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06-20-2018, 06:53 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: TX & CO
Posts: 465
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IPad (altitude limitations)
I have a IPad Pro that should arrive this week. I understand there is a certain limitation on altitude of 10,000'. But I'm curious if this is a conservative figure. Naturally in pressurized cabins, no problem. I understand due to the thin air, heat isn't going to disspate as quick, many talk about how hard drives have a thin area of air it rides on, and you don't want the head and platter touching one another. But I understand these are not really hard drives, so is this aspect still a concern? What about the screen? I only have a few brief areas of 12,500 I have to go up to to avoid certain MOA's and mtn's going to CO, and I have my Garmin 696 as a back up. Please don't tell me that actually has an altitude limitation too.
What's your experience with IPad and high altitude, and your other electronic doodads. Any issues?
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06-20-2018, 06:55 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Snoqualmie, wa
Posts: 393
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altitude
I fly with my iPad Mini at well over 10,000 routinely. I've had it up to 17,500 a few times and never had an issue with it.
__________________
Darin
Snoqualmie WA
RV-9A Sold
RV-10 Building - FWF
www.DarinAnderson.com
2020 donation sent!
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06-20-2018, 07:02 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: AZ
Posts: 186
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrongway john
I have a IPad Pro that should arrive this week. I understand there is a certain limitation on altitude of 10,000'. But I'm curious if this is a conservative figure. Naturally in pressurized cabins, no problem. I understand due to the thin air, heat isn't going to disspate as quick, many talk about how hard drives have a thin area of air it rides on, and you don't want the head and platter touching one another. But I understand these are not really hard drives, so is this aspect still a concern? What about the screen? I only have a few brief areas of 12,500 I have to go up to to avoid certain MOA's and mtn's going to CO, and I have my Garmin 696 as a back up. Please don't tell me that actually has an altitude limitation too.
What's your experience with IPad and high altitude, and your other electronic doodads. Any issues?
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There is no hard drive so to speak in the iPad. It's a solid state device with no moving parts. My older iPad made it to 15,500 once. I routinely cruised at 11,500 or 12,500 and it had zero problems. The only problem it had in an RV-8 was overheating when in direct sunlight on hot days, but that was more at lower altitudes with the screen on full bright on a hot sunny day. At altitude in cool air, especially with shade, I don't think you'll have a problem. Fwiw, people have successfully used iPhones (also has a 10,000 ft limitation) at the top of Everest. I wouldn't sweat it.
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06-20-2018, 07:13 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Kennesaw, Ga
Posts: 825
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The only issues that I've ever heard of with iPads is overheating when in direct sun light. I've never heard of any limitations and never experienced any either. I've used mine several times over 10K feet as well.
__________________
Amir
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RV-7
RV-10 - Sold
Supporting VAF since the first visit
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06-20-2018, 07:34 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: TX & CO
Posts: 465
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So, I guess it's a conservative estimate after all. I'll make note of keeping it out of the sunlight, definitely don't want to burn this thing up, as expensive as they are. Hope to hear from more, but looks like 12,500' for such short durations will not be an issue for me.
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06-20-2018, 08:14 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Richmond Hill, GA (KLHW)
Posts: 2,189
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Lots of commercial pilots use iPads for their chart data. Saves a lot of weight over paper charts.
__________________
Ray
RV-7A - Slider - N495KL - First flt 27 Jan 17
O-360-A4M w/ AFP FM-150 FI, Dual PMags, Vetterman Trombone Exh, SkyTech starter, BandC Alt (PP failed after 226 hrs)
Catto 3 blade NLE, FlightLines Interior, James cowl, plenum & intake, Anti-Splat -14 seat mod and nose gear support
All lines by TSFlightLines (aka Hoser)
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06-20-2018, 08:15 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Posts: 203
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I worked for the Solar Impulse Project ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Impulse ) and there we also used a IPad in the unpressurized unheated cabin. We flew routinely at FL280 without any problems.
BUT: We had some issues with capacitors in the autopilot servos! Those "exploded" above a certain altitude (I can`t remember at which altitude). We had to replace them with different ones..
Cheers Yves
__________________
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Yves - Basel, Switzerland
RV-8 #83458 HB-YUA
Donation 2019 done
Last edited by YvesCH : 06-20-2018 at 08:17 AM.
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06-20-2018, 08:51 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: TX & CO
Posts: 465
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Good to hear, if it spent some time at FL280, I'm not near as concerned about my FL 125 anymore. Might be premature on my part, but figured I'd already heard from others telling me not to exceed their 10,000' altitude limit, and would have horror stories to tell.
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06-20-2018, 09:31 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NC25
Posts: 3,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrongway john
I have a IPad Pro that should arrive this week. I understand there is a certain limitation on altitude of 10,000'. But I'm curious if this is a conservative figure. Naturally in pressurized cabins, no problem. I understand due to the thin air, heat isn't going to disspate as quick, many talk about how hard drives have a thin area of air it rides on, and you don't want the head and platter touching one another. But I understand these are not really hard drives, so is this aspect still a concern? What about the screen? I only have a few brief areas of 12,500 I have to go up to to avoid certain MOA's and mtn's going to CO, and I have my Garmin 696 as a back up. Please don't tell me that actually has an altitude limitation too.
What's your experience with IPad and high altitude, and your other electronic doodads. Any issues?
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No problem. Here is a screen snap of my 9.5" iPad Pro cruising along at 11,500'.

__________________
Gary A. Sobek
NC25 RV-6 Flying
3,400+ hours
Where is N157GS
Building RV-8 S/N: 80012
To most people, the sky is the limit.
To those who love aviation, the sky is home.
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06-20-2018, 09:41 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Maple Valley, WA
Posts: 273
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In general... All of the comments before are correct. Not only do I routinely fly my RV in the mid teens, but my day job for a large aircraft manufacturer has me routinely depressurizing the aircraft to 15k feet. My iPad has never had an issue...
Now, there is a chance of a build defect. We have had a couple over the years that the screen will separate or crack on one of their initial flights, due to trapped air.
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