Almost bought an iPad

[qmdv]

Bill Reed jsut sent me this. Looks very interesting

http://www.naviatorapp.com/default.aspx

Tim

[mmartin1872]

What i like about the ipad is the new 'Trutrak' setup you can use for engine monitoring with your ipad... we're thinking that is the way we are going to go with our 'amateur built' stinson. Waiting till the end of the year to hear how good this system really is though. i don't think it's been available for too long yet. i found it when my dad said 'soon they'll come out with engine monitors that will tie into your ipad/iphone/blackberry.. so i googled engine monitor ipad... and it's already been invented

[qmdv]

Bought the Samsung Galaxy Tablet and downloaded the 30 day free trial of naviator. Bottom of the learning curve

Think it will be fine.

Tim

[Zzz]

Used mine for the first time on the trip to Johnson Creek. iPad 2 3G 64MB + Foreflight HD mobile. The GPS worked flawlessly and always had a fix within a few seconds, even in no service areas after I'd had it off. They must have improved the chipset or the GPS firmware or something from the iPad 1, I dunno.

Foreflight works well, but it still has a long way to go, in my opinion. The workflow of moving between the map, getting airport information, and flight trip data is still a little clunky. I still used the 495 quite a bit on this trip. I'l tell ya though, seeing your position right on the sectional when heading into the mountains and searching for lower terrain is really nice.

[svanarts]

They bought us an iPad at work... to share among 3 different locations!! Supposedly we're learning how they work so we can support them at work. Anyhoo... It's finally my turn to hang on it for a while so I took the opportunity to download ForeFlight HD. It's pretty cool seeing where I am right on the chart... the holy grail of GPS's that I've been looking for. I agree it's kind of clunky but it's a relatively young product. What I really like is having ALL the charts I need at my fingertips for flying to Oshkosh in a few weeks.

I flew with it for the first time today and it was kind of neat. I'll give it a more thorough workout on my way to OSH.

[Tadpole]

Thanks for the pics Z. Looks like it doesn't eat up too much room. I'm tempted more and more for the iPad. Right now I'm doing test flights with a clipboard and papers. That's a pain in the butt, especially when I open both windows and the door. I'm thinking an iPad on the kneeboard with the test checklists set up digitally on there would be great.

[Tadpole]

Z, is that the AvPad kneeboard you mentioned before?

[Zzz]

Z, is that the AvPad kneeboard you mentioned before?

No, it's my old normal kneeboard rigged to hold the iPad. Need a better solution.

[Vick]

The workflow of moving between the map, getting airport information, and flight trip data is still a little clunky. I still used the 495 quite a bit on this trip.

I'm sure I'm not tapping the full potential of the system but that's why I don't use my ipad much in flight beyond basic chart reference - basically as a direct replacement for those pesky things you had to fold, went outdated routinely, and flapped in the wind. For in flight situational awareness I like what my 296 shows me, at least for relatively short-legged VFR flying. After two coast-to-coast cross countries I've paid for the iPad with what I didn't spend on current sectionals. There may be another one in the near future and then I'll be money ahead.

On cross countries I use the ipad heavily at each stop. Updating all that needs to be updated and amending the plan as needed. Really nice to not have to count on the FBO having internet access, even more frustrating when they have that one proprietary flight planning system (don't remember the name). Of course if you're too far off the grid you won't get a 3G signal and then you're back to square one. Imagine the horror of taking off and not knowing the weather ahead of you!! Old Lindbergh had some balls.

[Cooperd0g]

Z, is that the AvPad kneeboard you mentioned before?

No, it's my old normal kneeboard rigged to hold the iPad. Need a better solution.

Zane,

I use the iPad kneeboard pro from MyGoFlight.com. I have an iPad 1 so I only can use their aluminum Pro model, but I modified it by cutting the hinge off so I can still use the lid if I want when I shove it in my helmet bag, but it is lidless for one leg operation with a stick airplane. Since you have an iPad 2, check out MyGoFlight's Sport kneeboard. It is made for the iPad 2 and works with the smart cover from Apple.

I know the GPS in the 3G versions of the iPads seem to work well. I have a wi-fi only one so I use one of the plug in Bad Elf GPS units. Oh, and I'm a big ForeFlight and Night Vision Pen fan as well.

[Vick]

Just bought one of these at OshKosh - Tiet MyClip. I walked all the booths and saw a lot of overpriced, overly developed solutions. I liked that this was simple yet ample - that it was about half the cost of the alternatives was a bonus. Used it all the way home and am very happy with it!

[260Driver]

Picked one up about 4 months ago...3G/64G. I have it set up with the bluetooth GPS: http://sportys.com/pilotshop/product/16133
Love it! I've tried out both Foreflight and WingX. With over 40 cross country hours on the system (including a trip across the country), I have to say that WingX outperforms in flight. Preflight duties are a little easier on Foreflight, but I'm willing to make the trade off for better performance in flight. I have yet to fly with WingX's latest update which came out just last week.

Take the plunge, you won't look back.

[Southern Boy]

As I fly a lot of long cross countries, I had become weary of trying to keep up to date charts, approach plates, etc. I bought an Ipad a year ago, and have used it for all my charts exclusively since then. I can keep full US coverage for IFR/VFR/TERPS for $75 a year (although I just upgraded to the "pro" version, as it Geo-references you on the approach plate).


I would never go back to regular charts again. I don't use it non-stop (like a 396) in the cockpit. I keep it handy (in the super cub, I just put it on the floor, other planes on the seat next to me). If I'm going near terrain, I do like to see your real time position on the chart. Battery lasts 6-8 hours (somewhat less if using BadElf gps), but so far it's been a huge money saver (I used to spend 4-500 bucks a year on charts), and it's way easier than continually digging out the next chart when going across country.

[GumpAir]

OK, I got bit hard by this gadget. When I was in Sacramento, my CFI bro-in-law showed me his iPad/Foreflight set up, and all I can say is holy shit!!!

So... For less than I'm paying in one year for VFR/IFR paper subscriptions alone (well, maybe two years), it looks like new iPad, BadElf GPS, and the pro version of Foreflight are on the way. Plus, once I started playing with the iPad I knew I had to have one regardless.

Gump

[Blu]

When I went into buy mine I asked the sales guy "why do I need one of these, I have a lap top and a phone". He looked around and said "do u like to play with boobs?". ... I said "yes" and he asked me why? That caught me off guard and after I thought a second I said "I just do". He smiled and said well play with one of these it's kinda like that, hard to explain but you'll like it.
I bought one.... And he was right.

[GumpAir]

Yup...

Gump

[scottnt]

You guys crack me up I have the I-pad 1 and have been using it for about a year. Only problem I've ever had with it is overheating. If it sits on the sunny side of the cockpit and gets too hot it'll quit. Turn it of for a minute, let her cool down and keep it in the shade and it was fine. I don't have an external GPS (bad elf etc.) and I've never lost GPS signal. Love Foreflight with geo reference plates, it's awesome

[OregonMaule]

I don't get why the iPad is so popular. I have played with it. I like it too. I went with a IBM touch screen tablet. Why? USB ports, card reader. Don't get me wrong, I like Apple! I have a iPhone. IMO the IBM tablet is more versatile. No matter what electronic gadget you get to take the place of paper charts it will be better.

Good day

[wyomingiswindy]

Only two things holding me back from being a 100% Ipad freak. I want it to send the frequencies over to the MGL radio and I hear WingX won't "track course". Who can read a map these days really? I figure it's the early days for IPad piloting and in a couple years the sofware will keep coming...

So, are there any MGL Enigma users in the house? I figure if i go that route I'll at least put in a separate oil pressure gauge so i can start the thing without booting the system.

They will weigh about the same. The Enigma is a about $500 more. So, Hood River man, they overheat?

Any other red flags on either setup? Don't worry there will be a few more things cluttering my panel. This is the meat and potatoes.


With MGL Enigma


IPad

[porterjet]

I put my first ipad in the window so the GPS would work. Half the time it was in the shadow, half the time in direct sunlight and half the time was night. True I live in a pressurized, air conditioned airplane but it can still get warm in direct sunlight. I've never had my ipad shut down due to heat, in fact never had it shut down on its own period. I've only had one flight with the new ipad 2 and external GPS. I do feel better about not having to have it in the window all the time.