Best GA Flight Planner?

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TomG628
Airman
Posts: 34
Joined: 17 May 2014, 00:29

Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by TomG628 »

Hi,
I just bought the C-172 and I am just practicing and getting familiar. For once I feel like I am in a real plane. I'd like to start making some cross-country flights but does anyone know of a good all around flight planner that would be comparable to one a real pilot would use for a Cessna 172? Preferably one you can print out a route and map? Thanks. Regards, Tom

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gulredrel
Master Sergeant
Posts: 1275
Joined: 12 Jun 2011, 02:11
Location: Germany

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by gulredrel »

You could try http://skyvector.com/

Regards
Jens
"Give me a ping, Vasili. One ping only, please."

CafeRacer500
Senior Airman
Posts: 222
Joined: 27 Apr 2014, 14:23
Location: Helsinki, Finland

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by CafeRacer500 »

Plan-g is free and awesome
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pushpak123
Airman
Posts: 49
Joined: 20 Jun 2013, 08:38
Location: Cambridge UK

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by pushpak123 »

Yes Plan G is best, if you are in UK use SkyDemon (free/paid) version.

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pilottj
Senior Master Sergeant
Posts: 1571
Joined: 18 Jul 2008, 16:57
Location: KAPC

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by pilottj »

+1 for Skyvector, especially excellent if you have a dual monitor set up. They have VFR, Low, High enroute charts, worldwide coverage tho much more detail in the USA area (including links to airport approach charts), weather/NOTAM data, links to airport info. Even if you only have a single monitor it should be fine. Matter of fact with a single monitor you can really simulate VFR flying LOL....time spent looking at the Sectional is time not looking out the window or scanning instruments lol. In the real airplane you have to be very wary of this and manage how long you look at things like sectionals, charts, checklists...and so on.
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." - Douglas Adams
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Norforce
Senior Master Sergeant
Posts: 1894
Joined: 09 Apr 2010, 17:14
Location: Geraldton, Western Australia

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by Norforce »

Ron
B-17 AIRFRAME 710 HRS PLUS AND CLIMBING
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taildraggin68
Senior Master Sergeant
Posts: 2411
Joined: 14 May 2014, 18:26
Location: Florida

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by taildraggin68 »

I use plan g although still trying to get FSX gps to follow the flight plans accurately as well as getting RXP to recognize the plans......as a moving map for VFR nav, it works pretty good and it's free :D

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CPORSES
Airman First Class
Posts: 58
Joined: 23 Oct 2007, 03:18
Location: Macleay Island, Australia

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by CPORSES »

I've used Plan-G for years and it is excellent. I have also just come across FSTramp. It displays so much detail on screen that I end up looking more at the map than I do the instruments........! Free for first 20 flights, then you have to pay if you wish to continue using the program. It was an easy choice for me.

Bob
A mile of road takes you a mile.
A mile of runway takes you anywhere.

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taildraggin68
Senior Master Sergeant
Posts: 2411
Joined: 14 May 2014, 18:26
Location: Florida

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by taildraggin68 »

Hey Bob, just took a look at FSTramp and it does look inviting :D think I will give it a whirl and see if it does a little better...already like the fact that it has it's own window within FSX :shock: and doesn't require internet connection to run.....testing will now commence :D

TomG628
Airman
Posts: 34
Joined: 17 May 2014, 00:29

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by TomG628 »

Thanks for all the help, guys. I'll check those out.
Regards, Tom

greasysidedown
Senior Airman
Posts: 121
Joined: 22 Jun 2007, 17:39

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by greasysidedown »

Fltplan.com has free planning and charts.

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jeepinforfun
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 532
Joined: 06 Dec 2013, 23:58

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by jeepinforfun »

For the price, free, you can't beat PlanG. Has a ton of features, can bring up charts for airports(I use John Allard's FSX Airport Plate Project downloads from http://forum.mutleyshangar.com/) find intersections of two nav aids, the list goes on.

I run it behind windowed FSX and use it as a map to find airport and VOR frequencies and such while in flight. I don't normally connect to PlanG to use it as a moving map preferring to use it as a static map. Keeps me from not having to write everything down before the flight but still feel like I am only looking at a in-flight map to find my way. VFR at it's finest. :D
Take care, Brett

SWLights/AccuFeel/Cub/Mustang/Skyhawk/Cherokee/Skylane/Comanche/Thunderbolt/Spitfire/FlyingFortress/Stratocruiser

Tiger_Walts
Senior Airman
Posts: 205
Joined: 09 Dec 2013, 06:07

Re: Best GA Flight Planner?

Post by Tiger_Walts »

SkyVector and/or PlanG. Then ASNext to check the weather briefing for the flight.

SkyVector is usually where I start (and end). I can quickly enter the departure and arrival airports and then drag the line onto the waypoints. I can also see the Airmets and Sigmets rendered on the map and can re-route to avoid them. For short of VFR flights, that's all I'll need, if it's fairly direct, I'll enter a simple plan into ASNext to check the weather and look for the best cruise alt.

If it's a long flight, or there are a lot of waypoints, I'll plot the flight into PlanG. That way, I can load it into the sim and have it plotted onto the GPS but also have all the legs and navaid frequencies on the kneeboard if I want to fly without GPS. I can also load it into ASNext and get a full weather briefing. I don't use PlanG (or ASNext) as a moving map, I just keep track of my location using navaids, looking out the window, and SkyVector.

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