Van's Air Force

The definitive Van's Aircraft support community! Buying, building or flying an RV? Join our exclusive family of mentors and enthusiasts!

Which iPad

yycguy

I'm New Here
Wondering what everyone has for a iPad in there RV, Im looking at the specs and one item that really stands out for me is the Screen nits (brightness)
Ipad and iPad Air are 500 nits, and the iPad Pro is 1000 nits, any real world experience would be great
 
Wondering what everyone has for a iPad in there RV, Im looking at the specs and one item that really stands out for me is the Screen nits (brightness)
Ipad and iPad Air are 500 nits, and the iPad Pro is 1000 nits, any real world experience would be great
I have both a 13" and 11" M4 iPad Pro. I use the 11" in my RV9A, mounted on a RAM suction mount on the left instrument panel. Works great. I use a non-glare screen protector to reduce glare and fingerprints. I aim the right eyeball vent at it...never have had it overheat. Highly recommended.
 
Consider getting the cellular version of whichever one you pick. It will have a built in GPS antenna.
 
I've had iPads flying for like 10+ years now, mini, full size, many versions etc. Always the cell version with GPS (just in case) and typically use a stratus to get gps Waas and adsb in, all separate from my main panel (again for just in case). Never had an issue with screen brightness. Only one time had heat shutdown the iPad, which I just set on the floor out of the sun with an air vent on it. And I've flown out of TX and OK in the summer heat that entire time, so it's not been a huge issue for me.
 
Consider getting the cellular version of whichever one you pick. It will have a built in GPS antenna.
True, but if you decide to also have a Foreflight Sentry, that will provide WAAS GPS in addition to ADSB-In traffic and weather to your iPad.
 
My last ipad was cellular, but the newer
True, but if you decide to also have a Foreflight Sentry, that will provide WAAS GPS in addition to ADSB-In traffic and weather to your iPad.
My older ipad was cellular, but the new one is not. Gps data comes from my avionics, so no need and I use hot spot functionality on my phone when travelling and need wx or filling from the ipad. The non cell version was a good bit cheaper.
 
Cellular/GPS on an iPad Pro is an extra $200 and a cellular plan, if you decide to get it, is $12/month. It seems crazy to not avail one's self of that useful option. Yes, there are a few kludges around that lack but...I can't see why.
 
Cellular/GPS on an iPad Pro is an extra $200 and a cellular plan, if you decide to get it, is $12/month. It seems crazy to not avail one's self of that useful option. Yes, there are a few kludges around that lack but...I can't see why.
I didn't get the pro. It must have been a sale or something, as the delta was over $400. The hot spot functionality on my iphone works just as well as the older ipad with cellular. It is anything but a kludge. I sold enterprise software for a living and routinely used the cellular hot spot boxes (receiver + wifi hub) on a regular basis for demonstrations. It is reliable technology. Also, using the GPS navigators GPS signal instead of the ipad is anything but a kludge. Are you suggesting the ipads gps technology is better or more reliable than the 430W's?
 
Last edited:
I didn't get the pro. It must have been a sale or something, as the delta was over $400. The hot spot functionality on my iphone works just as well as the older ipad with cellular. It is anything but a kludge. I sold enterprise software for a living and routinely used the cellular hot spot boxes (receiver + wifi hub) on a regular basis for demonstrations. It is reliable technology. Also, using the GPS navigators GPS signal instead of the ipad is anything but a kludge. Are you suggesting the ipads gps technology is better or more reliable than the 430W's?
No, only that it is far more convenient and easier to use, not to mention the ability to update and retrieve data when Wi-Fi is not available. In that regard, my opinion is that hotspots or other remote connection like connecting to a 430W is a kludge. The price delta between a WiFi-only iPad Pro and a cellular/GPS/Wi-Fi iPad Pro is $200. For an iPad Air, it’s $150. Forgoing that cellular/GPS option at those upgrade prices doesn’t make sense to me. YMMV.

Perhaps I’m using my iPad differently than others. I don’t keep it in the airplane when I’m not flying. I take it home with me, travel with it, and use it for all the other things people use portable computers for. If I'm flying, I take it with me to the airport and slap it into its cradle in the airplane. In my post-retirement travel obligations, my MacBook Pro feels unnecessarily heavy these days.
 
Last edited:
Don't be caught out by the nits claim. The "brighter" screen on the Pro is only found in very specific circumstances that are not found in any of the apps we use in aviation. Take the time to reread the Apple claim. In reality, all recent iPads have suffered the same level of brightness.......at least in my RV-8. Wifi/cellular is important, as that iteration has built in GPS, whereas the wifi only version requires an external gps device (which is inconvenient). YMMV
 
Don't be caught out by the nits claim. The "brighter" screen on the Pro is only found in very specific circumstances that are not found in any of the apps we use in aviation. Take the time to reread the Apple claim. In reality, all recent iPads have suffered the same level of brightness.......at least in my RV-8. Wifi/cellular is important, as that iteration has built in GPS, whereas the wifi only version requires an external gps device (which is inconvenient). YMMV
My wife has the mini 6 which I agree is perfect size, but no comparison to the Pro 11 visibility, as much as I wanted to love the mini, I found it inferior to the Pro.
 
My wife has the mini 6 which I agree is perfect size, but no comparison to the Pro 11 visibility, as much as I wanted to love the mini, I found it inferior to the Pro.
I agree, it's a nice size, but too small to meet my wishes. I have a Mini 6 (in addition to the 11" Pro for the airplane and 13" Pro for laptop replacement). It doesn't work well for me for navigation (doesn't even have cellular/GPS), but I do bring it along and use it on my IFD440's wifi for a full-screen display using the IFD100 app.
 
I would go for the iPad Mini in an RV; the larger iPads are likely to block more critical instruments on the panel.
That may depend on the model of RV and other panel-mounted avionics. A full-size iPad fits very nicely in my RV8A. The iPad only partially blocks the key to start the engine, but nothing else. I guess is blocks the cabin heat but that's not something we use very often in AZ.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5756.jpeg
    IMG_5756.jpeg
    5 MB · Views: 60
Thank you for all the help, I’m definitely going with the Cellar version, and I have a sentry as well
I currently am using a 11 inch IPad Air and it works just fine but it’s also my only iPad and packing it back and forth is a bit of a pain.
The brightness is ok with the Air, but if I had a brighter screen via the IPad Pro (if in fact it is brighter ?) it would be nice
For those of you with the Pro, do you think it’s brighter in the cockpit on a sunny day ?
The Pro up here in Canada is around 600 dollars more so definitely want to know if it’s worth it or not
 
I have both a 13" and 11" M4 iPad Pro. I use the 11" in my RV9A, mounted on a RAM suction mount on the left instrument panel. Works great. I use a non-glare screen protector to reduce glare and fingerprints. I aim the right eyeball vent at it...never have had it overheat. Highly recommended.
I have a 9A and use a iPad. Could you please send me a pic of the Ram mount you use thanks
 
I have the Ipad Mini on a RAM EZ Roller mounted on the Right side of the cockpit just in front of the canopy bow on an RV-8. I find its the perfect size and is easy to use without being in the way. Since I installed my G3X touch panel, I don't use the iPad all that often except as a backup on XC flights where its slightly easier to look up stuff or make changes to the route in Foreflight than on the Garmin panel.

If anyone would like a pic of the setup in the cockpit, I'll be happy to send it.

1745886984758.png
 
Cellular/GPS on an iPad Pro is an extra $200 and a cellular plan, if you decide to get it, is $12/month. It seems crazy to not avail one's self of that useful option. Yes, there are a few kludges around that lack but...I can't see why.
Call me crazy. My Sentry gives me GPS, and I’m connected to it anyway for ADS-B in. I’m never without my iPhone, and it can be used as a hotspot. Has never felt like a kludge. To me the money for GPS/cellular on an iPad is better spent on avgas and beer. 🤣
 
Call me crazy. My Sentry gives me GPS, and I’m connected to it anyway for ADS-B in. I’m never without my iPhone, and it can be used as a hotspot. Has never felt like a kludge. To me the money for GPS/cellular on an iPad is better spent on avgas and beer. 🤣
I would agree if the only use of the iPad was in the airplane. For me, an iPad would never be a primary navigation device nor a permanent part of my panel. Rather, I clip it into my airplane only as a convenient in-cockpit adjunct for running Forefllight...merely a navigation backup tool and when I park the airplane I take it with me. It spends far more time with me at home, in my office, in my car, or in hotel rooms. Fortunately for me, my ability to afford avgas and beer hasn't been affected by the extra $200 for the GPS/cellular versionf7/cellular version of the iPad, nor the cost to add it to my cellular plan.
 
Anyone looking for a cheap bright tablet to run https://www.iflyefb.com/Login or other efb's, take a look at Samsung SM T-280 on https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nk...pe=b&msclkid=bd38e483536e13cf34bd8c9304d7b9f0 for a tablet that works great for less than $50 with gps.

View attachment 86384
What program is that? Avare is what I use on droids, but heard forfight has a droid app now to. i use an ipad mini 4, 128 gig cell version picked up used for $50 and run forflight, but still keep Avare on my phone its awesome for vfr flight and droids all have gps built in so none of that apple crapple must have cell version for gps…. Retarted crapple
 
What program is that? Avare is what I use on droids, but heard forfight has a droid app now to. i use an ipad mini 4, 128 gig cell version picked up used for $50 and run forflight, but still keep Avare on my phone its awesome for vfr flight and droids all have gps built in so none of that apple crapple must have cell version for gps…. Retarted crapple
Here.... https://www.iflyefb.com/ Try it free for 30 days.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CD.
Call me crazy. My Sentry gives me GPS, and I’m connected to it anyway for ADS-B in. I’m never without my iPhone, and it can be used as a hotspot. Has never felt like a kludge. To me the money for GPS/cellular on an iPad is better spent on avgas and beer. 🤣
100% agree!
 
I have the Ipad Mini on a RAM EZ Roller mounted on the Right side of the cockpit just in front of the canopy bow on an RV-8. I find its the perfect size and is easy to use without being in the way. Since I installed my G3X touch panel, I don't use the iPad all that often except as a backup on XC flights where its slightly easier to look up stuff or make changes to the route in Foreflight than on the Garmin panel.

If anyone would like a pic of the setup in the cockpit, I'll be happy to send it.

View attachment 86375
Here's my setup for the mini iPad...
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6967.JPG
    IMG_6967.JPG
    1.8 MB · Views: 75
  • IMG_6968.JPG
    IMG_6968.JPG
    1.8 MB · Views: 70
  • IMG_6969.JPG
    IMG_6969.JPG
    1.8 MB · Views: 58
  • IMG_6970.JPG
    IMG_6970.JPG
    1.5 MB · Views: 46
  • IMG_6971.JPG
    IMG_6971.JPG
    1.6 MB · Views: 68
I have the Ipad Mini on a RAM EZ Roller mounted on the Right side of the cockpit just in front of the canopy bow on an RV-8. I find its the perfect size and is easy to use without being in the way. Since I installed my G3X touch panel, I don't use the iPad all that often except as a backup on XC flights where its slightly easier to look up stuff or make changes to the route in Foreflight than on the Garmin panel.

If anyone would like a pic of the setup in the cockpit, I'll be happy to send it.

View attachment 86375
 
Yes I would l a pic in the cockpit l have a RV9A
And right now I just put the iPad on my lap

thank you
 
Another data point

I just picked up my iPad from the Apple Store today. The woman working there ask if I’m a pilot. I said “yes actually how do you know ?”She said if you order an iPad mini with cellular and maximum memory I know you’re a pilot. lol
 
Back
Top