To understand the fascination with Cycle 1708, one must first understand the AIRAC system. Aeronautical Information Regulation And Control (AIRAC) defines a series of dates every 28 days by which aeronautical databases must be updated. In the flight sim world, Navigraph is the primary provider of this data for add-ons like the PMDG 737, Aerosoft Airbus, and Garmin GNS units.
However, a persistent search term echoes through forums and search engines years after its relevance has faded:
Downloads from unofficial sources often contain malware or unwanted software. Outdated Data: Cycle 1708 is now nearly eight years old