I-pad Mini installation on Yoke

[M20F-1968]

I promised pictures of the installation I use currently of my I-pad.  After auditioning a bunch of Magic flexible arms, I settled on the Manfrotto Magic arm and super clamp.  They are Italian made, and expensive, but much much better than their Chinese knock-offs.  Also pictured is a cooling base which I just added.  It needs the My-Go-Flight adapted.

John Breda

[Bob E]

For what it's worth, I couldn't find any commercially-available iPad mounts that I liked, so I fashioned a couple myself, using old Garmin GPS yoke mounts plus metal bookends, and a spring clamp at the top of each with duct tape to pad it. I've used them for about five years now.  In hot weather /direct sun I take the iPads out of their cases.

[Echo]

I can see why that’s expensive. It seems super over engineered for what it is doing. My ram mount was inexpensive and does exactly what I wanted to do without fuss. Enjoy.

[Max Clark]

3 hours ago, Echo said:

I can see why that’s expensive. It seems super over engineered for what it is doing. My ram mount was inexpensive and does exactly what I wanted to do without fuss. Enjoy.

I have the ram mount as well, simple to install and does the job perfect for me.

[Pinecone]

I am using RAM also.  Yoke clamp, arm with a rotating joint in the middle and the iPad holder.

[BDPetersen]

Do you have a list of Manfrotto parts you used?

[M20F-1968]

20 hours ago, BDPetersen said:

Do you have a list of Manfrotto parts you used?

As I recall, the Magic Arm came in two lengths.  It has a threaded end which threads into the Super Clamp.  

Just but what seems right from a source that accepts returns (returnable e-bay merchant, Amazon, etc...)

John Breda

[LANCECASPER]

When I used an iPad (11"or mini) the best solution of all of the ones I tried for me was the simplest - the Steelie. I stuck the ball to the center piece on the yoke. I still use the Steelie to put my iPhone Pro Max on the co-pilot's yoke to monitor Foreflight. 

https://www.amazon.com/Nite-Ize-Original-Steelie-Mount/dp/B00BAQKRHY/ref=sr_1_4?crid=245OXQFYXUBWW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FGshYnA6ZYvhN2SCyIYp7tNUhWb3pOfoN5SgTsxIu4fm4jQeFiaTNrw9G4EdGjtBMnlYQcY3L69aBpMbpPISqvZAf5YYJRvobCGKOp5VyvrjwP_8kfWv7bldpOkq8KLnLF1kO0k917JupZibp-7ahwKaCCCKditFDgc7IQJ_d9MEVi8XVVieR_yna2_Bb2awicVIUSHfehZpWh6nfpCI4xmnTVkviJxHqSe9Btii164.o72BMDvhlSNA5ABdlzdTdIrOGSAEcFHvk3ATQsTVqYM&dib_tag=se&keywords=steelie+phone+magnet&qid=1728392184&sprefix=steelie%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-4

[dkkim73]

1 hour ago, M20F-1968 said:

Just but what seems right from a source that accepts returns (returnable e-bay merchant, Amazon, etc...)

 

Or find a local camera shop, most good shops should carry Manfrotto stuff (very high quality and useful). Eg. Glazer's in Seattle has anything imaginable, and even rents gear if you really wanted to trial a bunch of different solutions. We got all sorts of pieces-parts for a few industrial machine vision proofs-of-concept a few years ago there. 

@LANCECASPER does the Steelie hold the iPad securely? I'm going to switch my setup around a bit and try a quick-detach for the iPad on the pilot's yoke where my Aera 760 sits now (using the RAM solution Don described a while back). 

I was planning to put a Pivot mount (since I have a Pivot case already). The Pivot knee strap on the off leg works ok, but is just a smidge too crowded even with the mini. 
D

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, dkkim73 said:

Or find a local camera shop, most good shops should carry Manfrotto stuff (very high quality and useful). Eg. Glazer's in Seattle has anything imaginable, and even rents gear if you really wanted to trial a bunch of different solutions. We got all sorts of pieces-parts for a few industrial machine vision proofs-of-concept a few years ago there. 

@LANCECASPER does the Steelie hold the iPad securely? I'm going to switch my setup around a bit and try a quick-detach for the iPad on the pilot's yoke where my Aera 760 sits now (using the RAM solution Don described a while back). 

I was planning to put a Pivot mount (since I have a Pivot case already). The Pivot knee strap on the off leg works ok, but is just a smidge too crowded even with the mini. 
D

The Steelie held an iPad fine and holds my 6.9” phone fine as well.

I also use a Steelie in each vehicle: 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Nite-Ize-Windshield-Universal-Compatible/dp/B0BRDCY488/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2ACAYOBVATEZX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2_0hoSLpnRYEISAd0CjP7j9PUWjN1Cleq-wRPIIKIg_Nc6fSjvxGWtVpC_CIRLVsVO3VH6qFlsgOAwKjrf3mHZXsuFFtmTKbXPsxU4X--FURXyq9gsKkl_o8FXY-pyxKqc4x2higQurCuzN6x81HxTgBasBnb6seAhNhH2wO7UQgB9xkeJ9us_1SdtlBfGQoy9DQXucA2CjIvsRR7ubhxysjfjyMPvZ8GicbPky2Th4vHpBO7hHCuTNMAJBxIBu-Ix099v0ivUgjmzsbCtKiKo8YcL_Y4c_LrN3YPBcu7tk.jqIxrGkpBu1Iz9LkiS2UhbnmSHo9m7iSs1NsXTV474Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=Steele%2Bcar&qid=1728401223&sprefix=steele%2Bcar%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-6&th=1

[dkkim73]

I bet I could add the ring on the Pivot mount in parallel with the Pivot clip. Food for thought. 

Does it cause more magnetic havoc than a vacuum cleaner?  In some seriousness I do wonder about such strong magnets around credit cards, non-RF gate and fuel cards, etc, not to mention the mag compass. 

 

[dkkim73]

Circling back here after doing some work yesterday and seeing some parallel thoughts on a iPad Mini 6-v-7 thread. 

Procured

-Pivot Mount with a hose clamp (meant for yokes)

-MyGoFlight articulating clamp arm 

Photos from trial here. One of my main concerns is staying out of the way of other stuff, especially the gear switch which is very close in this plane (see right), but also not obscuring the map light or interfering with TKS or boost switches. 

It took a bit of monkeying to keep it far enough to not interfere with my grip of the left yoke horn, bury the end of the hose clamp back in the rubber, get the angles right, but it feels pretty firm. The friction around the final ball-joint with the mounting plate is easily adjustable, and so it's easy to turn the iPad from landscape to portrait as needed (photos with iPad to gauge degree of obscuration of the PFD). 

I'm going to try this for a couple flights, since I tend to use Foreflight most after the MFD (e.g. plates, checking glide ring). It overlaps the PFD more than I would like, but is easy to tilt or rotate out of the way. My other pathway right now is a yoke mount (see next post). 

HTH

D

[dkkim73]

The other option (besides my RAM mount) is trying the much-recommended MyGoFlight clamp mount. Unfortunately, this one did not come with the PIVOT adapter as I'd thought, but that is available and allows use of both systems easily. 

This unit is actually pretty nicely-made as well, seems more solid than it looks. The only way I could mount it without potential interference with the landing gear lever was to offset the rotation (up and to the left). I may get the plate adapter and trial this one. Using a split-ring clamp (mentioned on another thread) would also work well and would be a better permanent solution I think. 

Anyone use these under the yoke? (I would probably try routing to the left to avoid the map light). 

 

 

 

[dkkim73]

It also occured to me to get a mount (standard ball, PIVOT, MyGoFlight plate) and come up with a way to mount it right at yoke center. E.g. a strap system, could even by zip-ties, or an X-shaped arrangement of bands. It would have to sit far out enough ("proud") to allow clearance of an iPad, but would be simpler once done. 

[bigmo]

@LANCECASPER I’ve not seen the setup you shared - looks like a flexible option. I’ve got 201 yokes with what I think is a nice flat area on top. Do you think a top of yoke mount will provide enough pivot angle?

[PT20J]

Using the RAM parts I listed above

[Ned Gravel]

2 hours ago, PT20J said:

Using the RAM parts I listed above

My solution too.  

[LANCECASPER]

On 11/15/2024 at 10:51 AM, bigmo said:

[mention=8122]LANCECASPER[/mention] I’ve not seen the setup you shared - looks like a flexible option. I’ve got 201 yokes with what I think is a nice flat area on top. Do you think a top of yoke mount will provide enough pivot angle?

I use a Aera 760 on the pilot’s yoke now, but still have my Steelie there


My co-pilot’s yoke its a great place to keep my phone, which isn’t much smaller than the iPad mini I used to have. I like the simplicity and versatility of the Steelie and I have one in each vehicle. I have never had a device fall off of it.

[dkkim73]

@LANCECASPER That Steelie is super-compact. Is it just affixed with adhesive, then? Does the magnet live in the ball? (thinking about iPad or phone being near credit cards at times)

My weakness is a tendency to infinitely trial gadgets. 

I flew with the Aera 760 a lot early on using the RAM system and under-mounting it, with data few from the GTX345R. Using the assortment of parts Don recommended. I found I was entering flight plans in 3 different units and recently have been keeping the Aera in my bag as a backup should something happen to the G1000. Concentrating on using the G1000 as much as possible, and Foreflight for plates, glide ring, and downloaded briefing which I've rarely had to dig back out. Since you (Lance) have a G1000 plane as well, what is your "flow" with the Aera 760. Is it just a backup for 2D SA and FIS-B data? 

Thanks,

David

[LANCECASPER]

8 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

@LANCECASPER That Steelie is super-compact. Is it just affixed with adhesive, then? Does the magnet live in the ball? (thinking about iPad or phone being near credit cards at times)

My weakness is a tendency to infinitely trial gadgets. 

I flew with the Aera 760 a lot early on using the RAM system and under-mounting it, with data few from the GTX345R. Using the assortment of parts Don recommended. I found I was entering flight plans in 3 different units and recently have been keeping the Aera in my bag as a backup should something happen to the G1000. Concentrating on using the G1000 as much as possible, and Foreflight for plates, glide ring, and downloaded briefing which I've rarely had to dig back out. Since you (Lance) have a G1000 plane as well, what is your "flow" with the Aera 760. Is it just a backup for 2D SA and FIS-B data? 

Thanks,

David

The adhesive they use is the 3M double side trim adhesive tape. The ball is steel (Steelie), so not magnetic,  and the magnet is the red part of what goes on the back of the device - it doesn't affect the device nor does it affect my compass.

I like the Aera 760 and my GDL52 as a redundancy to my G1000. I like the approach plates on the 760 much better than on the G1000, so I won't get plates on my next G1000 subscription. I set up my flight plan on the G1000 and then early during the flight when its not busy set up the flight plan in the 760. I have my fields on the map set up just the way I want them on the 760. I don't believe I'll ever be able to get the 760 to transfer a flight plan to the G1000, but everything I've read says I should be able to get the avionics shop to wire in the flight plan to the 760. The next time I have avionics work done I'll explore that. I also like to use the 760 for "what if" planning during enroute. I keep Foreflight on my iPhone 16 Pro Max to file flight plans on the ground and as a backup for approach plates.

Since SXM weather is more comprehensive than XM weather I'll probably move my weather subscription from the G1000 to the GDL52/Aera 760. I'll leave my XM music subscription on the G1000.

[Danb]

On 11/15/2024 at 7:24 PM, PT20J said:

Using the RAM parts I listed above

Exactly my setup, easy using old ram mounts