Private Pilot Test Prep vs Piper Archer III Performance Pad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Private Pilot Test Prep
Prepare for your FAA written test with this comprehensive study tool. It offers three modes: study questions by topic with detailed explanations, review using flashcards, and take full-length practice tests. Track your progress with detailed reports.
- Study questions by topic
- Custom review sessions
- Detailed answer explanations
- Flashcard review mode
- Simulated practice tests
- Progress reports
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Sporty's Study Buddy prepares you for the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test (the "written") with three ways to study: Study Questions, Flashcards and Practice Tests. Questions are organized by knowledge area, with explanations of the right and wrong answers developed by Sporty's team of Master CFIs, based on their experience preparing students for the Private Pilot certificate. • STUDY QUESTIONS BY TOPIC • Choose whole knowledge areas or individual topics to build your own study session. As soon as you answer, you'll see the correct answer, why it's right, and where to read more. Change your answer anytime, bookmark questions as you go, and jump to any question from the question list. Every study session is shuffled. • REVIEW WITH FLASHCARDS • Flashcards show just the question, so you answer from memory before revealing the correct answer and its explanation. Mark each card Know It or Still Learning, then start a new session from the cards you're still learning. On iPhone Duo, study a card with the phone open and close it to check the answer. • TAKE PRACTICE TESTS • Each Practice Test draws 60 questions at random from the full question bank, gives you 2 hours, and is graded at the FAA's 70% passing score. Afterward, see your score by topic, review every question or only the ones you missed, and turn your misses into a new study session. • PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF • Sessions save as you go. The History tab lets you resume any session in progress and review past results, including your scores by topic. • EVERY FIGURE, OFFLINE • The Figures tab includes the complete FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement, with every figure and legend listed by name and page. Swipe through the pages or open any one full screen. Questions show their figures right alongside, and you can study without a connection. Designed for iPhone, iPhone Duo and iPad, with Dark Mode and support for larger text sizes. The FAA does not publish its knowledge test questions, so the questions on your test won't necessarily appear in this app. Study Buddy is meant to complement your training, not to replace flight and ground instruction.
Piper Archer III Performance Pad
This app calculates aircraft performance data for the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III. It assists pilots with flight planning by computing crucial metrics like takeoff distance, climb performance, and cruise altitude using data from the aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook.
- Mass & Balance calculations
- Takeoff and Landing performance
- Climb data computation
- Optimal cruise altitude determination
- Stall speed calculation
- Save up to five aircraft settings
- Email Mass & Balance summary
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Gyronimo Performance Pad Piper PA 28-181 -Archer III- The ultimate computer for Mass & Balance and Performance. **** NEW: FLAPS UP takeoff distance computation **** Calculate and interpolate performance data using the actual values from the Archer III Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). Finish your complete fight planning in just a few seconds. Performance planning has never been easier and quicker. Results are updated immediately and displayed in high resolution graphics, enhanced for the iPad Retina. Change all important values using sliders. Experiment with the results and create "what if" scenarios in no time. Find your optimal cruise altitude, takeoff ground roll, landing distance, climb data and stall speeds. The Performance Pad Archer III has seven main pages: 1. The Mass & Balance (or Weight & Balance) Page Calculates Center of Gravity, Moments, Takeoff and Zero Fuel Mass as well as Percent MAC (% MAC). 2. The Takeoff Page Using the actual data from the Operating Handbook the Performance Pad calculates and displays Ground Roll and Landing Distance based on: - Aircraft Mass - Takeoff Elevation in MSL (Pressure Altitude and Density Altitude will be computed) - Outside Air Temperature (OAT) - Altimeter Setting - Runway Conditions (i.e. paved dry to long grass or snow) - Runway Slope - Wind Conditions 3. The Climb page Calculates time, fuel and distance based on - Difference between Takeoff Elevation and intended Flight Level - Altimeter Setting - Outside Air Temperature (OAT) - Altimeter Setting - Headwind or Tailwind Component Also the Rate of Climb and Climb Speed will be displayed. 4. The Cruise Page Using the actual data from the Pilot's Operating Handbook you can determine the optimal cruise altitude based on - Trip Distance - Flight Level - Engine RPM - Temperature - Wind and Altimeter Setting 5. Landing Page Calculates Ground Roll and Landing Distance based on wind, elevation, altimeter setting etc. Like on the Takeoff Page you can use the Wind Components Computer to quickly determine head- or tailwind components 6. Stall Speed Page. Calculates The Stall Speed based on Bank Angle and Flap Settings. Stall Speed will be computed as KIAS and KCAS using the actual values from the POH. 7. Setup - Load and Save up to five Aircraft Settings and Scenarios. - Send a Mass & Balance Summary to your email address. - Visit our video channel and watch tutorials and video manuals. Mode Switch: The Performance Pad can be used in two Modes: "Individual Mode" All calculations can be done independently from each other. "Plan Mode" Calculated values will be forwarded to the next page and an additional "Flight Summary Page" is available. Choose this mode if you want to do a complete performance planning. The author disclaims any liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential losses or damages in connection with your access to or use of this software. The information contained in this software is for general information purposes only.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Piper Archer III Performance Pad at 5.0 against Private Pilot Test Prep's 4.3. Piper Archer III Performance Pad also leads on iOS requirement (9.1 vs 17.0). Private Pilot Test Prep's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and ratings volume (116 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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
Private Pilot Test Prep costs $14.99 and Piper Archer III Performance Pad $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Piper Archer III Performance Pad holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Pilot Test Prep has 116 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of Private Pilot Test Prep's written reviews are positive against 75% of Piper Archer III Performance Pad's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Private Pilot Test Prep ships an update every 5 months, Piper Archer III Performance Pad every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Private Pilot Test Prep | Piper Archer III Performance Pad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.3 (116 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.8% of reviews — better | 75.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 116 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #17 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 9.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 61 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sporty's Pilot Shop | Gyronimo, LLC |
Customer experience
Private Pilot Test Prep
Piper Archer III Performance Pad
Bugs and requests
Private Pilot Test Prep
Reported bugs
6 issues- App crashes in test mode
- Progress not saved on phone
- Blackout bug when viewing figures or rotating screen
- Crashes after deleting test sessions
- Not updated for iPhone X
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- Save function issues
Requested features
9 requests- Ability to save flagged questions across sessions
- Randomized questions in test mode
- Improved cross-device progress syncing (iCloud)
- Interactive map features for practice
- Search functionality for specific questions
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- Dark mode option
- Compatibility with iPhone X
- More sample test questions from FAA
- Bundle option for instrument written prep
Piper Archer III Performance Pad
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Private Pilot Test Prep
No in-app purchases
Piper Archer III Performance Pad
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Private Pilot Test Prep free?
Is Piper Archer III Performance Pad free?
Which has better reviews, Private Pilot Test Prep or Piper Archer III Performance Pad?
Do Private Pilot Test Prep or Piper Archer III Performance Pad have ads?
Which is updated more often, Private Pilot Test Prep or Piper Archer III Performance Pad?
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