30, 2007 (Wed) - Matt using Palm OS - T3 |
| "With the exception of some of the very advanced functions, FlightMaster on my T3 can run right along side my friend's Garmin 496. This thing is worth every penny! {version 7,01}" |
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Feb 7, 2007 (Wed) - Anonymous using Palm OS - treo 700p |
| "Fellow line pilots are amazed at the power of this software .....on my cell phone.
Flight Master is by far the best platform. {version 7.01}" |
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Jan 2, 2007 (Tue) - onehotav8r using Palm OS |
| "Absoultely Fantastic Product. I have been using it for about 2 years now through several versions. The SD version is the best yet! I am using it on a Palm Tungsten C. I had the Tungsten C, and between buying the GPS receiver, window mount and software, I think that it cost me less than 200 bucks! I also have aGarmin GPS295 which I pretty muh have stopped using since I got FlightMaster. I was glad to hear that GPS Bluettoh enbabled devices got it to work too...guess i'm just too attached to my Tungsten C! I would recommend this product without reservation to anyone because of it's color display, features, easy to update databases, 4 maps, many features that you canb turn on or off on each map separately, flight planning, wapoint input and many other features that don't come to mind at this time! A+++ product!!! {version 7.01SD}" |
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Oct 23, 2006 (Mon) - Jamie Martin using Palm OS |
| "I run Flightmaster 7.01 on my Treo 650 with a bluetooth GPS and it is fantastic. The program now has terrain an includes a wide variety of useful features -- VNAV, HSI, OBS, Direct-to, Emergency Diversion, Waypoint/Navaid/Airport search, Frequencies/Elevations/Airspace/Airway, Flight Planning, Approach Cones -- that provide me with a new sense of confidence in the cockpit. I love flying with Flightmaster and can't imagine I could have bought a handheld aviation GPS with half the features for less than 10 times the $200 it cost me to add the program to my Treo and procure a bluetooth GPS. This is the best value I could find anywhere in aviation GPS! {version 7.01}" |
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Apr 2, 2006 (Sun) - Sal Crocker using Palm OS |
| "I am a Captain for a major airline with over 17 years of experience and also currently work as a Check Airman and Instructor on the Airbus 320/319. My background is General Aviation starting in high school. To say that I am impressed with this software would be an understatement. My Treo650 is an MP3 player, Organizer, Web Browser, Email App, TV (MobiTV) and now a very valuable GPS! Wow, the future is here. I use FlightMaster GPS with my TomTom BlueTooth Wireless Receiver and it works like a charm! Of course I don't need it in the Airbus, it has two GPS receivers installed and fully integrated, but the Cessna 172 that my buddy has that I fly on occasion is almost on the avionics level of the Airbus in terms of navigation capability. It's just not as fast.
I truly enjoy the integration of flight planning with copilot, then pulling up the flight plan automatically in FlightMaster. The flight plan is fully editable after being created.
Great work guys! Keep it up.
Sincerely,
Sal Crocker {version 6.01}" |
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Mar 17, 2006 (Fri) - Jamie Martin using Palm OS |
| "I run Fightmaster on a Treo 650 and have been simply amazed at how easy and functional the program is. This seems to be the best value in GPS moving maps out there. Flight planning is a breeze with Copilot and the direct to function is as easy as tapping an airport/waypoint/navaid on the map and pressing the function 2 key for 1 sec! Zap, you are on the way. Hold the same key for 2 seconds and you are directed to the closest airport for an emergency landing. Click once and you are directed into approach cones for the runway, click twice and you get all info on the airport you need -- freqs, rw surface, orientation, etc. It is a snap to update hte programs databases of TFRs, obstacles, airspace and navaids with Palm's Quick Install interface. I could go on and on -- HSI, emergency AI, Glideslope, VSI Rate of Turn, VNAV, Alerts, Obstacles, Simple Bluetooth GPS. Everything you need in an adjunct safety aid. In sum, I can't believe I found something this great to run on my Treo 650 for under $100! Add a $150 WAAS Bluetooth GPS, a power mount, and you are good to go. And FM is moving fast. I have owned the program for 2 weeks and have already synched in 3 program updates to add new functionality. {version 6.02b3}" |
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Oct 22, 2005 (Sat) - john sanders using Palm OS |
| "Wow! All this (CoPilot and FlightMaster) for less than a $100 hamburger. Thanks Kevin and Laurie, for creating awesome software at such a great value. Combined with a Rikaline Bluetooth GPS and a Treo 650 I'm set! - JS {version 5.0}" |
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Apr 11, 2005 (Mon) - Joe using Palm OS |
| "A great piece of software has been made even better - version 5.0 includes airspace! Boundaries of all bravo, charlie, and delta airspace can be shown (or not - at the user's discretion) on the moving map page, along with obstacles, airfields, and navaids.
The value available in this $80 piece of software is truly remarkable when compared to other "aviation-priced" alternatives like AnywhereMap and the Garmin products. Great work Kevin! {version 5.0}" |
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Dec 20, 2004 (Mon) - xrayvizhen using Palm OS |
"It's hard to be succinct about this great piece of software, but I'll try.
I had been scouring the internet for weeks researching aviation moving map software for use on a PDA. I reasoned that as cool as the new stand-alone Garmin and Lowrance GPS units were, a PDA could multitask as both a business tool and GPS display. I had also convinced myself that I needed a new high resolution Pocket PC ($400 or so) and Anywhere Map software ($289 + $115/Year Update subscription). But flying is expensive, right?
Well guess what...there are bargains to be had and FlightMaster, ($49 shareware) when used in conjunction with CoPilot (freeware - but do make a one-time donation of $19.95) is the greatest bargain in aviation! Both programs are offered in Palm OS versions only, but I already have a Sony Clie' which I specifically bought several years ago because its monochrome low-res screen was easily visible in the car under a wide variety of lighting conditions. I hadn't even considered using it for in-flight navigation simply because I didn't think it was possible. But not only is it possible, it's a much more efficient way to go.
Basically, what you do is plan your flight using CoPilot and then switch over to FlightMaster. The switchover is seamless as there are icons on both programs that allow you to flip back and forth between the two. Then you connect your GPS (I use a WAAS enabled eTrex Venture) to your PDA (with cables available from PC-Mobile http://www.pc-mobile.net) and the program and the GPS immediately start talking to each other. At that point, you will see a little icon of an airplane plotted on top of your home airport with a tracking line drawn along your flight-path leading to your eventual destination. Nothing could be simpler as you just follow the line to get to where you want to go. FlightMaster takes the CoPilot flight plan and plots it all out on your display, complete with the appropriate airport information that you selected. There are several different screens of information available at your fingertips and FlightMaster makes use of the standard buttons on your Palm to cycle through them. Very convenient in that you can keep one hand on the yoke and you don't need to use the PDA stylus at all.
I spent a morning last week on a flight out to central Pennsylvania deliberately looking for hard to find airports. I've always thought that most small airports generally look like farms with a central road that goes nowhere in the middle of it. While navigation for me has always been relatively easy, the most challenging part of any flight has been learning to distinguish a small airport from a farm. Well not anymore. FlightMaster does all the hard work for you and when used in conjunction with CoPilot, which gets its database from Paul Tomblin's http://www.navaid.com , is unerring and I found myself trying to get lost, without success.
I understand that Kevin Haines, the author of FlightMaster, is planning an upgrade that will include airspace boundaries which will be a welcome addition. But if you buy the program now, you'll get future upgrades for free! I had a little bit of trouble initially running the demo, but I got a prompt e-mail response from the author who let me know that there was a problem with Handango downloading an older version of the program that was incompatible with the newer version of CoPilot. Excellent support!
My only disappointment is that I now have no reason to buy that expensive new Dell Axim X50V that I had been lusting after." |
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Jul 11, 2004 (Sun) - Nick H using Palm OS |
"This program, combined with CoPilot, is the killer app for my Palm. I love them and have been using constantly for over 2 years... they have taken all of the drudgery out of flight planning and let me change my plans on the fly, as well as being extremely (almost criminally) affordable.
A great added value is being able to make a quickie flight plan to anywhere when the topic of being a pilot comes up in conversation... I can just say yup, we can be there in an hour and 10 minutes. Usually that's all the convincing she needs :)
" |
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Jul 11, 2004 (Sun) - Jchiecchio using Palm OS |
| "Try to get an aviation GPS with unlimited FREE database updates (all from current FAA data and other complement sources) for less than $250. (get a Palm M515 with the magellian Companion GPS)
An amazing product for the $$.
" |
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Jul 8, 2004 (Thu) - Martin Pohl using Palm OS |
| "I am a great fan of CoPilot - the combination with FlightMaster gives me a comprehensive tool for all my VFR flights. A must for all GA pilots!!!" |
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Apr 7, 2004 (Wed) - Brenor Brophy using Palm OS |
| "I've been using Flight Master on my Sony Clie SJ-22 with a Fortuna U2 GPS. It is an excellent piece of software. It's integration with CoPilot is seamless - coupled with CoPilot database available from Paul Tomblin the CoPilot/Flight-Master combo beats anything out there for a very small fraction of the cost. The HSI feature is the best I've seen on a PDA application - it is a very reasonable emergency back-up instrument for a total power loss in IMC. The 4.02 version has a problem with GPS units that use the SiRF Star II GPS chip-set. These GPS units do not provide Magnetic Variation (which means they are not really NMEA complient). This causes Flight-Master to report incorrect Headings & Bearings if you select magnetic instead of true directions in the Flight-Master preferences. The developer was really responsive to the problem and is working on a fix." |
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Mar 26, 2004 (Fri) - adam using Palm OS |
| "thinking of getting a bluetooth GPS with my tungsten T3, but have a question about magnetic variation. the flightmaster website says that several of the new GPS receivers do not output MV. Has anyone noticed this? Anyone know which units DO output MV data? I was thinking of getting the royaltek bluetooth GPS." |
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Mar 25, 2004 (Thu) - Dave M using Palm OS |
| "This is by far, one of the best programs on my Palm. The integration with CoPilot, makes it a must-have. I have used it to check my position awareness and for direct navigation to airfields that I had never visited. The color moving-map display caused me to sell my monochrome Palm Vx and integrated GPS Companion, and buy a m515 with a WAAS-enabled GPS Companion. It is one program that I will not fly without. I use FlightMaster to help identify IFR waypoints and to provide precise position information to ease access in to controlled airspace. You dont need an IFR-equipped aircraft when you have FlightMaster." |
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Aug 18, 2003 (Mon) - Joseph Doherty using Palm OS |
| "Based on "PF's choice" and prior user reviews, I downloaded 2.x version and tried it out in demo mode on my Visor with a Magellan GPS. Found it easy to use and easy to read. The latter being important when you're 40+ and/or being bounced around in the cockpit. Purchased it and with CoPilot it's a great combo. First time I used it in flight, never found finding an airport so easy. e.g. 9.6 miles that-a-way. I've made several suggestions and most have been implemented in versions 3.0 and 3.1 (along with many other enhancements)." |
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Aug 9, 2003 (Sat) - Mark Westervelt using Palm OS |
| "I've been a CoPilot user for years. CoPilot is the BEST PDA aviation tool available. I've also used the Magellan GPS Companion with a Palm Vx as a backup to a Garmin 430. Until now, I've had to keep two waypoint databases on the Palm. FlightMaster's CoPilot integration allows just one waypoint database for both flight planning and GPS navigation! A single waypoint database along with FlightMaster's features make this product the hands down choice for GPS navigation software. As a side note, I've also used FlightMaster for Geocaching. FlightMaster's CDI literally points you to the cache; it almost takes the fun out of it." |
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Jul 23, 2003 (Wed) - Brad using Palm OS |
| "I bought MiniNav and use it with CoPilot in Australia on my Visor with a Magellan GPS I bought on ebay for $75 US. It's a great product, and just got better with the free updrade to FlightMaster 3.0. What more could anyone want!" |
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Apr 25, 2003 (Fri) - Christopher Dorr using Palm OS |
| "Very good GPS product. Integrates nicely with Co-Pilot. The HSI-type display is wonderful. I have several GPS programs for the Palm, and this is my favourite. Personally, If I was in the market for a reasonably-priced aviation GPS, I'd buy a Palm M130 ($199) + snap-on GPS ($179) + Co-Pilot (Free) + Mininav ($20). Cheaper than a Garmin III Pilot by $100, and more useful. Great product." |
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Apr 23, 2003 (Wed) - Anonymous using Palm OS |
| "Wonderful navigation tool, I think this program when used in conjunction with CoPilot is a must have for all GA pilots!" |
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Apr 16, 2003 (Wed) - Jeff B using Palm OS |
| "First, I haven't used MiniNav, but am a fan of CoPilot. You can now download entire airport/navaid databased from the web, so no need to hand enter waypoints (see http://xcski.com/~ptomblin/CoPilot/). Not only can you download the database, but you can use the Waypoint Generator to select only those areas that you want (CoPilot + IN, OH, PN, MI) totals only 0.75M and includes airports (freqs, runways, elevation and sunrise/sunset) and navaids. If MiniNav gives you the flight info you want, CoPilot is an easy to use flight planner with an excellent database. Note - I have no connection to CoPilot, but am an enthusiastic user." |
| Total Reviews (21) - Average User Rating (4 stars): | |
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