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Dear Voyager User,
Wow! That about sums up recent events at Seattle Avionics.
- We introduced the new SkyPad2 with dramatic improvements over the exceptionally popular original SkyPad.
- In conjunction with Aspen Avionics, we've received FAA-certification for our approach plates and geo-referenced airport diagrams. We're the only company we know of (that doesn't start with a "J") to receive such certification.
- Sun N Fun in April was terrific for us.
- My son's baseball team won our city's Little League Championship last night. Ok, maybe that isn't related to Seattle Avionics but it means a lot to me.
Flight Log is a recurring newsletter for all Voyager users, with the latest Voyager news, tips, and tricks. I'm very interested in your feedback, either to the newsletter or to Voyager itself. Please send any comments or suggestions to me directly at
Normally I go with one picture but I'm using two this month since we have two such major news items. The first picture is an Aspen Evolution three tube display with our FAA-certified approach plates displayed. The second is our new SkyPad2.
  FAA-Certified Approach Plates/Airport Diagrams
Someone had to offer FAA certified approach plates and geo-referenced airport diagrams besides the company that starts with "J." We figured it might as well be us. On April 14, 2010, Seattle Avionics, working with Aspen Avionics, introduced the first such plates and diagrams. If you own an Aspen Evolution 1000 MFD or 500 MFD, you can now put certified plates and diagrams on the screen for just $299/year. See http://www.seattleavionics.com/Aspen for more details and to sign-up for three free cycles of data.
Even if you don't have an Aspen system, this is great news for you. Like in the old Hebrew National hot dog commercial, getting FAA certification meant that our developers and testers had to answer to an even higher power than me -- the FAA.
You can read more about this from two press releases:
 Introducing the new SkyPad2The original SkyPad was wildly successful, far exceeding our expectations. But, as pilots ourselves, we had no delusions that it was perfect. We listened to what you said (and what we thought when we flew with it) and kept a lookout for better hardware to improve the SkyPad. The result is the SkyPad2.
Better Screen
The screen is the most improved part of the SkyPad2. It's much brighter yet also dims far more, a little larger (so things are easier to read) and, in my opinion, most importantly, has a terrific multi-touch screen. The multi-touch screen means you use your finger tip to touch it much like you would an iPhone or iPad. No more stylus or dainty finger-nail clicks. The multi-touch does a much better job in correctly registering your clicks than the old single-touch screen in the original SkyPad, making in-flight use far easier.
Larger Keyboard
Personally, I'm not a huge guy and my hands have never been called especially ape-like. Even so, I admit that I disliked doing much typing on the original SkyPad. The SkyPad2 keyboard, while still not as good as my "gold standard" ancient IBM ThinkPad T42, is a full-sized laptop keyboard.
Newer CPU and Graphics Chip
Both the original SkyPad and the SkyPad2 are based on an Intel Atom processor. However, the SkyPad2 has the newer N450 Atom processor with an integrated Intel 3150 graphics chip. While the specs on this newer chip are just a little faster than the old one, the graphics processor is embedded in the same chip as the CPU (rather than a distinct chip) so it uses considerably less power. This allows the screen to be brighter because power can be diverted from the CPU/graphics chip to the screen.
Windows 7 Home Premium
The original SkyPad had Windows XP Home because it was appropriate for the hardware. The new SkyPad2 is based on Windows 7 since it has upgraded hardware. However, the base tablet comes from the factory with Windows 7 Starter (the cheapest possible version of Windows 7). One problem with Windows 7 Starter is that it doesn't properly support multi-touch screens (or even tablets, in general). Therefore, we upgrade all the SkyPad2's to Windows 7 Home Premium.
No More Screen Rotation Issues
The original SkyPad had a problem when Voyager was running and you intentionally or accidentally rotated the screen. Often this happened for just a fraction of a second when the lid was lifted ever so slightly from the keyboard. We solved the issue by putting a "Lock" button into the SkyPad Controller but you had to remember to bring up the SkyPad Controller and hit Lock.
The new SkyPad2 solves this by automatically locking screen rotation when Voyager is running and releasing the lock when Voyager exits. For various reasons, this was much more difficult to do with the original SkyPad hardware and Windows XP.
Larger, Faster Disk Drives
The original SkyPad used an unusual disk drive form factor and connector (1.8 inch PATA ZIF) that made it hard to find upgraded drives and very hard to find large solid-state drives. The new SkyPad2 uses laptop-standard 2.5 inch drives so we offer the base SkyPad2 with a 160 GB spinning drive (versus a 60 GB drive in the original SkyPad). The news gets better for the optional solid-state drives where we can offer an SSD with twice the capacity (64 GB vs 32 GB) and 2.5 x the speed of the original SkyPad SSD -- for the same price.
 Refurbished Original SkyPads - $599!As part of the SkyPad2 roll-out, we offer owners of the original SkyPad an upgrade path to the SkyPad2. Therefore, we now have an inventory of original SkyPad devices that have been factory restored to original settings. Each refurbished original SkyPad comes with a new Bluetooth GPS, the full Voyager suite (SmartPlan, SmartPlates, GlassView), and a complete set of current ChartData. No ChartData subscription is included (use your existing subscription). Contact [email protected] to order one today or for more information.
Bendix/King AV8OR ACE Plus Voyager: $1899
While we're on the topic of ChartData, I'd also like to remind you that we make the IFR Low Altitude, High Altitude, Approach Plates, and Airport Diagrams used in the Bendix/King AV8OR ACE. We recently received approval from Bendix/King to sell the device so we have great deals on the AV8OR ACE. For example, we sell the AV8OR ACE for $1799 (list is $2199) or, for just another $100, get the AV8OR ACE plus Voyager (SmartPlan Premier and SmartPlates) and 12 months of Voyager IFR subscription. Since Voyager can create wind-optimized, fuel-price optimized flight plans that go directly into the AV8OR ACE, if you're thinking about an AV8OR ACE, this deal saves you money with just one flight. Click to see pricing options or purchase.
Voyager On Your iPad?
Sounds like a great idea to me.
Voyager 4.38
While we were busy demoing Voyager at Sun N Fun, AOPA decided to roll-out a revised Web site that disabled Voyager's ability to download FBO information. Voyager 4.38 adapts to the new Web site and also adapts to a similar issue from a change made to the NOAA Web site. If your ChartData subscription is current, get it by starting Voyager and, if it doesn't automatically tell you about the update, select Update Application from the Tools menu. More info...
Tips and Tricks
| Customize Your Startup. When Voyager starts, it generally begins with the What Do You Want to Do screen. However, if you prefer either a blank screen or the US weather chart, you can select those options. See Tools/Options/Preferences and When Voyager starts. |  | Export to your GPS. If you're not using a SkyPad (tisk tisk), you can export your flight plan to your favorite Garmin, Bendix/King or many other GPS units. With the flight plan open, simply select Send to Device or Application from the File menu or click on the toolbar. |  | Using Multiple Computers. Your Voyager license allows you to install Voyager on up to three computers and we encourage it. For example, plan your flight on a work desktop machine but review it later on a home laptop. Voyager has a unique feature called Web Synch that makes this especially easy.
Simply click on one machine and Voyager connects to our Web server and compares the flight plans and user settings (pilots, planes, etc.) there with what's on your computer. Voyager and the server then make sure that each has the latest and greatest version. Thus, after you plan the flight on the work machine, click and go home. On your home laptop, click and the new flight plan is magically transferred. | | Installing on a New Computer. Everyone seems to get a new computer from time to time. The easiest way to do this is to use the Web Synch feature (above) from your existing machine then download a new copy of Voyager from our Web site to get the latest version and latest data. You should never install from an old disk or download. When you install Voyager to the new machine, you'll be asked to enter your email address. Make certain to use the same email address that you originally purchased Voyager with and use for Web Synch. In that way, the new Voyager installation will automatically pick up your settings and flight plans without any typing.
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| Customizing the New Flight Plan Wizard. The New Flight Plan Wizard helps you set all the possible options for planning a flight. Sometimes that's too many options. If you want to use the Wizard (rather than the Quick Plan strip on the What Do You Want to Do window), you can remove pages from the Wizard that you don't use. See Tools/Options/Wizards. | | Customizing the Four Large Theme Buttons. At the top of the screen (while in flight planning mode), you'll see four large buttons named Sectional, IFR Enroute, Weather, and Fuel Price. These provide immediate access to these chart themes. You can redefine which themes are associated with each button. For example, perhaps you prefer your Sectional to be the Scanned Sectional theme rather than the Digital Sectional theme. While a chart is open, select Assign Buttons from the Themes menu. |  | Quick Print the NavLog or Chart. By default, selecting Print with an open flight plan produces a whole set of documents. In addition to setting precisely which documents you want included in that set by selecting Print Setup from the File menu, you can also quickly print just the NavLog or just the current Chart as shown on the screen. Print just the NavLog by clicking the Print icon just above the NavLog (as opposed to the Print icon on the main toolbar). Print an exact image of the current chart with the Print icon just above the Chart. |  | Add Notes. You can add personal notes to either a flight plan or an airport. You'll see these notes when you print a flight plan. To add notes to a specific flight plan, click the Notes icon in the NavLog's Plan area. To add notes to an airport, show the airport information window for the airport in question and switch to the FBO/Notes tab. Enter your notes in the Personal Notes area. |  | Check Your ChartData Expiration Date. If you're not sure when your ChartData subscription expires, it's easy to check. Select About Voyager from the Help menu then click the text link that says ChartData expiration date. |
Upcoming Events
Seattle Avionics Software will be showing Voyager and the SkyPad at the following upcoming events. Stop by to say hello, see the latest Voyager features, play with a SkyPad, or ask the experts any questions.
July 26 - August 1, 2010. EAA AirVenture. Oshkosh, WI.
Until next time, happy flying.
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