About handheld gps and AP

[Gary R.]

Hi guys. Any of you liscensed pilots out there happen to know if any avionics manufacturers have an interface to allow handheld gps units (such as the garmin gps map series ) to operate a flight director just the same as a panel installed gps euipment can?  Also.  Does anyone know if 737's or DC-9's ever came optioned with INS equipment?

[Ivan]

i have an idea how to make a write-only solution:

get FDSConnect (or payware FSUIPC)
Read the manual about how to convert the X/Y/Z data from FS to a reasonable value
Get a GPS unit with COM, LPT or USB access.
Find out in which format the data has to be written
write the FS data to the device

[Gary R.]

Thanks for the reply Ivan but I already have figured out it can be done in FS.  I was wondering if on realworld planes there is anyway to interface a handheld gps with a auto-pilot nav mode?  I'm sure it wouldn't be FAA approach or ifr approved but it would certainly simplify enroute navigation without the expense of purchasing an expensive gps/navigator upgrade.  It would save thousands to be able to drive an auto pilot with a handheld and I was just wondering if ther are any adaptors made that would allow that.  Any real world pilots out there know of any setup like that?

Thanks

[Ivan]

the Pannon airlines Tu-154 has a cessna-type bendix in the dash. probably connected to the control cables.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/186802/L/ the green thing on the right side of the dashboard

[OTTOL]

I am a "real world" pilot, but I don't know if I have a
real world answer. The only units that I have seen are either laptop or palmtop, not panel mount. Most have a "VFR use only" disclaimer, but everyone uses these for IFR navigation! The 747 is the only

[Gary R.]

I was just wondering about that. I want gps in my old C150 but I can't afford a 430/530 or any panel mount  job.  I also want to have gps/auto pilot nav to save a little work on my part so I am considering a gpsmap195 and trying to find a solution to use that to drive my autopilot. I know it wouldn't be ifr approved but that's not a concern to me as I'm comfortable with two vors and an adf.  Just want to save a little bit of dial turning.  I've seen pics of 727 , dc-10, dc-8, 707, and L1011 flight decks with INS. Probably common pre-80's on transoceanic capable airliners.  Just wondered if any short or mid-range heavys in that era had them.

[Gary R.]

O took a look at that tu-154 panel.  That "thing" on the right side of the panel looks an awefull lot like a kln-90 or a knock off of one.  Don't Russian built airliners offer integrated FMS systems like boeings and airbuses come equipped with?

[OTTOL]

I fly part-time for a group of four business owners that have two aircraft. Their newest toy is a beautiful PA31-350 Cheiftain. It has new paint , A/C (very necessary in South Florida), color radar, and a 430 color moving map GPS. The black sheep, now, is their older C-401 with one VHF radio and one  VOR. Personally, I think the Cheiftain is an overpriced tank! I've tried to talk them into keeping the Cessna, and the biggest issue was the safety comfort and situational awareness that the Garmin 430 provides. My response " sell the Cheiftain, save the money and buy a Garmin 195 or 295 and mount it on the dash."  They provide identical functions and features for 1/7th to 1/10th the cost!  I use a Pilot III for backup when I fly the "small planes". I like the display SIZE of the 195 better, but I like the OVERALL size of the Pilot III. It's a little bigger than a cell phone and fits nicely in a flight bag. The 295 is a boat anchor. My M/O is the same as what you propose; navigate with the old gear(ya gotta leave some of the challenge in the flying), and back yourself up with a  handheld GPS unit. This leaves you clear of SUA's and MOA's and even the cheapest units provide a lot of valuable info beyond basic S.A. .