Tablet use in cockpit
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Tablet use in cockpit
I'm looking for a good tablet to use in the cockpit, mainly for navigation app. My 5" phone is too small, and 7" doesn't seem to be much bigger, so I prefer a 10" tablet. I'm probably gonna strap it to my leg in portrait mode.
Does anybody have experience or advice?
Does anybody have experience or advice?
Join Date: Apr 2003
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I have played with both 7 (Nexus) and 10 (ipad 3). In many cockpits 10 is too big, so have standardized on 7. The screens are not visible in bright sunlight so I have not mounted them on the panel etc. I find that I have to move them around to get the best viewing angle which changes depending on sun position etc. I fly low wing aircraft so this would probably be less of an issue in high wing.
Rod1
Rod1
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You say a 10" is too big. For panel mount I can understand, but when strapped to your leg it's not bigger than a regular kneepad. Or am I missing something?
I think a 10" tablet would be too bulky in the cockpit.Join Date: Sep 2011
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"My 5" is too small, and 7" doesn't seem to be much bigger, so I prefer a 10". I'm probably gonna strap it to my leg"
Fnar, fnar! This thread is already a goldmine, keep it up folks (!)
Fnar, fnar! This thread is already a goldmine, keep it up folks (!)
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I find I need a 10" display to really see everything comfortably. An iPAD mini (7") was just about OK but the iPAD3 straps quite comfortably to my right leg and leaves plenty of room in my P2002JF. Don't need any external GPS to get solid navigation performance.
Despite the good screen on the iPAD it's still not bright enough in full sunshine. Another hazard - at least here in Oz - is that iPADs shut down when too hot. This has happened to me a couple of times and, while it's inconvenient, caused no great drama. But just be aware that these are all consumer grade boxes, and make sure you carry at least the minimum paper charts etc.
Despite the good screen on the iPAD it's still not bright enough in full sunshine. Another hazard - at least here in Oz - is that iPADs shut down when too hot. This has happened to me a couple of times and, while it's inconvenient, caused no great drama. But just be aware that these are all consumer grade boxes, and make sure you carry at least the minimum paper charts etc.
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I use the Nexus7 with Skydemon and am very happy in a lowwing aircraft. Keep in mind that everything that is powered by a lithium battery must be tossable in a hurry via the storm window, so adjust the size accordingly.
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My Tablet use started with an iPad2, which was kind of ok on the knee. I switched to iPad3 and threw it off the cockpit, as it was too heavy for the kneeboard. Now I am at an iPad Mini Retina, which is almost perfect: it does have enough pixel to be nice to look at information and it fits in the knee board in a rented plane on on the yoke in my own. So 7" is my favorite, but it should definitely be the retina display.
I'm thinking of changing from iPad 2 (with no GPS, just external receiver) to an iPad Mini 3G with GPS and retina display. Better display in sunlight, lighter, smaller (but big enough?) and with an internal GPS it will not have the problems of the external GPS receiver going into sleep mode when I am stationary on the ground.
I use SkyDemon which I think is brilliant.
I use SkyDemon which I think is brilliant.
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Another vote for the ipad mini with retina display.
Small enough to be used in the cramped cockpit of the Jung clipped into a Marv Golden knee board.
Brilliant piece of kit offering a one stop shop for all (most of) my needs. Navigate in the air using Skydemon, pull up the Pooleys / AFE plate for the destination airfield. Use it to find a hotel. Navigate from airfield to hotel using the installed TomTom app then read Pilot / Flyer on the device in the hotel bar whilst slipping down a cold one.
Love it so much that my Garmin Aera 500 and 296 ended up on ebay. They were simply redundant.
SRD
Small enough to be used in the cramped cockpit of the Jung clipped into a Marv Golden knee board.
Brilliant piece of kit offering a one stop shop for all (most of) my needs. Navigate in the air using Skydemon, pull up the Pooleys / AFE plate for the destination airfield. Use it to find a hotel. Navigate from airfield to hotel using the installed TomTom app then read Pilot / Flyer on the device in the hotel bar whilst slipping down a cold one.
Love it so much that my Garmin Aera 500 and 296 ended up on ebay. They were simply redundant.
SRD
