Garmin will be putting up on offer a brand new GPS portable aviation device for pilots without breaking the bank – the GPSMAP 495 will come with Garmin’s Smart Airspace, AOPA’s Airport Directory data, enhanced high-resolution terrain database, aviation database with private airports and heliports, accelerated GPS update rate, and European VFR reporting waypoints. According to Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing, “Those familiar with our aviation handheld product line will see the GPSMAP 495 as a cross between the GPSMAP 296 and GPSMAP 496 because it provides some of the advanced features found on the GPSMAP 496, but is closer to the GPSMAP 296’s price point.”

The GPSMAP 495 features land graphics that have more than 10 times as much data compared to other Garmin handhelds, displaying proximity hazards vividly in order to avoid untoward accidents. In aviation mode, pilots will be able to take advantage of terrain and obstacle alerting, pop-up alerts, and customizable minimum clearance limits which provide audible terrain alerts at specified altitudes. Garmin’s Smart Airspace feature will highlight airspace close to the pilot’s current altitude automatically, while de-emphasizing airspace away from the current altitude so you won’t accidentally fly over the White House only to have a trio of F-22s on your six. The GPSMAP 495 also boasts an increased GPS update rate that is five times faster compared to other handheld GPS devices. This is extremely impressive, allowing the GPSMAP 495 to obtain fluid updates of GPS derived data such as the aircraft’s flight indicators, the HSI and turn rate indicator.

The Garmin GPSMAP 495 is tipped to make its debut when April 8 rolls around at the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida. It will be accompanied by a recommended retail price of $1,595, which isn’t cheap to the layman but if you’re a pilot (casual or otherwise), that amount of money shouldn’t be a problem for you.

Press Release