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

[Gone]

2 hours ago, PT20J said:

Using the RAM parts I listed above

My solution too.