John, I thought so too, until I started to talking to the Apple rep at the store. I've got the second highest level iPad [32Gb w/ 3G] and there is no GPS [as in 'true' GPS w/ a built in receiver]. What it does have is what they call A-GPS or "Assisted" GPS through connection to a 3G tower. If your connected to 3G, then you have a 'sorta' GPS, however there is still no actuall connection or reception of SAT signals.  For me flying @ FL240 it's pretty useless in this regard, but I would still recommend it as a tool for carrying your charts etc. Foreflight and FliteDeck are very nice.

Google the iPad w/ GPS stuff, there is lots of ppl not terribly happy that it doesn't infact have a proper receiver.

Fwiw

Jarrett Johnson

235/320 55%

> Not true. The higher end models do have gps. I know because my
> wife got me the wrong one to start with. I had to take it back and
> pay a few hundred more to get what I needed.....
>
> On Nov 16, 2010, at 6:24 AM, "Dominic V. Crain"
> <domcrain@tpg.com.au> wrote:
>
> > Yeah – I just went to look at an iPad as a b’day present (for
> meself) and when quizzed the so-called Apple expert finally
> acknowledged there is no GPS receiver built in to the iPad – you
> have to be in range of a 3G cell tower. Not a lot of use in the
> outback>
> > Cheers
> >
> > Dom Crain
> >
> > VH-CZJ
> >
> > 
> >
> > From: Lancair Mailing List [lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of
> H & J Johnson
> > Sent: Tuesday, 16 November 2010 1:21 PM
> > To: lml@lancaironline.net
> > Subject: [LML] Re: iPad in the cockpit
> >
> > 
> >
> > Bob Are you positive that your unit has a built in GPS? I just
> upgrade my iPad from the standard wi-fi to the 3G + wi-fi and was
> wanting the unit w/ a GPS but was told that infact they do-not
> come w/ a GPS. There are 'GPS emulators' that make it work like a
> GPS but it isn't infact and gps.  I can't get any 'gps' functions
> to work on my w/out the 3G operating.
> >
> > As to external GPS units that integrate w/ blue tooth, what or
> where does one get such a beast?
> >
> > REALLY liking my iPAD for in-cockpit work. I did an entire trip
> last night central Canada to Denver and return to Canada w/ two
> stops and didn't pick up a single chart book or map [I have them
> still, I just don't use them]. It doesn't get better than that!!
> Esp when going into somewhere larger like Denver Metro area and
> getting 'yanked' around a bit switching up arrival plates or
> approach plates is a synch.
> >
> > Couldn't recommend it enough!
> >
> > Btw, to date [only been using a iPad for ~4 weeks] I've not had
> issue w/ heat or altitude and I generally fly Fl240 or Fl250 w/ a
> cabin alt of 7-8000'
> >
> > Fwiw
> >
> > Jarrett Johnson
> >
> > 235/320 55%
>