Sporty’s Pilot Shop, along with partners ForeFlight and Appareo, released a second generation Stratus ADS-B receiver today at SUN ’n FUN. The new Stratus adds ADS-B traffic and a built-in AHRS.
“Stratus has been tremendously successful and practically invented a product category,” says Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman. “Now, just 12 months later, the new Stratus raises the bar even higher.”
Stratus features an advanced AHRS that aligns itself automatically before each flight; no pilot action is required, company officials note. AHRS information is displayed on a separate Stratus Horizon app, which is available for free. The app shows shows a large attitude indicator that is updated 10 times per second, plus groundspeed, course, GPS altitude, and vertical speed.
Dual band traffic is displayed in ForeFlight Mobile, and can be overlaid on a variety of maps, including sectionals, IFR en route charts and terrain. Targets are shown with ForeFlight’s unique Traffic Trend display–a data block that shows each aircraft’s relative altitude, climb or descent trend, tail number and direction of flight.
“We think this is the best traffic display available for iPad,” says Tyson Weihs, co-founder and CEO of ForeFlight. “ForeFlight Mobile 5.1, when connected to Stratus 2, shows directional and non-directional traffic, relative altitude, whether the aircraft is climbing or descending, and our TrafficTrend feature shows where targets are heading.”
The new Stratus [#8217A] includes a glare shield mount and carrying bag, and is available for $899. Orders are being accepted now for late April delivery. The original Stratus [#7281A] is available at a reduced price of $699 and now receives single band ADS-B traffic. Stratus may be ordered at Sportys.com or 800-SPORTYS.
Pat Cattarin says
Have to agree with Rick. I am a long time customer of Sporty’s with similar experience with returns. In fact, I was unlucky enough to order the Stratus 1 just one day prior to the announcement of the Stratus 2. I contacted Sporty’s and they said that if I want the Stratus 2 to just send the 1 back when I received it and place an order for the 2. I did just that and they immediately credited my credit card and have not charged for the new one as yet. I am assuming that they will charge the card when they ship. My only disappointment is that they said the new one would ship on 4-29 and it did not. When I contacted them to find out why they said it was backordered until 5-3. It is now 5-5 and it has not yet shipped. It must be a popular item. I am hoping that they will at least provide expedited shipping when it does finally become available.
Rick Spencer says
Obviously neither of you have read nor realize that Sporty’s Pilot Shop has a return policy for ANY reason if you are not completely satisfied with the product for ONE YEAR!! The owner of Sporty’s on the website specifically challenges you to email him personally if ever there is any problems with any of his staff with regard to returns. Read the website and return policies before blasting away at the best aviation sales place out there. I’ve bought more than $10,000 worth of products from Sportys over time because they have ALWAYS allowed me to return items I was not satisfied with. And I’ve returned more than six times very expensive items some of them right before the one year deadline with no squawk. Personally, since I don’t know either of you, I even question if these are not posts from a competitor’s website. Or else you are too lazy to read the website return policy nor print out the return form on the Sporty’s website and send your item in for refund or credit.
Rick Spencer says
Oh yes. Forgot to also tell you that you can get a FREE UPDATE for your Generation 1 Stratus that allows it to get ADS-B Traffic just like the Generation 2 Stratus. So again, where’s the beef? Click on the address below. See http://www.sportys.com/source/template/PilotShop/customerPages/email_split.cfm?utm_source=PilotShop&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=A13051D&utm_content=CantSeeTheImages&catalog=PilotShop
Scott Bascue says
It’s amazing sporty’s bother to warn customers even weeks before to save their money and wait to by generation 2 stratus. Guess like most companies the pilots individual safety and info isn’t as valuable as sporty’s getting your money as fast as possible. One day their will be a competitor and we will have last laugh.
Jerry Johnson says
Shame the Stratus we just purchased can’t be updated? In just a few months it is obsolete!!
John Heger says
I’ll second that. I bought my stratus less than 2 months ago. I’ll never buy another product from Sportys.