I'm currently running Airnav Pro on my iPad 1 as a backup to the Garmin 430W and KX-125 installed in my aircraft. However, with every new version I'm experiencing more troubles with the application freezing, crashing altogether, not starting up properly, not displaying altitude data ...
Would you recommend Skydemon over Airnav Pro? Is it worth the cost of installing a new system, or does it have just the same reliability issues?
What I really like with Airnav Pro is the possibility to display current METARS on the map. One thing I don't need is synthetic vision, as the iPad 1 lacks the internal sensors and I always keep it in my lap or on the right-hand seat.
I'd echo the frequent feezing and crashing of ANP on the iPad1, with SD running much better. I find SD much better value as all the available country databases are included and are well presented, IMO. It was designed to provide all the weather, notam and planning info and does that in a convenient graphical format.
I have both. Since using SkyDemon, I haven't been inclined to use AirNavPro at all. And, the SD team seem to go to a lot of effort to interact with users and improve their products, so I was pleased to buy their stuff and recommend them.
Do you need a pc to manage your account with SD. I only have macs and an iPad so just want to buy the browser version but will that work? Has anyone else done this please?
( I did ask on the SD web site but, so far no reply)
No need for a PC you can administer your SD account from the Skydemon.aero website and use only the iPad App or the web.skydemon.aero web based app for the mac.
I have both and can't see any reason to use ANP on the iPad, now that I have SD.
I do use ANP on iPhone as a backup.
I don't have a Windows PC. When I first got SD last year I had to plan using Windows on Mac Parallels, but now you can use SD on the web to do this. Since the iPad version came out, I only use that to plan and fly.
Have just been persuaded by someone to move from anp to sky demon but before I do, has anyone tried the latest version of pocket fms - tried it a while ago and it was pretty impressive, now on ipad.
Well I have just bought an I pad 3, after much deliberation. Went for Sky Demon, and have it installed on both I pad and home computer, have used the sky demon app on last 2 flights, and I am pretty impressed. I also have been using it without additional external GPS and have had no issues, although I have an external GPS pending on order, I will wait and see what issues I encounter. Initially I did not download to my computer, I did this retrospectively, and the whole package gives an enormous amount of planning, weather and Notam info. I also considered purchasing other apps, but at moment cannot see what others may have over the Sky Demon product, without getting picky.
Never used ANP anymore since I installed SkyDemon. (iPad 2 3G) What did it for me, apart from the more intuitive and polished interface, was the fact that ANP did not do any vertical navigation whatsoever. For VFR flying in complicated airspace, that's pretty essential.
The only issue I have with SkyDemon is that it's too easy to change a route once you're navigating. Just point to something on the screen to make a point with your passenger or something, and you have added a waypoint or something else. Annoying. I wouldn't mind some sort of slider or something that would allow you to block any navigation/route changes in flight mode, or something.
The other thing that's lacking in both is an easy to use W&B. Should not be too hard to add - both already handle per-aircraft performance data.
I used AirNav Pro for a while before skydemon came along on the iPad 1 and it was really slow to redraw the map - I upgraded to the iPad 2 and the performance became much much better. I think poor ANP performance is more hardware based to be honest.
I now exclusively use skydemon and completely agree with a previous post about ANP not doing any vertical navigation - to me that is ANP biggest problem. I also would love Skydemon to have a screen lock facility whilst in the nav mode to prevent inadvertent plan changes! Perhaps this is more an iOS issue than the app per se.
I have just used sky demon on iPad to fly uk to Mallorca and back. 1800 miles. Did not lose GPS signal once. Fantastic table of all likely radio frequencies en route. Very useful for finding French visual reporting points for airfields. Once a day wifi connection and all relevant notams and weather downloaded.
Really helpful tool for finding where on map the Notam applies - invaluable. Also excellent for showing when fuel not available at airfields. Sky demon reduced workload and thought needed for touring by some considerable margin.
I also would love Skydemon to have a screen lock facility whilst in the nav mode to prevent inadvertent plan changes!
My passengers are under strict instructions not to point and touch any part of the screen whilst saying "What's that?" on pain of being evicted from the aircraft....
I have the Skydemon mobile GPS. I haven't flown with it yet, but what I have done with it has impressed me greatly, and I am encouraged by many of the comments above. The planning is very easy to use and it combines lots of different aspects all into one. I considered some other products but the sharpness of the display on the Skydemon and the additional features persuaded me to go for it.
Edit: the only down side is that the power lasts for only a couple of hours (although I'm not sure if that's typical). You can easily buy a power monkey to add an extra few hours whilst flying if you want to though, and it also comes with a wide array of adapters so that you can recharge in your car or use your computer usb to charge it.
I have ANP on my iphone but never use it. From the ouset I found it difficult to use whereas Skydemon is just simplicity itself. I'm not a computer geek which probably makes me an ideal judge. Skydemon is one of the best bits of software I've ever seen. Download it and use it, SIMPLES! I have also looked at PocketFMS as my EFIS manufacturer is going to switch to it from Jeppesen for map data. I am delighted that they are doing this as Jepp is crap and PocketFMS looks good but would be ecstatic if they were moving to Skydemon!
Last edited by stickandrudderman; 2nd Sep 2012 at 18:15.
My personal GPS is an Aware but we use Skydemon for flight planning at my club and have a couple of Skydemon GPS's. I find I use the club Skydemon now instead of the Aware.
I have an iPad 3 and flew the other day with someone who used Skydemon on their iPad but used a bluetooth GPS receiver. Do I understand that you don't need the receiver to run SD on the iPad in flight?
I also use the IPAD 3, with an external GPS unit. XGPS150. I had read that at times GPS was unreliable within the I PAD, therefore utilise an external source.
For the first time I experienced this the other day. Flying in a friends aeroplane, I took my IPAD, but not my 150 GPS source.
The I PAD lost position on at least three occasions. It also appeared to lag behind the other GPS units in his craft.
Will always use the external GPS unit from now on, and suggest that for the cost of around 80quid, well worth it.
