iPad specific kneeboard

[rob]

I'm thinking about ordering the Pro model kneeboard from mygoflight.com, does anyone have any experience with it? I'm a bit worried about clearance in the cockpit of my vintage Mooney...

[ToddDPT]

My plane partner has it and it is of good build.  He has longer legs and never had a problem in our J regarding clearance.  I'm 5-9 and there is no way I could have used it in the cockpit.  It would definitely get in the way of the yoke.  However, since I purchased a RAM yoke mount for my iPad he never uses the kneeboard anymore.  He prefers the yoke mount.  The yoke mount is just much more useful with easier visibility and easier access to the iPad when having to locate information on it. 

[fantom]

Quote: ToddDPT

The yoke mount is just much more useful with easier visibility and easier access to the iPad when having to locate information on it. 

[ToddDPT]

We have it offset slightly to the right with it in landscape to give better hand access to the yoke. We have it currently mounted in portrait, which I don't have pictures of which makes it easier to see approach plates.  We have perfect visibility of all the instruments and it is not in the way during landing flare, even for my short legs! 

[jetdriven]

Which program is that running?

 

[ToddDPT]

Wing X

[DaV8or]

I use the iPro kneeboard from forpilotsonly.com See how the hinged cover does not go all the way up and fully cover the iPad? You really, really, want this feature in a vintage Mooney and probably all Mooneys. Trust me, the mygoflight Pro will seriously annoy you with it's full cover. It won't clear the yoke without you contorting yourself, or shifting the kneeboard on your leg. As it is, the iPro barely clears the yoke.

I can't speak to the mygoflight Pro, as I've never used it, but I will point out the only squawks I have with the iPro unit.

I have skinny legs and the leg band doesn't do tight enough for my liking as well as it is a bit awkward to fasten. Maybe it's just my decade or more with my trusty old ASA kneeboard.

The pencil holder doesn't grip the pencil tight enough either. They tend to slide out in transit in the flight bag.

I'm not sure if this is a fault of the iPro, or common to all iPad kneeboards, but I have trouble with my iPad 1 overheating and shutting down on occation. I believe it is mostly from direct sunlight exposure, but the placement on your knee contributes I'm sure. There is not a lot of cooling to the back of the iPad and I'm considering drilling more holes in it. What helps, is just not leaving ForeFlight on all the time. The moving map feature is processor intensive and generates lots of heat. I don't use my iPad for primary navigation, so shutting off ForeFlight in flight is fine with me.

Hope this helps.

[lahso]

This is the kneeboard (http://picsupplies.com/) I use that is built for the iPad, and has the straps on the other side for my note pad/pens, etc. I like the big pocket in the front for my external battery and cables. For my use, I turn it upside down with the iPad on the left left leg so I can write with my right hand on the note pad.

Disclaimer: Mike Ladd is a friend of mine, and makes the product.

[Txbyker]

I have the Apple cover on my iPAD 1.  I have a regular kneeboard and took the paper table off and place industrial velcro on the bottom of the iPAD cover and the top of the kneeboard.  Use a large rubber lined chip clip (yes potato chip bag clip) on the iPAD cover to hold charts, paper, etc when the iPAD is closed.  Open the cover and set the iPAD to automatically come on when cover opened mode and it works great with plenty of space.  Just fyi if you want to go the low tech route.

[outermarker]

I too, am thinking/going to move forward and buy an Ipad 2 and learn to use it. The question I have is this. Will the Ipad 2 fit on the yoke? Can I use it on a knee board and have enough room? I have a E model.....

[SpookyTex]

I flew with the iPro Aviator yesterday and had no issues with it fitting. It was tight trying to open and close the clip cover but I managed just fine. Got mine from SkySupply USA and they were excellent to deal with.

[Ned Gravel]

I have put about 7 hours behind my iPad using Foreflight and I will probably go with the AvPad kneeboard system.  It will be able to slip into my briefpack for its other uses and, in the cockpit, puts a writing tablet on my "non-iPad" knee.  I will also be replacing my CX-2 (electronic E6B) with some app or other designed to do the same sort of things.

[lahso]

Quote: edgargravel

I have put about 7 hours behind my iPad using Foreflight and I will probably go with the AvPad kneeboard system...

[GaryP1007]

any updates on what people are using?

[bnicolette]

This is what we are using in our flight department for a case then we have a strap if you want to secure it to your leg.  However, this case does not slide around and we find it to be very stable without securing it.  We needed to have a strap to satisfy the Feds, but it is really not needed.

http://www.gumdropcases.com/drop-series-ipad-2-case.html

Note that this case has a strong plastic cover over the screen as well so the entire iPad is protected.  The touch screen is seemless with the screen cover over it and you can't even tell the difference.  Awesome product.

[jnisley]

I have the Ram yoke mount, with universal holder, it works good.

One thing to consider when buying mounts/kneeboards/cases is cooling, on my last trip (April) I had my iPad 3 overheat and shut down briefly (1-2 minutes) about three hours into the flight, it was cool (upper 30s) so I had cabin heat on, but the sun was shining directly on the iPad and it got quite warm. To cool it off I removed the Apple smart cover, opened the pilots side vent and adjusted my visor so the ipad was shaded, it cooled off quickly. I flew a lot of trips with my iPad 1 and never had it overheat, it seem like the iPad 3 runs hotter then the iPad 1 but the processor is faster.

[Bolter]

Quote: jnisley

I have the Ram yoke mount, with universal holder, it works good.

One thing to consider when buying mounts/kneeboards/cases is cooling, on my last trip (April) I had my iPad 3 overheat and shut down briefly (1-2 minutes) about three hours into the flight, it was cool (upper 30s) so I had cabin heat on, but the sun was shining directly on the iPad and it got quite warm. To cool it off I removed the Apple smart cover, opened the pilots side vent and adjusted my visor so the ipad was shaded, it cooled off quickly. I flew a lot of trips with my iPad 1 and never had it overheat, it seem like the iPad 3 runs hotter then the iPad 1 but the processor is faster.

[DaV8or]

My iPad 1 has shut down several times due to heat. The cause as I have identified is, higher ambient temperature, like in the summer, direct sunlight hitting it and running foreflight on the moving map constantly.

Nothing I can do about the summer, but this is the strategy I have developed and works so far. Turn it off when I'm not actually using it and keep the flip over cover on my kneeboard covering it to shade it when I not using it. I only use my iPad the same way I used to use the sectional and airport directorys. I don't use it for navigation. It's fun to watch the little airplane skoot along the sectional, but I really don't need it, so I have to remember to shut it off each time.