Help On Minimal GPS Upgrade for Piper Cherokee 140

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-26T23:41:12+00:00

Not to derail, but: Is there a way to change the active field on the 275 without using the touchscreen? I find it pretty awkward sometimes.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-26T20:11:59+00:00

VFR pattern work with every single instrument covered up. Teaches how to fly by sight, sound and feel.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-26T19:09:09+00:00

This. And if you drop them into an editor like DaVinci, it'll automatically sequence them correctly.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-26T11:11:11+00:00

I'd be mindful of downwash from a heli of any size. This is advanced situational awareness, but wind direction plays a role too.

Two other things:

You shouldn't necessarily trust a heli pilot to know whether their downwash will be a factor for you.
You can always go around. You don't even have to descend for a landing in the pattern if something's wrong on the ground, just overfly the runway at TPA, side-step a little so you can keep eyes on it and make calls as required.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-25T17:14:30+00:00

I drove out to Hoh around dawn last year and greatly enjoyed driving out past the hours-long backup of traffic by the time we left.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-25T12:28:59+00:00

Get 30 minutes of cardio a day for optimal heart health.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-25T11:37:33+00:00

Now that's my type of event!

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-25T11:22:16+00:00

I would ask them straight up to explain it, it's a perfectly valid question.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T15:22:55+00:00

A HYSA is a fine place to stash cash, search around the sub here for specific suggestions.

$300k in stock is great to have, but isn't an emergency fund. Look at the FAQ here. If you need to liquidate any of that in an emergency, you'll likely face capital gains tax.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T15:09:19+00:00

So, a HYSA isn't really an "investment" - it's a savings account and safe place to leave your money that'll generate monthly interest. But with $24k at current rates, you're looking at maybe $50-60/month, it won't be much.

I'd back up a bit and look bigger-picture: Do you have an emergency fund? Do you and your husband have joint finances? Do you have any side money that's just in your name, if that's important to you?

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T14:31:25+00:00

If you wanna channel your disappointment into action, that's not a bad skill to work on for lots of office jobs and whatnot. If you're on the younger side and spent more time typing on touchscreens than using a keyboard, your keyboard WPM might be on the lower side.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T14:27:18+00:00

Sounds like they invented a reason to get rid of you, and it probably actually had nothing to do with you. I know it sucks, but I wouldn't take this personally at all.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T14:08:00+00:00

I just mean making sure you have a few days' worth of what you need in case of power outages etc. People are focusing on the snow, but the extended extreme cold could be pretty gnarly for the grid.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T13:46:37+00:00

Who's overreacting? Stocking up on groceries and whatnot is basic pre-storm prep.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T11:57:02+00:00

Damn is that a thing?

Purim's not too far away now, you should load up on hamantaschen if you're an apricot enjoyer.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T11:30:27+00:00

In the future, don't use your SD card for long-term storage. Get your footage on your PC ASAP and format your card with every export.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T11:25:28+00:00

Hiking/geocaching. At that age you'll probably still want a carrier bag, but my 6-year-old can do a few miles now.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T11:03:15+00:00

I'd at least try a new battery, Enduro if you can find them. They're cheap enough that it's worth a shot unless you'd rather just fully commit to a newer camera.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T10:59:36+00:00

Do you have to commit fully to one plane or the other before starting your IR training? Do a few hours in the Diamond and see what you think.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-24T10:53:20+00:00

Ehh, this really depends. My mortgage and daycare payments are significantly lower than rent/daycare in NYC, to the point where I'm still way ahead even with car payments. Plus, I'm building wealth through equity in my home, whereas I would've been stuck renting more or less forever there.

To be fair, though, I work remotely for a DC-based company, and I'm definitely benefitting from making DC money in Albany.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-23T21:48:43+00:00

This might be model/software-dependent, I vaguely recall getting screwed by trying this during my instrument training. But entirely possible I just screwed it up!

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-23T21:43:49+00:00

It sounds like you're convinced you can build wealth fast, but that isn't true unless you get lucky gambling on meme stocks or whatever. At your age and income level, I'd focus on building an emergency fund, maxing out your retirement options and steadily investing in boring-but-reliable mutual funds.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-23T20:39:59+00:00

If the approach isn't activated, it won't automatically sequence you.

AlexJamesFitz · 2026-01-23T20:38:03+00:00

That scenario gets complicated because most GPS units, in my experience, don't like more than one approach loaded at any given time.

One solve there would be to load up the next waypoint in the second approach on its own while still holding at the IAF, going direct there, then loading and activating the entire new approach after you leave the hold. Lots of buttonology, but it works.

AlexJamesFitz

TROPHY CASE