Garmin’s GPSMAP 495: Portable Aviation Navigator With High-End Features For A (Relatively) Low-End Price

by Justin

Garmin’s GPSMAP 495, a portable aviation navigator for pilots, is the newest aviation device from the world’s most popular GPS manufacturer.Â Just announced today, the GPSMAP 495 is “a cross between the GPSMAP 296 and GPSMAP 496″, according to Gary Kelley, Garmin’s marketing VP.Â With some of the advanced features of the GPSMAP 496, but a price closer to that of the GPSMAP 296, the GPSMAP 495 is the perfect price/feature compromise for budget-wise pilots.Â Of course “budget-wise” is a relative term, because the $1595 street price is anything but cheap.

Some of the GPSMAP 495’s features include:

3.8-inch 480×320 pixel TFT display with 256 colors and backlight
SafeTaxiÂ® airport diagrams-preloaded taxiway diagrams, position data for over 850 US airports,
AOPAâ€™s Airport Directory-info for over 5300 US airports, airports of entry for Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, names and phone numbers of thousands of FBOs, plus ground transportation, lodging, restaurants, local attractions
Garminâ€™s Smart Airspaceâ„¢-highlights airspace close to your current altitude
5 Hz update of data and “Panel” page instruments for near real-time presentation of your aircraft’s analog indicators
built-in Jeppesen database
Americas, Atlantic or Pacific terrain database
obstacles database for the U.S. or Europe
can be switched to automotive or marine mode
voice prompts and audible terrain alerts

The GPSMAP 495 package comes with a yoke mount, cigarette-lighter adapter, AC adapter cable, USB-to-PC interface cable, low-profile remote GPS antenna, carrying case, free Jeppesen update certificate, owner’s manual and quick-reference guide.Â It will be available at the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida from April 8-13, where all purchases will be rewarded with a $100 rebate.

Via press releaseÂ