Review
Clayton is publishing perhaps the most comprehensive GPS guide I've ever seen, and it's only peripherally related to aviation. The waypoints identified are so numerous, in fact, that it's not practical to publish one edition for the entire country. Instead, Clayton publishes one for each state. As this is written, Wendt has GPS Companion guides out for Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida and California, and he's working on the other states as quickly as he can.
With Wendt's handy little 4x5 book in my flight bag, I'll now be able to fly directly to Mount Whitney at 36 34 45N 118 70 30W and point out the peak with confidence. Alternately, I'll be able to zero in on Hearst Castle at 35 41 07N 121 10 00W and fly directly over the huge, rectangular reflecting pool.
If you're looking for something other than an airport such as Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite (37 43 00N 119 38 45W), you'll find Wendt's California GPS Companion an indispensable guide. -- Excerpts from article by Sr. Editor Bill Cox, Plane & Pilot Magazine, March 1998
From the Publisher
The North Central Companion replaces the separate Minnesota and Wisconsin volumes. The book lists Iowa, (2800 points) Minnesota (2750 points) and Wisconsin (3000 points) data in separate sections. Latitude, Longitude and in many cases elevation are listed directly for thousands of named points of interest. Also included are 200 locations all around the country in our new "Points Around the USA" section.
It is comprehensive! A good Minnesota road map will list about 1100 cities and towns in its index. The GPS Companion lists 2116 towns in its Minnesota section! The Wisconsin section includes un-incorporated towns which many road maps omit. The North Central book contains over 8500 locations in all, on 425 pages.
It is readable! The index of a road map is printed in condensed 5 point type. The GPS Companion is printed in 9 point courier type.
Elevations are included for over 2900 locations in all. Of course all of the 391 airports are listed with elevation. And there are 118 mountain or hill summits with elevation as well.
Here is a summary of the points included. Airports 391 Beaches 16 Bridges 2 Buildings, misc. 19 Cape, Islands, etc. 40 Cities & towns 6659 Dams 41 Gardens, Conservatory 7 Golf Courses 216 Harbor, Marina, Bay 24 Lighthouses 21 Locales, misc. 86 Mine 18 Museums 6 Observatories 3 Ridge, Cliff 28 State & Nat'l Parks 210 Pillar (Rock) 46 University, College 110 Ski Areas 13 Summit 118 Tower (lookout) 229 Tracks (race) 6 Waterfalls 90
Buildings and Locales include landmarks such as the Mall of America, the Yerkes Observatory, the Iowa State Capital, the Humphrey Metrodome, Lambeau Field and even the Mayo Clinic.
