I just completed a 2500nm round trip (spread over 2weeks) after installing an ADS-B system in my RV-3 (Garmin 796 GPS, Garmin GDL-39 ADS-B receiver, Trig TT-21 Mode S transponder). Observations on the traffic side of the system:
1) The system was accurate. The targets that I was able to see were where the system reported them.
2) There were lots more aircraft in relatively near proximity than I expected. I passed within a couple miles of several that I could not locate visually. Hardest to spot were those below that tended to get lost in the ground clutter. An aircraft a mile or two away is a small visual target. I'm sure my little airplane is even harder to spot.
3) The system added a layer of safety. Twice I jogged off track a couple of miles to give space to an aircraft that appeared to be converging at my altitude.
4) Of course the highest density of traffic was around airports. The system helped me keep track of other planes approaching airports where I was landing.
5) Still have to keep the eyeballs outside the cockpit most of the time - the system doesn't show birds, for instance. And, flying low because of headwinds, I came upon a couple of towers in the middle of nowhere in northern MS that reached almost 2500ft AGL - truly scary things.
I was pleased with the system - good to have more info in the cockpit. The weather side worked well also, once at enough altitude to see a ground station.
Joe Lofton
1) The system was accurate. The targets that I was able to see were where the system reported them.
2) There were lots more aircraft in relatively near proximity than I expected. I passed within a couple miles of several that I could not locate visually. Hardest to spot were those below that tended to get lost in the ground clutter. An aircraft a mile or two away is a small visual target. I'm sure my little airplane is even harder to spot.
3) The system added a layer of safety. Twice I jogged off track a couple of miles to give space to an aircraft that appeared to be converging at my altitude.
4) Of course the highest density of traffic was around airports. The system helped me keep track of other planes approaching airports where I was landing.
5) Still have to keep the eyeballs outside the cockpit most of the time - the system doesn't show birds, for instance. And, flying low because of headwinds, I came upon a couple of towers in the middle of nowhere in northern MS that reached almost 2500ft AGL - truly scary things.
I was pleased with the system - good to have more info in the cockpit. The weather side worked well also, once at enough altitude to see a ground station.
Joe Lofton