Some Bargains Turn Up Online

by ANN Senior Correspondent (and Ace Techno-Weenie) Kevin R.C. "Hognose" O'Brien

I've gotten by just fine with my antediluvian Garmin GPS90, an old monochrome unit that works great even if it only has airports and VFR fixes on it. (I've tried to wheedle test units of newer vintage out of Garmin to see what I was missing, but they've blown me off -- so much for the power of the Fourth Estate). But I can't deny that newer, shinier and more capable units are giving me serious GPS envy and may be prying loose some of my flying dollars soon -- especially when a range of attractive price cuts and closeouts are in effect.

When you live on the coast like I do, navigation is not so stressful anyway, apart from the screwy airspace that gets screwier whenever the Bush family is in residence in their Kennebunkport home. (I would have spent all 2004 grounded if it hadn't been for John Kerry refusing TFRs -- thank you, Senator; I wasn't grateful enough to vote for you, but I WAS grateful). What I mean is, flying VFR around here, if you go too far one way you're in the mountains, too far the other way and next landfall is Iceland (the 172 has the 50 gallon long-range tanks, but Iceland is not in the cards). So a GPS is not something one needs.

It is something one wants and the introduction of ever-newer, ever-cooler GPS units means that many retailers right now have very recent but non-latest models of Garmin GPSs at substantial savings. For example, they are selling the awesome WAAS-ready GPS295 for a number far lower than Garmin will permit them to advertise (even on their websites). I know what the number is, but out of deference to Garmin's preferences, won't mention it. You have to go find it yourself.

If you don't want to buy Garmin, there seems to have been a strong price reduction on the already affordable Lowrance 500 and 1000 units, which everyone now seems to have for $400 and $600 respectively. The price pressure is a result of the new color GPS 2000c, which sells for $1000 and will be upgradeable by the end of 2005 to include terrain. Indeed the latest Garmin generation, the iQue 3600a and GPS 296, includes terrain already -- something you needed the industry-leading Chelton Synthetic Vision panel-mount system for until now (look for a feature on Chelton later this week).

The bottom line is this: this is as good a time as any to buy a handheld aviation GPS. And by getting one model back from the cutting edge, you can save serious money!

I won't recommend any particular retailer; none of them advertise here, I think (I don't keep track of that stuff and it has no effect on our editorial process anyway), and I've bought from all of them, Aircraft Spruce, AvShop, and Sporty's (note the neutral alphabetical order), and they've all treated me well and earned my repeat business. I suggest shopping around if you have no GPS or, like me, have an elderly one. Not all of them will have the blowout GPS 295s (for reference, Garmin's minimum advertised price is $1349 to $1449; you may have to put it in your "shopping cart" to see what the discounted price is) and not all have both the Americas and the Euro/Atlantic version, but everybody has the Lowrance units at the prices quoted above. (Just for the record, I also like Wicks, but they don't sell handheld GPSs; and I actually buy most of my "routine" flying stuff at The Pilot Shop in Norwood, MA, [KOWD], -- they've got a great book section, too).

FMI: Aircraft Spruce, Wicks, The Pilots Shop, AvShop, Sportys