Flying with Full Sized/11" iPad

[bigmo]

4 hours ago, Pinecone said:

Yes, G3X Touch.

You can do the Map as Track Up, but not the "chart" view.

Garmin decided this since the  writing on Sectional cannot be made to rotate to be readable.   But the same applies to the paper ones

They must have decided that it's ok for experimental versions but not certified - or certified is several iterations behind. I recall that build update in 2024, so maybe it's coming to certified soon-ish. I did find it pretty distracting trying to turn my head to read things lol.

[midlifeflyer]

9 hours ago, PT20J said:

Also, you can only load the IFR and VFR charts for one region at a time on the G3X. Found this out when flying to Canada. You have to manually switch regions even if you have a subscription to more than one region and have more than one region downloaded to the G3X. 

That’s interesting. That may be an another reason for my SOP continuing to use my EFB as my primary chart reference regardless of the equipment in the airplane. 

[GeeBee]

To the extent possible, I have learned to use my G1000 MFD to replace the iPad and have found 99% of the time, I don't need the iPad. So it sits stored and ready in the cup holder. Did I say cup holder? Yes, I designed a better one that holds the Ipad

 

[midlifeflyer]

23 minutes ago, GeeBee said:

To the extent possible, I have learned to use my G1000 MFD to replace the iPad and have found 99% of the time, I don't need the iPad. So it sits stored and ready in the cup holder. Did I say cup holder? Yes, I designed a better one that holds the Ipad

I love the cup holder. 

I don't put it away, but I do turn off my EFB when I don't currently want/need it for something. And techniques vary a lot in terms of what to display.  All is good so long as it works for the pilot.  I don't care either way enroute (when I often turn my EFB screen off), but personally, when flying an approach with a G1000, I prefer the MFD display on the left to the one on the right because of the clear depiction of "what's next?" both laterally and vertically.  (FWIW, I think that "what's next?" anticipation is the single most perishable instrument skill.)

 

[Coachella Bravo]

On 2/26/2025 at 4:02 PM, MikeOH said:

I fly with a full sized iPad in my lap, just like I used to with paper charts.  No mount at all.

Does the lap position work for you reading Foreliight approach plates?

[MikeOH]

2 minutes ago, Coachella Bravo said:

Does the lap position work for you reading Foreliight approach plates?

Yes. I turn it vertical and lock the screen to keep it from rotating.

[Bob E]

My son and I like the iPad minis, which we have for both pilot and copilot positions.  The advantgage of having approach plates and all other ForeFlight info literally at your fingertips at all times, being able to zoom etc. without even moving your hands off the yoke, is preferable to anything displayed on the panel, at least for us. 

 

[RescueMunchkin]

I use a yoke mounted Samsung android 10.9" tablet on all my flights. I have a 6 pack and have to lean to see my heading indicator but don't really use the heading indicator much.  I'd prefer to use my iPad mini 6 but it overheated and shut off on me once on a long XC so I switched to the Android. I use the free fltplan go software and mainly have it for ads-b traffic and weather visualization as well as sectional/ifr chart quick reference and chart supplements.  Georeferenced plates and airport diagrams are also free with fltplan go.

[Bigdaddie]

On 2/27/2025 at 9:36 PM, 65MooneyPilot said:

I bought a Mini plus a pivot case and mount it to the side window. It does not block the instrument panel and not much of the outside view. You can remove it quickly if you need to. 

This is where I mount my iPad Pro.  I only use it in cruise.  I take it down for takeoff and landing to improve the visability.

[Bigdaddie]

I have two G500txis and a GTN750txi.  I rarely have to reference the iPad.  I did today to check the MEA on my route but 90% of the time, the info on the G500 is enough.

[Pinecone]

On 2/28/2025 at 10:34 PM, bigmo said:

They must have decided that it's ok for experimental versions but not certified - or certified is several iterations behind. I recall that build update in 2024, so maybe it's coming to certified soon-ish. I did find it pretty distracting trying to turn my head to read things lol.

I learned to read things sideways and upside down when doing my XCs with paper sectionals.

Yes, there are a lot of differences between Exp and Cert.  A number of things in the Exp world would be nice in Cert.  Not sure why Garmin seems to be dragging their feet.   Some are hoping it means that the G3Xi/G4X is coming soon.

 

[Max Clark]

1 hour ago, Pinecone said:

Some are hoping it means that the G3Xi/G4X is coming soon.

 

I just installed a G3x so the update will probably be announced at sun n fun.

[Pinecone]

21 hours ago, Max Clark said:

I just installed a G3x so the update will probably be announced at sun n fun.

I thought that it would happen last year at Oshkosh, as I picked up my plane a few weeks before.

 

[Bigdaddie]

On 2/27/2025 at 9:36 PM, 65MooneyPilot said:

I bought a Mini plus a pivot case and mount it to the side window. It does not block the instrument panel and not much of the outside view. You can remove it quickly if you need to. 

This is where I place mine.

[Pinecone]

I see two potential issues with that location.  

1)  it is up where the sun can bake it and cause thermal shutdown.

2)  If you are right handed, it is hard to type over there.

I have run a Mini up on the left like that in a C-182.  And I did run into issue #2

[hazek]

I fly with the iPad pro 11 like this: 

 

It's perfect for me.

[hazek]

I should probably add, with this mount: https://mygoflight.com/collections/mount-to-yoke/products/flex-clamp-yoke It works very well because I lean it to one side off center so that it rests on the yoke. That way it doesn't move ever.

[dkkim73]

On 3/1/2025 at 7:09 AM, midlifeflyer said:

I love the cup holder. 

I don't put it away, but I do turn off my EFB when I don't currently want/need it for something. And techniques vary a lot in terms of what to display.  All is good so long as it works for the pilot.  I don't care either way enroute (when I often turn my EFB screen off), but personally, when flying an approach with a G1000, I prefer the MFD display on the left to the one on the right because of the clear depiction of "what's next?" both laterally and vertically.  (FWIW, I think that "what's next?" anticipation is the single most perishable instrument skill.)

 

Those screenshots convey a lot. I've been trying to use the G1000 more heavily as a "best practice" after reading some other PIREPs here on Mooneyspace. IMHO it is a more robust device, being actual TSO avionics and all, and the more proficient I am with it, the better. If I ever leave the G1000 outside the aircraft I will have bigger problems.

I also use the left depiction preferentially for exactly the reason you mention (backed by an external plate or pre-briefing on the right-hand view). I believe the right is geo-referenced but I use it so rarely I can't recall.

Currently I'm also using an iPad mini that moves between a yoke mount, a passenger if I have one, or tucked behind my flight bag which is in the copilot seat if I don't have a passenger. I might try a side mount at some point just to see, but have steered away for all the reasons mentioned above.

If stowed, I pull it out periodically to brief plates, assess glide ring, or explore traffic ("what's that target?") as the touch is faster than slewing the G1000 pointer.

On the list is trying out the Steelie to be able to rapidly move it around.

D

 

[KLRDMD]

Mooneys are too small for a full-sized iPad.

[0TreeLemur]

19 minutes ago, KLRDMD said:

Mooneys are too small for a full-sized iPad.

Beg to differ.  I like mine on the co-pilot's yoke.

[midlifeflyer]

2 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

IMHO it is a more robust device, being actual TSO avionics and all, and the more proficient I am with it, the better.

Absolutely. But I don't worry about that when it comes to maps and charts since the map and chart display in the actual TSO avionics doesn't have any more operational status than your EFB - situational awareness only.