26 July 2005
Garmin has launched their new GPSMAP 396 featuring Next Generation Radar, METARs, and Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts, temporary flight restrictions, lightning and winds aloft. It also comes with XM WX Satellite Weather. In addition the GPSMAP 396 offers terrain alerts, and a built-in obstacle database.
Roy Mendelssohn (Harry’s son) has just come back from Garmin HQ and says “It is truly Garmin’s finest ever hand-held piece of equipment.”
The bad news is that here in the UK the ground support system for the GPSMAP 396 does not exist and is unlikely to be introduced for a couple of years.
So in the meantime the only option is the GPSMAP 296 which features Terrain Alert, Jepperson database, HSI and full colour moving map.
