AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 39

Flight
Time ü
pilots can see weather and traffic overlaid on top of them. Approach plates are
shown in the north-up format, and even
though I've got a strong personal preference for track up, the north-up presentation
improves chart readability.
My one complaint about the approach
plates was that the white airplane symbol
lacked contrast and blended into the white
background. Later, I realized I had been
navigating with a VFR moving map before
loading the approach. As soon as I switched
to an IFR chart, the airplane symbol on the
georeferenced approach plate switched to
high-contrast magenta.
I commonly fly with the VFR map on
IFR trips, however, because I like knowing
about the topography below. The 760 allows
all sorts of aircraft symbols (low wing, high
wing, multiengine, jet, helicopter), but all of
them are white. Maybe it's time to toss a few
color options into the Setup menu.
The high-resolution screen shows the
moving map in brilliant color and detail-
especially in full screen. It comes with
Garmin's obstacle database and a detailed
Terrain page, which is tremendously helpful in identifying potential routes through
mountainous terrain. Those features were
invaluable on a recent transcontinental trip
in a backcountry airplane.
Somewhat counterintuitively, I particularly appreciate Garmin's 3D Vision
screen during VFR flights. The 760 shows
a forward-looking view of the airplane
moving through a GPS-derived landscape. When connected via Bluetooth to
a GDL ADS-B receiver with an air data
attitude and heading reference system,
however, it can show an all-in-one attitude instrument (either full screen or
split screen). That's a potential lifesaver
in haze, at night, during an inadvertent
cloud encounter, or any other time pilots
are at risk of spatial disorientation.
The moving map allows pilots to check
airspace limits at the touch of a button.
Garmin's Smart Airspace feature can declutter the moving map and make relevant
airspace more prominent as it gets nearer.
It also can show TFRs when connected to
an ADS-B receiver, and that's a terrific backstop for VFR flying during an election year.

The 760 is an ideal size for a yoke or
kneeboard mount, and it comes with a
cigarette-lighter adapter that works in
airplanes with either 12- or 24-volt electrical systems.
When linked via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
to an ADS-B receiver-or Garmin panelmount avionics-this highly capable
standalone GPS can show weather, traffic, aircraft attitude, and other vital and
timely information. When paired with
SiriusXM Aviation weather, the 760 can
show cloud tops, freezing levels, lightning, and other advanced features.
The 760 comes with one free database
update, and it took about one full hour to
download it from the FlyGarmin website
through the USB cable on a portable computer. Wireless database updates also are
available via WiFi. Garmin recommends
charging the unit for four hours before
flight, but it took less time than that to
fully charge the internal battery with the
included wall charger.
Garmin says the 760 can operate about
4.5 hours on battery power although screen
brightness, cabin temperature, and other
factors can extend or shorten battery life.
The 760 has a bright, responsive, easy-toread screen that efficiently uses almost all
its available space. It's much more rugged
than an iPhone or an iPad, and it's far less
sensitive to heat, cold, and vibration.
When iPhones and iPads turn themselves off, or automatically darken their
screens because they're too hot, too cold,
or just feeling contrary, the 760 soldiers on
without complaint.
The 760 isn't as versatile as an iPad. You
can't use a 760 to join a Zoom call, FaceTime
with your kids, or write a Yelp review. But
you can answer just about every conceivable aviation question that comes up during
an IFR or VFR flight, and that's plenty.
The best aviation products are solely
aviation products. And even though this
one looks and acts like a smartphone or
a tablet, it's a much more reliable tool for
flying than any mass-market consumer
product could ever be.
garmin.com
EMAIL dave.hirschman@aopa.org

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020

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