Comparison

FAA Private Pilot Prep vs R22

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

FAA Private Pilot Prep

Prepare for your FAA Private and Recreational Pilot knowledge tests with a comprehensive database of actual, up-to-date questions. Features detailed explanations, included charts, and flexible study modes to help you pass your exams.

Highlights
  • Actual FAA questions
  • Free updates
  • Illustrated explanations
  • Compatible with FAA ACS
  • Comprehensive question database
  • Flexible study modes
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Spend less time studying and more time flying! This is the FAA Private and Recreational Pilot version of GroundSchool, our FAA knowledge (written) test preparation featuring up-to-date questions, free updates, and illustrated explanations written by a professional team of pilot examiners and instructors. GroundSchool is fully compatible with FAA ACS (Airman Certification Standards) and our editorial team is working to keep it so as ACS continues to evolve. Don't be fooled by imitators! Competing apps use only the limited set of questions that the FAA publicly releases via its website - that is not enough to adequately prepare you for your test! Our GroundSchool app, on the other hand, features a much more comprehensive database (typically about 2-4 times the size of the demo FAA public one) of actual and current FAA questions that you likely can and will be asked on the actual test! This along with our detailed, professional explanations and easy to use interface are major reasons why pilots have come to trust GroundSchool. Study actual, up-to-date FAA questions and then ACE your FAA Private Pilot and/or Recreational Pilot knowledge (written) test the easy way with GroundSchool FAA Knowledge Test Preparation software by Dauntless Aviation, the trusted leader in FAA written test preparation. Features: * Actual FAA Questions Current and Valid for Right Now. As soon as you install the software, use the 'update' feature and the software will connect to our servers, grab the latest questions, images, figures, and explanation content, and you'll be good to go. * Detailed Explanations written by an experienced editorial team of examiner and instructor pilots. * All Charts and Figures Included * Several flexible study modes - fits the way you want to study! * Compatible with all FAA "ground school" classroom-based courses This Private and Recreational Pilot version of GroundSchool will prepare you for any or all of the following tests: * Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) * Private Pilot Rotorcraft Helicopter (PRH) * Private Pilot Glider (PGL) * Private Pilot Balloon - Gas (PBG) * Private Pilot Balloon - Hot Air (PBH) * Private Pilot Rotorcraft Gyroplane (PRG) * Private Pilot Powered Parachute (PPP) * Private Pilot Weight Shift Control (PWS) * Private Pilot Lighter-than-Air (Airship) (PLA) * Recreational Pilot Airplane (RPA) * Recreational Pilot Helicopter (RPH) * Recreational Pilot Gyroplane (RPG) * Private Pilot Airplane / Recreational Pilot - Transition (PAT) * Private Pilot Helicopter / Recreational Pilot Transition (PHT) * Private Pilot Gyroplane / Recreational Pilot Transition (PGT) * Canadian Private Pilot to USA FAA Conversion (PCP) With Dauntless Aviation's GroundSchool, you don't need to worry: * Our material is UP TO DATE. No matter what date is listed here in regarding the 'Release date', this date refers to the program itself only. Once you get the program on your device, use the built-in update feature and it will connect to our servers and download the latest and greatest version of the test prep content and our explanations that we have available. To learn more about this, please visit our website. * Furthermore, you are welcome to update the material as often as you like. This means that even if you don't take your test soon, when do you, GroundSchool will be ready for you. Compare this to books or DVDs (which are going out of date from the moment they are printed). * We pride ourselves on the quality of our explanations. This is not some idle boast - our explanations are more detailed and more illustrated than that of ANY other FAA knowledge test provider, period. * Tens of thousands of people have used our products to prepare for their FAA knowledge tests. Ours is a system that works. Good luck on your test!

About

R22

This flight computer app provides essential calculations for Robinson R22 helicopter pilots. It offers features for weight and balance, performance metrics like Vne and ceilings, and navigation data. Includes a digital signature load manifest for professional use.

Highlights
  • Weight and balance calculations
  • Performance calculations (Vne, ceilings)
  • Navigation data
  • Digital signature load manifest
  • Unit conversion (US/Metric)
  • "What if" scenario testing
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Gyronimo / Tim Tucker Performance Pad Flight computer for Robinson R22 Beta and Beta II helicopters. + now features a professional load manifest with digital signature + Optimized for Retina Display Requires iPad 2 or newer Tim Tucker, Robinson Helicopter Company’s Chief Instructor and Claus Richter founder of Gyronimo Systems have teamed together to produce a series of new performance apps for the Robinson R22, R44 and R66. These new apps build on the already popular Robinson apps developed by Gyronimo Systems but add the insights and knowledge of Robinson’s well known Chief Instructor. Each app includes not only weight & balance and navigation calculations, but also all critical performance calculations such as Manifold Pressure, Vne and IGE/OGE limits. A great new tool for students, instructors and professional pilots. Weight & Balance calculations have never been easier and faster. With the Gyronimo Performance Pad you can calculate weight & balance, performance and navigation data in just a few seconds! It is designed specifically for the Robinson R22 Beta and Beta II (plus weight & balance for Astro, Alpha and Standard), and contains all necessary flight and performance data. This version of the Performance Pad contains many explanations and special features for flight students. Quickly change all important values using sliders! Compare Beta and Beta II OGE and IGE performance! Calculate and compare Manifold Pressure and Never Exceed Speed Limits. This enables students and flight instructors to experiment with the values and create "what if" scenarios in no time. The Performance Pad has four main pages 1. Weight and Balance Page Set person and baggage values in seconds using the convenient sliders. Select doors on/off and left controls in/out with switch-buttons. Check the CG within it's limits immediately and on the same page! Sign the load manifest and send it as .pdf to your email address! 2. Performance Page Using the data from your Weight & Balance page the pad calculates: - Out of Ground Effect (OGE) ceiling - In Ground Effect (IGE) ceiling - Density Altitude - Maximum Continuous Power (MCP) - 5 minute take off power - Never Exceed Speed (V ne) 3. Flight Time Page - Calibrated and True Airspeed - True and Magnetic Course - Wind Correction Angle (WCA) - Compass Heading - Ground Speed - Flight Time for a specific distance 4. Helicopter Page Here you have access to the helicopter's specific data - Main and Tail Rotor dimensions and - Power Plant and Fuel - Airspeed and other limitations - Definitions - Change units from US gallons / lbs to Kg/Liter. Whether you are a professional pilot, student or flight instructor, we are sure that you will benefit from the possibilities of this revolutionary flight computer. Product Support We hope that the Performance Pad is intuitive to use, however if you have questions or reports please contact us anytime via www.gyronimo.com and we will reply usually within the same day!

Screenshots

FAA Private Pilot Prep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: R22 at $29.99 against FAA Private Pilot Prep's $69.99. R22 also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). FAA Private Pilot Prep's advantage is ratings volume (73 vs 2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

FAA Private Pilot Prep costs $69.99 and R22 $29.99 up front. FAA Private Pilot Prep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. R22 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

R22 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FAA Private Pilot Prep has 73 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of FAA Private Pilot Prep's written reviews are positive against 100% of R22's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FAA Private Pilot Prep ships an update monthly, R22 every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
FAA Private Pilot Prep versus R22: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFAA Private Pilot PrepR22
Price$69.99$29.99 — better
Rating4.5 (73 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews79.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings73 — better2
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#102 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better9.1
Further details — not scored
Size640 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDauntless SoftwareGyronimo, LLC

Customer experience

FAA Private Pilot Prep

All ratings73 ratings
Positive89.0%
Neutral2.7%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive79.2%
Neutral2.6%
Negative18.2%

R22

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

FAA Private Pilot Prep

Reported bugs

66 issues
  • Update issues
  • Incorrect answers
  • No response to review requests
  • Poor audio system integration
  • Lacks dark mode
Show 61 more
  • Appalling audio quality
  • Inconsistent cloud storage
  • Lacks 'Sign with Apple'
  • UX/UI design issues
  • Expensive compared to alternatives
  • Dated UI design
  • Annoying sound effects
  • Difficult to read UI
  • Annoying figure viewing
  • Need to flip back and forth
  • Customer service issues
  • Rude customer service
  • Unusable after iOS update
  • Crashing on devices
  • Blank screen on test questions
  • No customer service phone
  • Limited MP3 questions
  • Crashing frequently
  • Audio volume varies
  • Sectional diagrams poor quality
  • PDF issues
  • Slow website
  • App restarts from main menu
  • Nuisance switching contexts
  • Missing chart/sectional questions
  • E6B used differently
  • Some questions not in app
  • Phrasing and figures differ
  • Not all questions covered
  • Expensive
  • Vocal teaching inconsistent
  • Audio files disappear
  • Wasted money
  • Needs programmer work
  • Database failure
  • Bugs, bugs, bugs
  • Never performs updates
  • Database corrupted message
  • Crashes on launch
  • Slow loading
  • Not as effective as old tapes
  • Not a test simulator/tutor
  • Limited to test passing ability
  • Lacks silly graphics/mnemonics
  • Needs tweaks
  • Cannot see charts and questions simultaneously
  • Lose progress when going home
  • Why would anybody use this app?
  • Floundering and falling asleep
  • Needs human instructor videos
  • Interface quirks
  • Doesn't always save progress
  • Cartoon-like UI
  • Expensive
  • Vocal teaching only sometimes works
  • Buggy
  • Cannot update test questions
  • Likely out of date questions
  • Poorly tested on iPad
  • Ignores non-working parts
  • Not a serious piece of software

Requested features

15 requests
  • Dark mode
  • Use Apple's iCloud for storage
  • Use 'Sign with Apple'
  • More FAR/AIM questions
  • Improved UI/UX design
Show 10 more
  • More modern interface
  • Better audio playback system
  • More comprehensive MP3 review
  • Fix sectional diagram quality
  • Improve chart and sectional questions
  • Better saving of progress
  • Allow viewing charts and questions simultaneously
  • Add CFI sign-off to iPad version
  • Improve audio loudness consistency
  • Add more human instructor videos

R22

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

FAA Private Pilot Prep

One-time1
  • Audio Review$19.99
None

R22

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FAA Private Pilot Prep free?
FAA Private Pilot Prep costs $69.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is R22 free?
R22 costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FAA Private Pilot Prep or R22?
R22 is rated higher. FAA Private Pilot Prep averages 4.5 out of 5 from 73 ratings, while R22 averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do FAA Private Pilot Prep or R22 have ads?
Neither FAA Private Pilot Prep nor R22 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FAA Private Pilot Prep or R22?
FAA Private Pilot Prep ships an update monthly, and R22 every 3 months. Most recently, FAA Private Pilot Prep was updated on October 14, 2026 and R22 on September 24, 2026.

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