SkyDemon for iPad
Hi guys,
I downloaded the SkyDemon app for the iPad last night. May I just say whoever has developed this application - a very large congratulations is in order. The usability and readability and truely fantastic. Vector drawn maps seem better suited than the scaned variants of other applications. I have the iPad1 and it's probably not powerful enough for smooth running of the app but I suspect the iPad2 and 3 will be perfect for it. Given the iPad3 will likely have a Glonass compatible chip-set, this will provide a very nice dual-frequency navigation suite. I wonder what is next on the iPad/Aviation roadmap? Cheers VT |
Indeed a great product! Used it this week for the first time and like it better than the Windows based application (I used it on a Navigon car nav before).
Keep up the good work. |
A few questions for you i padders, how do you mount it in the a/c, how much is the skydemon app and is the screen readable? I normally have my GPS in line of sight (but not blocking the view) so that it's in my peripheral vision all the time, I believe the i pad has to be knee mounted, do you find this a problem in terms of lookout etc?
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I'm also looking into it. I don't have a mount yet. but found this: RAM Aviation Mount
probably a good solution. |
I can wholly recommend RAM Mount, I have a complete yoke mount for the SkyDemon MD and think its top notch!
Cheers, Jim:ok: |
Personally I wouldn't RAM- or yoke-mount an iPad - if you look at the gallery picture at the above link, you'll see it's a completely impractical solution (IMHO). Where it's positioned covers instruments and blocks some of the outside view. I keep it on my knee, and with an anti-glare screen cover it works just fine.
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A great product, the iPad version being as easy to use as the PC version. However, I tried my new app on a short local flight the other day, and after 30 mins, the whole thing locked up and told me as I was in 'Trial' mode I would now have a 10 min tracking blackout.
I have purchsed the full planning version, but now discover I need the 'navigation' (£60) upgrade. Just be aware before you jump in the cockpit. |
I checked the page and it seems to clearly say "GPS navigation facilities are an optional extra." on the purchase page and reiterates again on the next that "If you want to use SkyDemon while in flight to help with navigation and keep you safe, purchase the navigation upgrade."
Worth noting though that at the moment there is no warning when you try to "Go Flying" in evaluation mode that it will cut out after 30 minutes which is an oversight that will be corrected in the forthcoming update. |
Thanks Bobby, not having a go at the product. More to the point that:
A: I should read the details on the website B: The sudden blackout at 30mins needs sorting! A warning that you need to purchase the nav upgrade should be displayed. FF |
Couldn't agree more on B. The next version of the app is currently with Apple for approval apparently... Looks like a couple of tweaks have been made after the first release.
- ref: the flyer forum, "SkyDemon iPad released" page 40 |
I have SD on an iPad 3 mounted in a RAM yoke mount in my Grumman AA5. It's probably a bit bigger than ideal, but there's enough flexibility in the RAM system to get the device precisely positioned, in portrait mode, without obstructing the instuments in any way and without getting in the way of my A5 strap-on kneeboard. Once it's all in place, it's very well positioned and allows a perfect scan over both primary intruments and Sky Demon. After a decade of fiddling with various GPS devices, power supplies, software and mounts, this is unquestionably the best and tidiest solution so far.
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Anyone mounting one currently in a 172? I'd quite like to use SkyDemon in the cockpit as a backup (or replacement) to my AV80R, and for approach plates, but ergonomically I just can see where I could put it.
Yoke mounting isn't going to work as I sit quite far forward and high (short legs), so it would get in the way of full/free movement, don't want it on the left suckered to the window as it would obscure the ASI, and it might be abit big for having on the knee? Anyone have a solution in use? |
I have a window mount that I use in my 172 that sticks to the flat part of the window at the bottom on the right side so the iPad sits above the yoke. Its a double sucker base and very secure even with my landings....
Easy to use and does not interfere with anything. I got a 12/24v adaptor for a fiver from eBay that powers it. |
Is there a facility in the app to 'take notes'? I'm going to give SkyDemon a go soon and would like to have my iPad kneeboard mounted, but I like to be able scribble notes during the flight on a pad on my current kneeboard. How do people get about doing that if their iPad is in the way?
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Skydemon Light is now available free for iPad from the "App Store".
There's a load of complicated technical stuff about it in a thread in the Other Place but at 46 1/2, I'm too old to understand. FLYER Forums • View topic - Sky Demon Light Now available for iPad |
Is there a facility in the app to 'take notes'? I'm going to give SkyDemon a go soon and would like to have my iPad kneeboard mounted, but I like to be able scribble notes during the flight on a pad on my current kneeboard. How do people get about doing that if their iPad is in the way? iPro Aviator Kneeboard for iPad 1, iPad 2 and now New iPad 3 by 'For Pilots Only' from Flightstore.co.uk |
That looks good - seems to be fairly substantial too so I think I'll give it a go :)
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Does it come with any European maps ?
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Yes
The complete suite, regularly updated |
Another vote from me. I feel like a skydemon fan tonight (my third post on the subject) but I love it.
I had it on a windows tablet which was good then and Ipad1 which was also good (perhaps slightly better because of the reliable built in gps) but then I got it on an Ipad 3 and it took it to a new level. Anyone thinking about it you must try it. It is simply amazing. I used to look longingly at american market only apps but now we have our own that knocks them for six, and it gets better incrementally with each release. |
Been using it for a few weeks now - and love it. Shame there isn't a way of downloading waypoints from the PC App to the iPad - also a shame about the discrepancy in the way GPS co-ords are represented twixt PC and iPad, but an excellent product overall. Real time NOTAMS and METARS, Wx overlaid and all relevant frequencies displayed as the flight progresses. Top banana!! :ok:
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GPS
Hi guys,
Not posted much but read here daily. Just signed up at my local school today and have my first lesson next saturday. I have a wifi only iPad 2 so no gps and really want to use skydemon can anyone recommend some external gps for iPad 2 please? Heard bad elf is good but seem to be US based and im in the uk? Cheers Kev |
Kev
The Dual ipad GPS seems to be the favourite at the moment - not as easy to obtain as the GNS unit but you can get it in the UK - Google it. I have the GNS unit and its only real fault for me is that it tends to turn itself in in the flightbag and so the battery's flat when i need it. |
Just installed an update that allows you to download waypoints to your iPad via iTunes file sharing :ok:
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Hi all,
I am strongly considering purchasing SD for the iPad, however, the more I read about using a GPS I find more people advise against using an iPad etc and to stick with a dedicated GPS unit like SD's own. So, does anyone have the SD mobile MD GPS SkyDemon Online Store if so what do you think of it? Ta. |
bigndaft
I have both a Skymap and a Garmin 430 in my aircraft, but I use SD on the iPad as my primary GPS tool. It uses a lot of juice so I'd recommend an auxilliary power source, but, in terms of functionality, I haven't found anything else on the market that comes close. Some folks say that Airbox for iPad is good as well, but I haven't felt the need to compare the two, as SD is just so good :ok: TTB |
Thanks toptobottom, just need to convince the better half now :ugh:
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ipad software
its simple.
Get the new runwayHD app from airbox. awesome. SKYDEMON WHO??? |
It uses a lot of juice so I'd recommend an auxilliary power source, |
iPad for GPS navigation
Hi there,
I purchased SD for the PC and downloaded the waypoints to my iPad for use with Air Nav Pro - works great but... on a recent trip to Malta from France my iPad experienced on two occassions high temperature and shut down !! This is a BIG problem with the iPad and or iPhone so beware if you are planning to fly in somewhat warmer climates ! I resorted to my old trusty stead a Lowrance Airmap 1000 which performed faultlessly without any overheating problems. Anyone know if SD Mobile has temperature problems ? Happy landings |
I spent 5 days in Portugal last week, temp around 35c and used SD on iPad3 for up to 3 hours at a time - I didn't notice any over-heating problems. The iPad3 was in its after-market cover and no a/c, just to rub it in :ok:
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There are sporadic reports of the Ipad overheating and shutting down, but these are countered by reports from other users of running the Ipad in sunlight and getting it hot and it kept going.
So it may be dependent on the backlight brighness setting, which would be fully expected as practically every other "high power" tablet computer implements similar brightness-related power management. I have found the GPS in my Ipad2 to be so unreliable it is all but useless - this is in the TB20GT cockpit which has a composite roof. The only way to make it run was to use the XGPS150 external bluetooth-connected GPS. |
I have found the GPS in my Ipad2 to be so unreliable it is all but useless I think this is a good thing since you do need to avoid the mentality of trusting one piece of kit to the detriment of the rest. Frankly, if iPad/SD was 100% reliable then you would not bother switching on the rest of the navaids, let alone carrying a map. I'd suggest an ipad with a really poor gps might justify a visit to the apple store. |
They will never swap it, because they probably won't be able to reproduce the problem in the shop (no signal), and anyway the GPS in my Ipad2 works perfectly on the ground i.e. when not in motion.
I have taken a few things back to the "Genius Bar" (we have had a 100% failure rate on Apple products - admittedly based on just 2 devices :) so a very small sample) and while they give the appearance of being very helpful they will skilfully fob you off unless they can reproduce the problem. Even then sometimes not. I took back an Ipad2 with the Apple HDMI adaptor, which was producing a "accessory not recognised" error message if the Ipad was turned on with the adaptor plugged in. Apple refused to touch it, saying the error message wasn't important. In fact the HDMI output was flakey, sometimes working with some apps and not others, and we have given up on trying to get it to work. |
Sale of goods act? Fitness for purpose? Surely you can just return it, insist on a refund, and buy another one. There are ex-repos on eBay for instance.
If you can't get SD to work on iPad, it really, genuinely, is your loss... |
I've been deliberating for some time over whether to
a) buy an ipad in the first place b) which software to install. (Air nav pro, skydemon, runway HD, rocket route, pocket FMS......) I've had ANP on my iphone for some time but haven't found it particularly untuitive. I also downloaded the rocket route trial and didn't much care for that either. It's alright but requires too much thinking on my part. Then I tried pocket FMS on my PC and things started to improve. Then the Mrs decided she wanted an ipad:ok::D After reading all the threads on here and the other side I thought I'd give Skydemon a try and oh what a sublime piece of kit. I knew instantly that this was what I'd been looking for, bought the full version within half an hour of trying the trial version, had filed and cancelled a flight plan an hour later, and used it on the ipad (along with the very expensive kit already installed in my a/c) to file a FP and execute the next day. Bloody brilliant! :D:D:D |
I'm coming back to the UK next month and have finally realised that GPS systems have progressed beyond a Garmin Pilot III!!
The useability of SD on an iPad seems fantastic but where can I mount an iPad in the cockpit of an Auster with it's brace of sticks and a throttle quadrant??? Any suggestions gratefully received! Alternatively, has anybody used SD on an iPhone 4 as this would be more easily mounted on the glareshield? |
I don't mount the iPad anywhere. Just keep it on my lap, on the coaming or on the seat next to me as required. Just like the map, flight guide, clipboard and so forth.
With a screen protector and a Kensington BlackBelt around it, it's not going anywhere. |
MR
Considering SkyDemon for IPAD(3) for use in a C172 . How reliable is the GPS on a kneeboard where it is not 'line of sight' ?
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I've never had any signal problems with mine at all. Always works exactly as it should.
I have a 3G iPad 3 and it does get VERY hot, to the point that I have turned it off for 10 minutes just in case it turns itself off at the critical moment I arrived back in the R112 zone! It never has switched itself off, but as an Apple expert I would suggest it is not relied upon as a sole gps device due to the thermal shutdown. I use it along with my old garmin, which I would otherwise have had to replace. Best one for skydemon is the current iPad 2s, £100 cheaper and have a bigger battery than the original iPad 2 and don't run as hot. |
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