Garfly

And, at our age, I'd be so bold as to suggest adhesive pads.

You sound like you think you're overthinking a bit, that you might be over-sweating "Nav theory" as some kind of bogeyman (Lord knows, we've all been there! ;- ). But then, if you were to go on some actual nav trips with your hangar-mates, you may be surprised to find (as competent in the air as they may be) that their grip on book-theory is not a whole lot firmer than your own. After all, they will most likely have been using EFBs to plan and navigate for years, and doing it far more accurately, reliably and safely than they ever did with a magnetic compass (itself, once the new fangled tech of ancient mariners). Of course, you still have to pass exams in the olden day way (for reasons both good and bad) but even so, I reckon, the actual theory exam often turns out to be not near as tough as one imagined. To be sure, there are still many real gotchas in recreational flying but few have to do with trigonometry any more. Weather remains a biggie even as getting lost or busting airspace gets somewhat harder to do. But even with weather, EFBs (both in planning and aloft) can help a lot in avoiding storm and stress. Hey, it's recreational, it's supposed to fun. BTW, regarding the debate about old versus new in nav training, there's heaps here in the past pages of this forum. For example, this thread (almost a decade back some were adamant that it's time to move on ;- )

Okay, then. My last flight was absolutely fabulous; chief passenger aboard the trusty thrusty of our (above-mentioned) aviator mate, Thruster88. On Saturday, we rose up, elevator style, from the plane's home dirt near Gooloogong, NSW, . We were on a mission to check out the new farm strip of a mutual friend 25 miles distant.. ('An ideal sector length for type', said the captain. I could see what he meant given that the cabin heat and seat warmers seemed to be broken ;- ) Our T88 sure loves this long time ride of his, this original blue rag n' tuber. And he knows exactly how to be as one with her; sensitive to her every tendency. He might have been a bird in another life. In any case, he's keen to spread the good news through the entire shire. He's notched up a good half-dozen Thruster converts within a 50 mile radius, that is, within a half a day's flying in type. (Ha, ha ... just kidding!! It goes faster with a breeze at its back. Heck, there were even some slow trucks we could keep up with!) And finally, it was back to the X-rated Gooloogong pub for a hamburger, customary for these flighty excursions. All in all, a great morning up and away over the Lachlan! And a reminder of why we, the afflicted, (still) obsess over these (still) amazing flying machines. Thanks again, Stuart! (P.S: Our Thruster88, it should be noted, is also a fan of heavy metal machines like his Beech Musketeer, and that speedy, efficient, RV9A tourer of his. Luckily, all those craft survived the tornado that tore by the homestead just a few weeks back demolishing sheds, silos etc and destroying trees all around the house).

https://www.casa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-07/stay-ontrack-flying-sydney-region.pdf https://www.casa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-09/stay-ontrack-flying-the-gold-coast.pdf

No trusty old Garmin GPS handhelds ever gave you TAS. How could they, without access to IAS, OAT or Pressure Alt? In any case, even as you wish good luck to those who seek bigger, better 'glass-screens' than yours, you still suggest they're more into 'poser rights than practical benefit'. But then, you've always enjoyed a good debate for debate's sake. ;- )

This pic gives a better idea of the unique component combo.

Yes, the new Chris Weber project is partly from a Zenith Zodiac kit but with some intriguing differences in other key components. I was just in touch with Chris and suggested he join the forum so he could explain it himself. As it happens that Zodiac in the pic you've posted is the first of several Zenith kits that he himself built.

Yes, if you PM me your details, Dave, I can pass them on to Chris. His Valkyrie has been sold. HIs current one-off project (at the test flying stage) looks like this:

Juan shows just how complicated it's become:

No issue there ... 🔎

Yeah, a phone mounted over the vacant hole'd be a bigger, better, cheaper way. (And for dedicated old-schoolers, there's always a refurbed Ferranti - with built in magnifier ;- )