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  #1  
Old 05-07-2018, 09:42 PM
E. D. Eliot E. D. Eliot is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: San Pedro
Posts: 1,013
Default I-Pad/Foreflight Info - Need help in purchases

Back to flying soon. Hope that my question isn't too basic.

I have held off on purchasing an ( - ) pad device until I was set up with my CFI. Met him today and will resume training soon.

My CFI wants me to purchase an I-Pad from Apple and to use Foreflight Professional - I am locked into his suggestions. I will be flying in a Sling two place and the panel is all Garmin. After getting my PPC, I will be flying my soon to be completed RV-12 with Dynon Avionics.

I have read all that I can find in the archives here and most of the info is a year or three old. I have a few days until I will purchase my Apple I-Pad.

So, please advise me as to which Apple I-Pad to purchase. Thanks in advance.
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  #2  
Old 05-07-2018, 09:58 PM
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flytoday flytoday is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 405
Default Decide big or small, then the best you can afford

IMHO you need to test fly the larger (like Air 2) and smaller screen model (like a mini) to decide which size you like. Personally I fly the Air2 because I want the bigger screen. Some like the mini because it?s easier to mount.

Then buy the most modern, most memory model you can afford. You can operate FF with a WiFi only model. I use WiFi only, no regret there. You buy the most/best because ForeFlight and most software continues to be redesigned, and the upgrades always want more hardware performance/resources... In a few years whatever you buy may be challenged to run ForeFlight and other programs at an acceptable speed.

Carl
..
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  #3  
Old 05-07-2018, 11:06 PM
BobTurner BobTurner is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Livermore, CA
Posts: 6,797
Default

Is this what modern instruction has come to? You must have an iPad and Foreflight as a student pilot? I?d suggest you get your certificate, then decide for yourself what gizzmos you?d like.
For the record, I have an iPad mini running WingX. But choose what you want.
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  #4  
Old 05-07-2018, 11:11 PM
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Bugsy Bugsy is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
Posts: 554
Default Agree with Bob

Foreflight is strong, but FlyQ is way easier for flying in VFR environment. WingX is also a strong product.

As Bob says, do some flying then get trial subscriptions and try them all out for yourself.
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  #5  
Old 05-07-2018, 11:37 PM
alpinelakespilot2000 alpinelakespilot2000 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,646
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by E. D. Eliot View Post
My CFI wants me to purchase an I-Pad from Apple and to use Foreflight Professional - I am locked into his suggestions.
Before you get a new iPad and foreflight, get a new flight instructor!
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  #6  
Old 05-08-2018, 12:30 AM
FireMedic_2009 FireMedic_2009 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 144
Default

Whichever you get, Ipad for ForeFlt or Android, make sure you get cell capability. Not to use as a phone but to use the GPS chip in order for the s/w to track you. The extra $150 is worth not having to use an external antenna and worry about another external device cluttering up the cockpit. I have an Air 2 and like the bigger screen. If you are looking at going IFR, ForeFlt is still better. I've tried FlyQ for a month and there were some things I didn't like. The one that stands out the most and is pretty important was when choosing Arrivals. ForeFlt gives you all the Arrivals on the map so you can best choose which one to use. With FlyQ you have to bring up each arrival and determine which one is the best, much more time consuming. With ForeFlt it much easier to file a flight plan than FlyQ. Also ForeFlt would let you know if ATC altered your flight plan and asked if you wanted to load the altered flight plan. With FlyQ I was a bit confused and never quite understood how to file. Also I don't think FlyQ had the ability to let you know if ATC altered your flight plan or at least didn't automatically let you know like ForeFlt does.

ForeFlt's price keeps creeping up which is why I tried FlyQ about 6 months ago in an effort to drop ForeFlt. However ForeFlt is still better in my opinion especially for IFR. If it's strictly for VFR, try FlyQ free for 30 days and/or others. But remember, if you end up with ForeFlt you will have to get an iPad. The only drawback with an iPad, and maybe droids as well (however I don't know), is the screen isn't very bright in direct sunlight not like an EFIS

Good luck
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  #7  
Old 05-08-2018, 05:56 AM
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flytoday flytoday is offline
 
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Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 405
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flytoday View Post
IMHO....

Then buy the most modern, most memory model you can afford. You can operate FF with a WiFi only model. I use WiFi only, no regret there.

Carl
..
I forgot to mention I use the

Bad Elf GPS (for Apple Lightning Connector)

to give the WiFi-only iPad reliable GPS location data. Cheap compared to a Cell subscription. Much later I added a Garmin GDL39, and now I have 2 GPS sources, and ADS-B traffic and weather displayed on the iPad with FFlight.

Some interesting feedback/comments on this thread. Fire the instructor? Weather contributes to many accidents, I?m very pleased that current weather is now available on my iPad, especially weather radar, for free! Having TFRs, traffic displayed on my screen, and audible ?traffic? calls in my headset is worth the basic FF subscription price.

Considering that student and new Private pilot errrors reflect badly on the CFI I can understand why a CFI might want these their student to have proficiency with these capabilities.

Carl
..
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  #8  
Old 05-08-2018, 06:04 AM
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longranger longranger is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 45G, Brighton, MI
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by flytoday View Post
I forgot to mention I use the

Bad Elf GPS (for Apple Lightning Connector)

to give the WiFi-only iPad reliable GPS location data. Cheap compared to a Cell subscription. ...

Carl
..
You do have buy a cell-capable iPad to have internal GPS, but you do not have to have a cell subscription to utilize the internal GPS.
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  #9  
Old 05-08-2018, 06:43 AM
emuyshondt emuyshondt is offline
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Leander, TX
Posts: 166
Default

Getting an iPad with internal GPS is not much more than buying a separate external GPS, and it saves you from having yet another device to keep charged and another set of cables and charging equipment to carry around.

As mentioned earlier, just because you buy a cellular iPad does't mean you have to pay for a cellular subscription. I do find having the cellular modem very useful, though. AT&T offers a plan that you can activate for 24 hours that gives you a cellular connection for $5.00. This can be very useful in an emergency or if you get to a place without WiFi.

I have now almost completely replaced my laptop with my iPad. There are only a few things for which I prefer the laptop. I use it for non-aviation functions more than what I use it in the plane.

I prefer a larger iPad, so I have an iPad Pro 10.5". It also has the advantage of less glare than some of the previous iPads. I prefer to have it on my leg and to be able to pull it up close to me for better looking at details. I do not really like it mounted on the panel or the yoke.
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Last edited by emuyshondt : 05-08-2018 at 07:07 AM.
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  #10  
Old 05-08-2018, 06:55 AM
Walt's Avatar
Walt Walt is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,687
Default

Ipad pro 10.5 here and love it, I can't imagine not using such a great tool especially for flight planning. If you plan on working on your IFR rating it also becomes an invaluable tool for approach plates, IFR charts etc. Does anybody really flight plan with the "primitive" tools we used to use? (calculator, whiz wheel, ruler).
Sounds like good CFI advice to me.
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