Pen holder

[Brandontwalker]

13 hours ago, 201er said:

I was thinking of using a stick on magnet on the glareshield but most of them are two weak and the ones that are strong enough are swinging the compass from feet away!

But these plastic grabber things seem like an excellent idea! I use a combo pen/stylus. Mostly the stylus for domestic flights and the pen for international cause there is more paper involved.

I used to clip it to my shoulder harness but got sick of having it fall off and get under the seats when I'd need to copy a clearance.

I know the feeling with the magnets.  I wanted to use one of the magnetic vent cell phone holders, but have a sneaking suspicion that it will effectively lock the compass in place.

[Brandontwalker]

1 hour ago, gsxrpilot said:

Done. I've ordered a pack of 25 Black. 5 of them go to Chuck. If anyone else wants one or a few, let me know.

I am in, but only need one.

[201er]

After FAA certification, you can sell those pen holders to pilots for $150 each and even make a buck or two per unit! 

[Hank]

Here's the Walmart one on the right side of the panel, visible over Mom's shoulder; the outside is black, to blend in with the panel, the center part that grips the pen is blue. On my side, it's on the pillar beside the old microphone mount.

These are what I write with now; the bottom one is pushing six years old and is black, the other one gets much less use and is blue. Both have stylus tips on the end for phone & tablet use. I kept them because they have problems and weren't good enough to sell. I keep free pens in the plane, but seem to always have one of these with me, too.

[DXB]

Brad - this works perfectly for me.  You need a convenient spot to clip to your instrument panel edge or an interior panel.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015UC43V4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[gsxrpilot]

1 hour ago, Brandontwalker said:

I know the feeling with the magnets.  I wanted to use one of the magnetic vent cell phone holders, but have a sneaking suspicion that it will effectively lock the compass in place.

I'm using one in the center of my yoke and it doesn't seem to affect the compass at all.

[Danb]

Ditto Mike except Foreflight. I also use the Pocket Pen suctioned to pilot side window.

[Hector]

Is anyone using a really good stylus they would recommend? I have some of the pen/stylus combos but they are not great. Looking for something that writes more like a true pen/pencil with thin lines instead of the typical stylus with a thick rubber bulb. I was looking at the "53" pencil and it has good reviews. Anyone using one of those?

[Hank]

Mine works well, but I type / work phone more than scribble with it. The stylus is on one end, a ball point on the other. It's wonderful for making gloved phone calls in northern windows. I made it after having to take my glove off outdoors in 18°F darkness to make a call . . .

[midlifeflyer]

10 hours ago, Hector said:

Is anyone using a really good stylus they would recommend? I have some of the pen/stylus combos but they are not great. Looking for something that writes more like a true pen/pencil with thin lines instead of the typical stylus with a thick rubber bulb. I was looking at the "53" pencil and it has good reviews. Anyone using one of those?

I still use a rubber bulb stylus but, FWIW,

I was an early adopter of writing on a tablet and still love it. I take notes at meetings and conferences and make and keep records. Argued in favor of it in flight on aviation forums.

But in flight I have gone back to pen and paper; even bought a new strap fior my 20+ year old kneeboard :D. I simply found that for making a short note, a new frequency, an amended clearance, etc, It was just easier to drop my hand down and just write without looking except for a glance for a clear spot, than to tap or slide to a new tablet view, confirm I have the right view, make the note (during which I and I've heard others, look at what they are writing to make sure it was captured, and tap or slide back to my map or chart view.

BTW, I doubt that's my final word on the subject since I tend to go back and forth mentally on this.

 

[201er]

1 hour ago, midlifeflyer said:

But in flight I have gone back to pen and paper; even bought a new strap fior my 20+ year old kneeboard :D. I simply found that for making a short note, a new frequency, an amended clearance, etc, It was just easier to drop my hand down and just write without looking except for a glance for a clear spot, than to tap or slide to a new tablet view, confirm I have the right view, make the note

Perhaps you have old knob radios?

 

For me, there is barely any writing to do in the first place.

Frequency change - I tune the standby and flip

Squawk code - type it straight into the parrot

Altitude assignment - Spin the wheels on my altitude reminder

Altimeter setting - Set in colesman window

Weather - Even if I am listening to it over the radio for AWOS/ATIS, I usually already saw it in advance and have it written in the ADSB weather! All I need is the ATIS code and maybe active runway. So I scribble the letter on the approach plate or airport diagram on the iPad. I circle the number on the assigned runway and jot any other essential notes like wind or altimeter setting in the empty space on the diagram or plate. Meanwhile, I have more weather and notable information stored in the iPad then I can possibly need.

Taxi clearance - If its more than I can remember, having the airport diagram open, I just draw the taxi clearance on the diagram all the way as they say it.

VOR check - I open a back page of the notes section and certify my VOR check. Plenty of time when doing this in cruise.

IFR clearance - Clearance is expected so I have notes page already opened. I can go to split screen later if I need to input waypoints from notes to the map.

Cleared direct to X - when I get a shortcut, I just hit direct to that waypoint on the 430. Nothing to write down.

IFR reroute - By the time ATC finishes saying the dreaded words "I have an amendment to your routing, advise when ready to copy," I am already flipping to an empty notes page and reaching for my stylus. I am usually replying that I am ready within seconds of the transmission. But up till now, as us the subject of this thread, my biggest hindrance had been having my stylus pen fall down between the seats! I'm going to try those pen holders to alleviate this problem.

When I am flying international, I end up having a lot more paper anyway. Some places I go there is nothing to see on the iPad at all! No moving map, no diagrams, no plates! So I end up reverting to paper for everything else and then it is easier to stick to writing on paper. Some places, like flying to Canada, force me to use alternate software such as FltPlan Go or Foreflight. Those are less familiar to me and not as effective as WingX so I end up using paper for notes as well.

However, flying in the US, I can go for months and months without having any paper cross my cockpit. By inputting things straight into where they are needed or using the ability to take notes right on plates/diagrams, I'm really never caught unprepared to copy information!

[midlifeflyer]

On 12/1/2016 at 9:32 AM, 201er said:

Perhaps you have old knob radios?

Nope. Have done everything you mention. As I said, early adopter and early proponent. Actually, you sound like me in a post 2-3 years ago.

Gone back and forth on it for the 5+ years I've used an EFB. I just find it easier for me these days.  And I tend not to get fixed in my ways on minor things like this or think those who want to do something different than I are wrong.

[Bob_Belville]

I only recently added an Android tablet to my flying gear. I have FS 510 so tablet makes nice sharing i/o with the 750 and GDL 88. But I don't find it useful, in fact it's a distraction, during departure. At a towered field I scribble info from clearance delivery on the back of the FltPlan sheet or if I have not printed one out I use a handy pad of paper. The tablet is wifi/bluetooth synced to the 750 right after engine start but it is set aside until I'm at cruise. 

[flyboy0681]

On 11/30/2016 at 0:38 PM, KSMooniac said:

I still prefer pad and paper for recording times, clearances, wx, etc. so I still use my truly old lap desk/knee board. It used to hold a tablet too, but last year I gave in and moved to a yoke mount.

 

Same story here. And you'll always find me flying with a shirt that has a pocket.

[Piloto]

And when you don't have a shirt pocket you can always use your ears.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Pencil+Behind+Ear&FORM=IDMHDL

José

[midlifeflyer]

On 12/1/2016 at 10:24 PM, Bob_Belville said:

I only recently added an Android tablet to my flying gear. I have FS 510 so tablet makes nice sharing i/o with the 750 and GDL 88. But I don't find it useful, in fact it's a distraction, during departure. At a towered field I scribble info from clearance delivery on the back of the FltPlan sheet or if I have not printed one out I use a handy pad of paper. The tablet is wifi/bluetooth synced to the 750 right after engine start but it is set aside until I'm at cruise. 

We all discover our system, sometimes over the course of a long period. I use a yoke mount but, even there, my tablet is off, or at least dimmed, for extended periods of time during a flight. 

LOL! I guess I should have added "turn tablet back on" to my earlier list of tasks to accomplish when getting that amended clearance.

[201er]

Thanks guys for the suggestions in this topic. Solved my pen problem and got it mounted conveniently but inconspicuously! I decided not to mount it on the panel or the window frame. This position worked out even better!

Edited December 5, 2016 by 201er

[flyboy0681]

 

11 minutes ago, 201er said:

Thanks guys for the suggestions in this topic. Solved my pen problem and got it mounted conveniently but inconspicuously! I decided not to mount it on the panel or the window frame. This position worked out even better!

 

We can see more details on the new interior. Enquiring minds want to know, such as where it was done.