Ways to Mount iPad in the Cockpit?

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giaviv

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giaviv
Hey,

I am looking for a creative way to mount an iPad (ForeFlight) in relatively small cockpits (152's and 172's). I am 6 foot tall, and when I use it as a kneeboard, I find it hard to have full travel range of the yoke (specifically when elevator back pressure and a left ailerons are applied together).
Any creative ideas on mounting iPads to the cockpit? Perhaps a windshield mount of sorts? Or maybe a yoke mount (isn't the iPad too big to be mounted on a Cessna yoke?)?

Thanks!
 
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I think the iPad (along with the other tablets) is just a little too big for the cockpit. Really needs to be about 75% the size it is.
 
i agree with you, but for the foreflight capabilities you get on a barely IFR equipped 40 year old plane its definitely worth it, to me at least. if nothing else, for the awesome plates feature.
 
There are other options besides foreflight. Don't drink the KoolAid.
 
well i already have an iPad and a ForeFlight subscription and i AM interested in using, so any suggestion on how to mount it would be very appreciated, thanks
 
Aviv, check out RAM yoke mount. I'm using it in C172 - no problem. It fits right in, doesn't cover any instruments and located right in front of you so you can see all the details. http://www.ram-mount.com/Products/AviationMounts/tabid/108/Default.aspx
For the size - I don't see any problem here. Smaller device will be hard to see and control using touch interface. Software wise I prefer WingX for various reasons. Don't want to make it yet another FF vs WingX thread :). Give it a try - it comes with one month fully functional trial period.
 
I have a RAM mount (yoke) for my IPAD in my 182. I am using foreflight pro w external GPS. AMAZING-all I can say. I also use a kneeboard, the only way I see it being a problem is if you were doing aerobatics.
 
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I ended up with the RAM glareshield mount, and it's worked fine in the 172/182 so far.

If I decide I'd rather mount it with a suction cup, I can buy that part separately; the rest of the components are interchangeable.
 
I mount my GPS with a RAM suction cup mount, and I'm really pleased with it. I let my instructor use it once, and the next time we flew together he had already got one for himself. I imagine their iP* mounts are equally good.
 
Having been out of flying for 15 years, I was amazed at the capabilities of the IPAD/Foreflight GPS system. Also bought the Bad Elf GPS.

I first used Velcro on the yoke. Worked so so. I just recieved my RAM yoke mount. Mounted it yesterday. Have yet to fly with it but it appears to fit nicely. The price seems very reasonable. My only negative would be the GPS will only mount on the bottom with this mount. Jury is out as to weather it will recieve.

Great Product for a great price. I recently flew from Ohio to California.
I was amazed at the number of pilots at each FBO that were carrying their ipad around. Seems like a main staple of flying these days.
 
here you go my 182
 

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Does the RAM system require you to extract your iPad2 from any carrying case you might have?

I have the Otterbox Defender case (and like it). Can RAM (or other system) permit mounting without removing from the case?

Was thinking about the suction cup system. So I could mount that in the "zone" where the left glareshield meets the side windscreen on the Warrior I'm renting. Anyone have experience with something like this?
 
AggieMike88 said:
Does the RAM system require you to extract your iPad2 from any carrying case you might have?

I have the Otterbox Defender case (and like it). Can RAM (or other system) permit mounting without removing from the case?

Was thinking about the suction cup system. So I could mount that in the "zone" where the left glareshield meets the side windscreen on the Warrior I'm renting. Anyone have experience with something like this?
Click to expand...

They have a mount for those that want to keep their iPad in a bumper or sleeve.

Start here:

http://www.ram-mount.com/Products/AviationMounts/tabid/108/Default.aspx

Pick from the drop down boxes (APPLE, then "ALL IPADS WITH BUMPER/SKIN/CASE"), it's pretty self-explanatory from there.
 
Just a "ditto" on RAM mounts. I've used the yoke and the suction cup in my 182.

I bought a "kit" of the yoke mount and standard arm from GPSCity. I think I'll switch to the short arm eventually.

I like putting it on the pax side yoke best, so far.
 
"Here honey, hold this." works for me.
 
I also have (and suggest) a RAM mount. I fly both yoke (C182) and stick (DA40) airplanes, so I bought the parts to do both yoke mount and suction cup mount. Here's what I've got:

1) Yoke Clamp Base with 1" Rubber Ball and 1/4-20" Tap for Camera or Video
2) 3.25" Diameter Suction Cup Twist Lock Base with 1" Ball
3) Double 1" Ball Adapter
4) "B" (Medium) Arm
5) "A" (Short) Arm
6) iPad Cradle
7) Two 2.5" 2.5" Round Base with the AMPs Hole Pattern & 1" Ball

Obviously I'm not using the suction cup and the yoke mount at the same time, but all the rest of the parts are in use. Here's a top view of it mounted in the DA40 which shows the double-ball connector and both arms:

attachment.php


Having two arms and the double-ball connector allows for a lot more positioning flexibility, so it works in both the DA40 and the yoked airplanes as well as my car.

In the 182, I use the yoke clamp, then run one arm from that towards me, and then the ball and the second arm allow for it to "bend" down over the front of the yoke so that the iPad is centered better.

Here's some pictures of it in the airplane:

attachment.php

attachment.php

attachment.php


andybean said:
My only negative would be the GPS will only mount on the bottom with this mount. Jury is out as to weather it will recieve.
Click to expand...

I actually mount mine upside down. The iPad really doesn't care, it'll rotate the screen around, the only difference is that the home button will be on top.

AggieMike88 said:
Does the RAM system require you to extract your iPad2 from any carrying case you might have?

I have the Otterbox Defender case (and like it). Can RAM (or other system) permit mounting without removing from the case?

Was thinking about the suction cup system. So I could mount that in the "zone" where the left glareshield meets the side windscreen on the Warrior I'm renting. Anyone have experience with something like this?
Click to expand...

See above. ;)

As for the OtterBox, RAM was going to have a specific cradle for the OtterBox, but there's nothing on their site about that any more. However, all you need to do is get this cradle instead of the standard iPad cradle I linked to above.
 
Thanks!!

The photos of the DA40 help answer my questions too. I have access to DA20's which is a similar canopy. And the center photo is similar to what I want to do when flying the Warrior.

And the "Tab-Tite" cradle appears like it will fit the OtterBox frame/bumper setup. Now that I know which product to refer to, I'll email them and ask.
 
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Also, it's interesting you "holster" your iPad upside down. I was thinking of doing the same. This would put the headphone jack at the bottom, permitting a simpler connection to my Lightspeeds.

Nice big screen, moving maps, ForeFlight, music, GPS... no wonder the iPad is changing recreational GA flying!
 
Is the internal GPS antenna at the top or the bottom of the iPad?

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
 
flyingcheesehead said:
As for the OtterBox, RAM was going to have a specific cradle for the OtterBox, but there's nothing on their site about that any more. However, all you need to do is get this cradle instead of the standard iPad cradle I linked to above.
Click to expand...

I've heard the RAM Tab-Tite cradle is a VERY tight fit with the new Defender for iPad 2, so I'm holding off for a bit to see if a modified version is released.
 
MSPAviator said:
Like what? I'm not the biggest fan of Apple, but I may end up buying an iPad primarily for Foreflight.
Click to expand...

See post #6 in this thread. WingX has one month fully functional trial period. Check it out. :yesnod:
 
TangoWhiskey said:
Is the internal GPS antenna at the top or the bottom of the iPad?

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

The antenna is dead center in the case backside behind the Apple logo (at least on the iPad1). Of course, there's no "top" or "bottom". The iPad screen will flip to any of the four orientations being the top.
 
MSPAviator said:
Like what? I'm not the biggest fan of Apple, but I may end up buying an iPad primarily for Foreflight.
Click to expand...

Compare the pricing and nearly identical features of the Android based ASUS Transformer Tablet and Naviator. You can save hundreds of dollars off the hardware, and pay less than half the subscription price for the software.

And its sleeker, and it performs better, and it has better features.

Don't get sucked in by the iName. Do the research, and you'll be happier in the long run.
 
flyingron said:
"Here honey, hold this." works for me.
Click to expand...

+1.

I don't understand the desire to block the view out the window or weigh down the yoke. I pick it up, look at it, then set it back down.
 
SkyHog said:
Compare the pricing and nearly identical features of the Android based ASUS Transformer Tablet and Naviator. You can save hundreds of dollars off the hardware, and pay less than half the subscription price for the software.

And its sleeker, and it performs better, and it has better features.

Don't get sucked in by the iName. Do the research, and you'll be happier in the long run.
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don't get sucked in by the Ihaters, that tablet has been out about how long 1 week? so I would say it is not very proven, however the ipad works very well (ask any pilot who uses one)
 
dennyleeb said:
don't get sucked in by the Ihaters, that tablet has been out about how long 1 week? so I would say it is not very proven, however the ipad works very well (ask any pilot who uses one)
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I've had my tablet for about a month now. I got it about a month after it came out.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Does the RAM system require you to extract your iPad2 from any carrying case you might have?

I have the Otterbox Defender case (and like it). Can RAM (or other system) permit mounting without removing from the case?

Was thinking about the suction cup system. So I could mount that in the "zone" where the left glareshield meets the side windscreen on the Warrior I'm renting. Anyone have experience with something like this?
Click to expand...

I tried it in the cherokee with little success. If I mounted it on the side window corner, it was either too close to my head (dangerous) or it blocked most of the instruments. OK for VFR, not good for IFR. No matter where I tried it (including right side yoke) it blocked something I needed.

On the other hand, since I fly with the 196 on the yoke, an iPad really isn't an important flight item for me.
 
SkyHog said:
I've had my tablet for about a month now. I got it about a month after it came out.
Click to expand...

so like i said, about a week compared to the extensive time and testing of the ipad
 
dennyleeb said:
so like i said, about a week compared to the extensive time and testing of the ipad
Click to expand...

iPad2 release date: 3/11/2011
Motorola Xoom Release date (first 3.0 tablet): 2/17/2011

Since then, Android devices have gotten less expensive and more impressive. Sounds like using your litmus of "time in market," the Android Tablets are a better choice for any aviator...
 
SkyHog said:
Compare the pricing and nearly identical features of the Android based ASUS Transformer Tablet and Naviator. You can save hundreds of dollars off the hardware, and pay less than half the subscription price for the software.
Click to expand...

Nick, you're not comparing apples to apples.

From what I can tell online, Naviator doesn't even have the option of georeferenced approach plates. Without that feature, ForeFlight's subscription is $75/year. So, "less than half" is not true.

I have yet to play with Naviator, but by looking at their whopping 7-page user manual, quite a few online reviews and other sites, Naviator still falls WELL short of not only ForeFlight but the other offerings available on the iPad.

Don't get sucked in by the iName. Do the research, and you'll be happier in the long run.
Click to expand...

In your non-Apple-hating, unbiased opinion of course. :rolleyes:

For aviation uses, if you do the research, I'm quite confident that anyone who's not a major Apple-hater will choose the iPad and probably ForeFlight given the current offerings on both platforms.
 
SkyHog said:
iPad2 release date: 3/11/2011
Motorola Xoom Release date (first 3.0 tablet): 2/17/2011

Since then, Android devices have gotten less expensive and more impressive. Sounds like using your litmus of "time in market," the Android Tablets are a better choice for any aviator...
Click to expand...

Completely ignoring the fact that the iPad is already on its second generation and has been out for well over a year... And it's built on top of the foundation laid by the iPhone which has been out since 2007.
 
SkyHog said:
iPad2 release date: 3/11/2011
Motorola Xoom Release date (first 3.0 tablet): 2/17/2011

Since then, Android devices have gotten less expensive and more impressive. Sounds like using your litmus of "time in market," the Android Tablets are a better choice for any aviator...
Click to expand...

ipad 2 lol
ipad 1 april 2010 pretty much a full year before
you would not make a very good lawyer (just givin you a hard time on that) but seriously
 
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dennyleeb said:
ipad 2 lol
ipad 1 april 2010 pretty much a full year before
you would not make a very good lawyer (just givin you a hard time on that) but seriously
Click to expand...

The first Android Tablet was the Archos 70 (from my recollection), which launched in November 2010. If you want to go back to legacy hardware, they're still not that far apart.
 
SkyHog said:
The first Android Tablet was the Archos 70 (from my recollection), which launched in November 2010. If you want to go back to legacy hardware, they're still not that far apart.
Click to expand...

so the original ipad is now "legacy" hardware, LOL:rofl:
you make a good comedian I will give you that
 
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Nick as anti-apple as I am, you look like a madman with a shovel right now.
 
EdFred said:
Nick as anti-apple as I am, you look like a madman with a shovel right now.
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I don't see how claiming that a device that is about as old as another device (in tech years, a few months is not a big difference) has been around long enough to ditch the "New and non-reliable" argument makes me a madman.

Plain and simple fact: Android is much, much cheaper, and will do the same if not more things than the iPad. There's literally no reason for an aviator to pick the iPad over an Android tablet at this point, unless you use ForeFlight (and not the featureset of ForeFlight) as the only reason.
 
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