I purchased my iFly 700 at Sun 'n Fun and flew it back home in upstate NY.
My Citabria had an Apollo Loran installed in 1991; its database was dated 1998 with no updates available. Still, it was a good, reliable unit and perfectly adequate for my VFR flying. Understanding that once this unit quit, I would have to replace it with a handheld GPS, the search started about three years ago. Back and forth - Garmin, Avmap, Lowrance, Bendix - I could not get everything I was looking for, but determined to pay the big bucks for the Aera 550. Played with it, a good unit but not overly impressive for $1,500. Then someone said there was a new entry in this field in Hangar E, so off I went.
It took me 15 minutes of unassisted playing with the unit to put my credit card down! After three years of looking!
I actually learned to use my iFly on the bumpy, sunny, 1,000nm trip back home. Private airports were a priority and it was there. Larger screen for old eyes was good, and it was there. Current sectionals for the background is a big plus. I had the prescience to have a cigar lighter installed during an annual many years ago and it paid off. During moderate turbulence, I had a little trouble getting my fat fingers where needed, but in the end I got everything to work. Updated the unit last night and finally mastered that process; you can't do this at the last minute - the huge files take a while to download and apply. Still working on getting familiar with all of its functions, but this Forum and the 110v adapter are a big help.
Thank you, Bill and Walter. I will have a few items on my wish list after I get fully checked out, but those will be just the cream on top. The unit as is will more than satisfy my GPS needs.