Hi,Great aicraft!The AP HDG mode is a bit strange though.To select a certain heading one presses the 90DEG left/right button, so the aircraft starts turning.When passing the desired heading, one deselects/select the HDG mode again.I guess this is how it functions in real life, but it seems a bit strange. (Or did I read the manual not correctly?)

To be honest, I only really know about steam gauges mostly. Then, with the Cheltons in this 112, Jim Rhoads walked me through a procedure over the phone during beta testing, having a flight plan up, using the autopilot, etc. It is actually very powerful! At least compared to what I am used to.

>Hi Mike,>I'm not sure that I would agree that the components you>mention are "the most important" I have to agree with Mike above, Chelton is all about synthetic vision and Highway-In-The-Sky "boxes". What you have here is just basic horizon - not much different than a typical PFD.Michael J.

>Actually, one of my small claims to fame in aviation was>having a Letter to the Editor published in Flying Magazine>predictiing that all the PFDs and MFDs would WORSEN pilot>safety until a learning curve was completed. It was published>before the TAA regs were passed and later, Flying did a whole>article showing that my theory was correct!The following link is an article regarding glass cockpits versus the old methods to train new pilots. But in the end, "glass" wins by quite a margin in round one.http://www.avweb.com/newspics/ab-initio_tr...cockpit_era.pdfL.Adamson

And NASA performed their own tests comparing HITS versus other more classical glass panels. HITS wins by large margin. The problems that we have with introduction of such panels is 1) adequate training 2) pilots tend to be more 'brave' when flying with such panels. The (2) makes any accident analysis/comparison difficult.Michael J.

>The AP HDG mode is a bit strange though.>To select a certain heading one presses the 90DEG left/right>button, so the aircraft starts turning.>When passing the desired heading, one deselects/select the HDG>mode again.>I guess this is how it functions in real life, but it seems a>bit strange. (Or did I read the manual not correctly?)Why not simply set the HDG BUG to "select a certain heading?" Simply "turn the knob..." ;)It is a nice package for freeware...

I sure hope they got compensated for it. In fact, the more the better, because ultimately it will be a better aircraft.I have been an AOPA member since '96, and it has been well worth it. This is just icing on the cake to get something like this.Thanks AOPA,Thomas

Thanks,I guess I should have read the manual better.

Is it really worth the $54 international membership for those of us not priviliged enough to live in the USA?RegardsAdam

The AOPA flight planner is worth the money alone. Plus the magazine you will get monthly is also outstanding. Plus now you get an FS plane.Good deal to me.Eric

That's a little hard to say. Since the AOPA mission is largely advocacy of U.S. general aviation interests, a lot would depend upon what value you place on the magazine itself. In my personal opinion, AOPA Pilot and Flying are the two best aviation magazines in the U.S. (maybe the world but I have no exposure to non-US mags so I really don't know for sure.)In addition, their on-line database of ALL things having to do with aviation would be an additional selling point. Some on-line content is free but the Member's Section has a great deal of value.Assuming you want the Commander and feel that it is worth, say $25.00 (which it IS) then you get the mag for $25.00 which in my mind would be a huge bargain.You can try it for a year and drop out so you cannot make a major mistake.Regards,JimPS: I have no affiliation with AOPA except my membership.

To help you determine what it is worth, besides the commanader, AOPA offers a FREE 6 month trial subscription. All features are available during this trial. I bet the commander is as well, but you will have to check for yourself. You ARE a student pilot or will be soon? wink wink.Oh, yes I was, and I am still looking for a good instructor. You will see what I mean when you enroll for the free trial. :-)The six month trial worked on me -- several years now.Regards,BobShttp://s95171098.onlinehome.us/junk/aopa.jpgSeems the rage to talk about the "size and speed" of each others computer. Beat this if you can for solving novel/unique problem anywhere in the cosmos. ..Have K&E and know how to use it!

I think the six month free subscription is for Flight Training (is that the name?)magazine and for those who are already members. At least that's how it worked for me a few years back when I started my PPL training.keith2W6

I got the flight Training mag and full membership for 6 months at no cost as a free trial. https://flighttraining.aopa.org/apps/studen...iority=SX05ASOS"Haven't taken a lesson, but interested in learning to fly." Mark this one if the other two don't apply. Everyone reading this thread can mark one of the three and still be honest. I knew I probably could not pass the physical, but I was/still interested in learning to fly. ;-) Might be an ultralight or now a sport class. Who knows. Regards,BobShttp://s95171098.onlinehome.us/junk/aopa.jpgSeems the rage to talk about the "size and speed" of each others computer. Beat this if you can for solving novel/unique problem anywhere in the cosmos. ..Have K&E and know how to use it!