IPad foreflight first flight

[billnaz]

Here are my findings after the first flight using my brand new Ipad with Foreflight app. I was hoping it would be on the trip to OSH but that ain't happening this year for me, which is a major bummer. Instead I did a brunch run to sedona and payson (sedona's resteraunt is closed for renovation by the way!). Payson is a convenient alternative for you transients. Anyway;

Foreflight- Quantum leap! Really, a game changer. Seventyfive bucks a year for basically everything you need to fly but the airplane. I made the decision to invest in the Ipad package after pricing the cost of buying all the charts I'd need for the osh run (which would have been obsolete in a week). Last night Foreflight down loaded the updates for the whole country while I slept! My one time garmin/jeppison update cost $380!! That's got to change. "but it's TSOed"- rubbish I say!

iPad readability- ok, nothing is perfect. Not enough nits. Not a total disqualifyer though, just a compromise. Similar to the compromise I made when I decided not to upgrade to the brighter Dynon screen. The Ipad is great in the shade, and readable in direct sun. With the sun full overhead I had to shade the screen with my hand to read it. Though not ideal, I've decided I can live with it. The pros far out weigh the cons with the Ipad.

Hot unit- here's my one concern. After brunch sitting on the floor of the plane covered with my hat the Ipad wouldn't run. It said it was over heated. I need to get some more flights in to decide if this is a real problem. Basicly summers in AZ suck! I'm going to bring the Ipad with me when I go to the resteraunt for now. At least I can check my Email while I eat! I couldn't do that with my Anywhere Map PDA!

Overall impression of the Ipad/Foreflight package- the best deal in GA as far as I can tell!

[erich weaver]

The Skycharts app is only $20/yr if I remember correctly, and thats the one I have. Does Foreflight give you something more that makes it worth the extra $55?

erich

[Bavafa]

I have not used Sky charts myself but have seen it in action and demo and ForeFlight is much more capable app. The extra $55 is definitely worth it for me by a long shot. I specially like the new additions in the version 3.6 that just came out.

[erich weaver]

Originally Posted by Bavafa

ForeFlight is much more capable app. The extra $55 is definitely worth it for me by a long shot.

Still looking for more info... What makes it more capable and worth it?

erich

[billnaz]

Ain't competition great! Frankly I never got past Foreflight. Seems like eventually they'll all be $3.99 apps. Whatever you pick as your software the platform is the game changer.

[Pat Hatch]

Originally Posted by erich weaver

The Skycharts app is only $20/yr if I remember correctly, and thats the one I have. Does Foreflight give you something more that makes it worth the extra $55?

erich

Erich,

I too have only used ForeFlight and am extremely pleased with it and thus have not bothered to look at any other apps. However, ForeFlight gives you 30 days free with no app charge, I would suggest you try it for 30 days and I'm pretty sure you'll want to keep it. The $75 per year is a subscription fee for the charts, at least that's the way I look at it. Downloads are pretty much automatic once you set up what you want. This latest version is really something with the flight planning capabilities. Go to their site and check out the video of version 3.6, no audio by the way. Hope this gives you some insight.

[erich weaver]

Originally Posted by Pat Hatch

ForeFlight gives you 30 days free with no app charge, I would suggest you try it for 30 days and I'm pretty sure you'll want to keep it. The $75 per year is a subscription fee for the charts, at least that's the way I look at it. Downloads are pretty much automatic once you set up what you want. This latest version is really something with the flight planning capabilities. Go to their site and check out the video of version 3.6, no audio by the way. Hope this gives you some insight.

Ok, free trial sounds good so thanks for the heads up on that. But if you are hanging your hat on charts subscriptions, Im getting that for $20 now and am able to input a flight plan showing multi-segmented lines on the chart, check METARS/TAFs, look at the AFD etc pretty easily. Guess I cant offer you a free 30 day trial though, so you may have me there. Now Im gonna take the $35 I saved and buy some Avgas

erich

[kentb]

I had the same problem this weekend. After I got in the plane and fired up my iPad, it declared that it was overheated and shutdown. I flew for 15 minutes before it cooled down enough to work.

I had to rely on the other two GPS/moving maps.

Kent

[Pat Hatch]

Kent,

I've had the same issue with the iPad here in Florida a couple of times. This is the one major drawback for using the iPad as an EFB, in my opinion. However, I have learned to manage the problem by keeping the iPad out of the sun, using the Koger shade, etc. I stay ahead of it by keeping one of the vents blowing on it. Still, not a good issue to have to worry about. I really think they'll have to fix this before we are going to have widespread use as an EFB. I get the feeling that they are perhaps a little too aggressive with the temperature setting and maybe a software update may be the fix, just a guess.

[jcaplins]

This overheating issue is not during use, right? Just if it's left cooking in an airplane or car?