iPad Mini obsolescence re Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, FltPlan Go

[PilotjohnS]

Sorry i stuttered when i typed. I meant iPad mini, not iPad.

[FlyingBanker]

Originally Posted by RV8JD

I just checked my iPhone 11 Pro and my iPad mini 5:

The latest iOS version (for iPhones) is 13.5.1.

The latest iPadOS is 13.5.1.

See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210394

Yes, but iPadOS 13 and above only work on iPad mini 4 and 5. For iPad mini 1, 2, or 3, the 12 series is the last supported OS and 12.4.7 is the last of the 12 series available for those iPad minis.

[SPX]

Originally Posted by RV8JD

Link below from the ForeFlight website. Note that some features require iOS 13, as the OP indicated.

"What version of ForeFlight will work with my iOS?":

https://www.foreflight.com/support/s...bile/218405768

I received some clarification on this topic.

In the near future, yes, iOS 13 will be required to run new FF versions.

Noteworthy is, it won't be just "some features" that will require iOS 13, but rather new versions of the FF app that contain the new features. In other words, once the version is released that requires iOS 13, the FF version prior to that change taking place will be the latest that your device can run.

Also noteworthy is that while this means you will be limited in version of FF that you can run, the data (charts, AFDS, etc.) that comes into FF will be available for much longer. So, if you're happy with the features that you have now, you do not need to worry about not being able to use your current version of FF for a long time still.

[RV6_flyer]

The cheapest thing about flying is the pilot.

I started RV flying back in September 1997. Back then EFB was either out of reach cost wise for the general aviation RV aircraft or did not exist.

Because I was flying just about anywhere with only a day or two advance planning, I had a subscription to WAC maps for the lower 48-states. I also used "the little brown book" published by Airguide for info on airports and had a subscription for the three volumes that covered the lower 48-states. Before Airguide went out of business, they increased the number of books needed and raised the price.

Fast forward to iPad and ForeFlight. Although I worked in the aerospace industry and used a lot of new technology, I was always reluctant to adopt the latest technology. After seeing and flying with a friend with the iPad 1 and ForeFlight, I started to do a little research on COST. The cost of ForeFlight for one year was a lot less than than what I paid for current WAC maps and the "little brown book" flight guides. Over three years, I paid less for a new iPad and ForeFlight subscription for 3 years than I did for the WAC subscription. When you add in the cost of local area IFR charts and plates, ForeFlight and iPad cost over two years was less than paper.

iPad 2 was released. I purchased one and a ForeFlight subscription. The cost of a new iPad and ForeFlight with IFR charts and plates was less than what I was paying for paper in 24-months. In other words, a new iPad every two years with a ForeFlight subscription was less money than the paper it replaced was every two years.

The cost of a new iPad every two years plus an EFB with all the info needed is in my aircraft budget as it is a lower cost than the paper it replaces. It is one of the things that I have in the basic cost of flying like medical, ELT maintenance, Pitot / Static Transponder test, insurance, and condition inspection. 91.103 requirements are easy to meet with a recently produced iPad or Android Tablet and most of the EFB programs that are on the market. An added benefit of ForeFlight (many of the others have it also) will be fuel prices. This helps keep flying costs down so that I do not plan a stop at an airport that has $1 / gallon higher priced fuel. 5 or 10 cent difference per gallon is only $2 or $3 delta on fill up cost but $1 / gallon higher price can be $20 or $30 higher fuel bill.

For me, a new iPad every 2-years is part of the cost of owning an airplane and flying. Yes I may get 3-years out of an iPad but I will get a new one when I start having iPad battery or other issues. New iPad every two years with two years of EFB subscription is less money than current VFR charts for the entire US over a two year period plus I have IFR plates / charts for the entire country with fuel prices.

I have tried most of the other EFB programs out there including a Samsung Android Tablet. I like ForeFlight and iPad the best. As long as Boeing does not raise the price of ForeFlight, I will stick with it. WHEN Boeing raises the price of ForeFlight above that of Garmin Pilot and FlyQ, I will most likely switch to FlyQ but will look at Garmin Pilot again before finalizing my choice.

[BobTurner]

Originally Posted by RV6_flyer

I have tried most of the other EFB programs out there including a Samsung Android Tablet. I like ForeFlight and iPad the best. As long as Boeing does not raise the price of ForeFlight, I will stick with it. WHEN Boeing raises the price of ForeFlight above that of Garmin Pilot and FlyQ, I will most likely switch to FlyQ but will look at Garmin Pilot again before finalizing my choice.

Take a look at WingX, too.

Yep, I hear you. I started IFR training in 1983, and Jepp charts (no one I knew used the government plates-they were truly horrible!) were expensive in dollars and time (every two weeks, I was stuffing new plates into the 7 ring binders). I don?t know how they stay in the chart business with the EFB?s these days. Shoot, WingX gives me (as a cfii) all the charts for free!

[gfb]

I have a mini 4 for sale if you are looking for a used unit to upgrade to:
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit....php?p=1440422

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by RV6_flyer

The cost of a new iPad and ForeFlight with IFR charts and plates was less than what I was paying for paper in 24-months. In other words, a new iPad every two years with a ForeFlight subscription was less money than the paper it replaced was every two years.

Using FltPlanGo, that payback comes in even faster... the only cost is the tablet itself.

[bkervaski]

Unfortunately, technology has evolved into a "you have to pay to keep up or you'll be left behind" ... it just needs to be factored into your flying budget to buy a new iPad every few years.

There's no technical reason why an iPad stuck at an old iPadOS wouldn't work indefinitely, it's just that the software development ecosystem for these companies faces the same problem you do - if they don't stay up to date, they get left behind.

Same goes for our EFIS and Navigators, at some point, the developers will loose the ability to effectively keep them updated. They've done a great job so far, some of this tech has lasted for 15 years with updates, which is amazing to me. The resources to do this are immense, they don't make computers today that existed 15 years ago (ask Doug, he's going through this right now).

While not a conspiracy as some will say, there's a whole chain of events driving this.

Software, for better or worse, is now designed to pull everybody forward along with it.