13brv3
Well Known Member
Greetings,
On my limited space RV-3B panel, I mounted an iPad Mini 4 to use for navigation, and flight information. I'm primarily using FlyQ now, but also have a WingX subscription, and my ForeFlight year just ended, so I've tried those 3 software packages. I have two problems with using the iPad mini 4.
First problem is readability. It's a good display for a tablet, but not up to the better displays that are made for aircraft. When you couple bright sun, clear canopy, and sunglasses, it can be a little hard to see the screen, and the difference is night and day compared to the Dynon D180 next to it.
The biggest problem though is being able to actually use it with even the slightest turbulence. The buttons or symbols you have to tap are typically small, and it's so easy to hit next to the button, or be moving when you touch the screen. One picks the wrong function (that you have to try to get out of), and the other just scrolls the screen a little.
It's really frustrating to have so much good information available, but not be able to use it. Does anyone have any tips for making this easier to use? I did try changing the touch setting to require 0.1 sec touch to make it less sensitive, but I can't say that helped.
On another note, my iPad died in flight 13 days after the warranty ran out. I'm not really an Apple fan, but to their credit, they covered the replacement, and turned it around in record time. They sent a box for my dead iPad Monday, and by Thursday I had the replacement in hand. Pretty impressive!
Thanks,
Rusty
On my limited space RV-3B panel, I mounted an iPad Mini 4 to use for navigation, and flight information. I'm primarily using FlyQ now, but also have a WingX subscription, and my ForeFlight year just ended, so I've tried those 3 software packages. I have two problems with using the iPad mini 4.
First problem is readability. It's a good display for a tablet, but not up to the better displays that are made for aircraft. When you couple bright sun, clear canopy, and sunglasses, it can be a little hard to see the screen, and the difference is night and day compared to the Dynon D180 next to it.
The biggest problem though is being able to actually use it with even the slightest turbulence. The buttons or symbols you have to tap are typically small, and it's so easy to hit next to the button, or be moving when you touch the screen. One picks the wrong function (that you have to try to get out of), and the other just scrolls the screen a little.
It's really frustrating to have so much good information available, but not be able to use it. Does anyone have any tips for making this easier to use? I did try changing the touch setting to require 0.1 sec touch to make it less sensitive, but I can't say that helped.
On another note, my iPad died in flight 13 days after the warranty ran out. I'm not really an Apple fan, but to their credit, they covered the replacement, and turned it around in record time. They sent a box for my dead iPad Monday, and by Thursday I had the replacement in hand. Pretty impressive!
Thanks,
Rusty