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Flying with IPad

James M

James M

Soloed!!
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
163
Location
United Kingdom
I'm sure that some of us got the new "iPad" as a Christmas present. Do you intend to use these for flight? I certainly do! I've been looking at some of the apps available from fuel calculators to GPS systems and have found that most of them require a subscription so I was wondering if any of you guys have also got an iPad used for aviation purposes and if so how do you use it and what apps do you use?
 
Yup, been flying with my ipad 1 for a year. I use Foreflight, and a custom weight and balance spreadsheet.
 
Pretty much the same as Todd; I use ForeFlight, have a spreadsheet (Apple Numbers) with my W&B, keep all of my performance documents in pdf format on the iPad for reference, have my checklists in ForeFlight Checklist, E6B and use it to calibrate my onboard cameras for recording my flying adentures/training.
 
The speed at which the iPad is working its way into the cockpit is simply amazing. We're literally watching a revolution in progress. At work, we've used both WingX and ForeFlight and we're thinking that we'll probably settle on WingX, but it's a really close call. Either one will make most people very happy. That being said, the synthetic vision capability of WingX is pretty neat. If you fly IFR, you have the ability to use geo-referenced government charts. Currently they're free, but it looks like we'll end up paying a nominal annual fee to use them. Either way, it's still a great deal. If you've got an iPhone you'll find the ForeFlight app really useful as well - it's about all I ever use any more for domestic weather. Having the app on both your iPad and iPhone give you a dual source for your instrument approach and enroute charts so you can safely go paperless. However, to be honest, I've never used the WingX app on my iPhone and it may be just as useful.

I wouldn't get too excited about getting an external GPS until you see for sure whether or not you actually need it. We've found out that we can do pretty well using the iPad's internal GPS and that's in our Falcon 900's with electrically heated glass surrounding the cockpit. If you find you need one, I'd highly suggest you take a hard look at the GNS-5780. They available on Amazon.com for less than $100. Do a search on youtube for GNS-5780 videos and you'll find a lot of info there on how to set up and use it with the iPad.
 
I have FF and WingX and use both on the ground, but tend to use WingX in flight bc of the synthetic vision
 
Ward, Where do you mount your iPad in the Falcon 900 or do you just keep it handy in a map pocket or something?
 
Nintendo Pilot" said:
I use ForeFlight, have a spreadsheet (Apple Numbers) with my W&B,
Click to expand...


I was going to do similar but found an app called WnB Pro v2.1 from Angell Development LLC at the App Store this weekend. Comes with a slew of templates for popular aircraft, and you can configure them to suit your particular bird with little difficulty.

For $4.99, it makes it simple enough that I'll never fail to calculate a W&B again!
>__Rick
 
I'll have to check that out. I always have to do some editing to allow for the 180 hp conversion and increased weight/useful load. Thanks for the tip!
 
Glad to help!

I know every app I found or saw mentioned was specific to only a couple of models. Took a wee bit of playing to get set up, but the thing is infinitely editable. I started with a 172M template and made the aircraft-specific changes to the weight, arms and Utility and Normal sections and that was pretty well it. Editing each corner on the Normal and Utility charts with your specific arm and weight will give you the chart for your bird.

A real bonus is that I now understand W&Bs better than when I started, especially those friggin' charts in the POH!
>__Rick
 
I bought the APP but am having a heck of a time making sense of it. I tried starting with a P and increasing the gross weight and then tried with a SP and changing the empty weight. Either way, I don't seem to ever be able to configure so I get to the Utility Category. Must be doing something wrong. I don't have the POH with me so maybe that will help -- I suppose the template arms could be way off.
 
Basically, what I did was take the graphs from the POH and determine the weight and arm for each of the 5 corners in both Utility and Normal curves. Remember, the moment is divided by 1,000 before it's graphed, so multiply the moment by 1000, divide by the weight and that'll give you the arm.

It's relatively simple once you figure out exactly what it is you're doing to customize it for your bird...but that comprehension did take me a little head scratching time, hence my comment about finally understanding how the friggin' graphs actually work.
>__Don't forget to set your arms for the front seat, back seat, etc. in the aircraft configuration set up first.
 
I think I've got it but I've seen two different numbers for the fuel arm. Nothing specific for my integral (68 gal) tanks but it is only an inch and a half and doesn't make much difference. I'll double check everything with the POH numbers to make sure I've got it right.

Next challenge. Who's found a good app for checking translated METARS and TAFS??
 
If you guys want a very easy to use and modify spreadsheet (works in numbers on ios devices) let me know. Happy to share it. RodneyCFI on here is using it now and I think he likes it.
 
ytodd" said:
If you guys want a very easy to use and modify spreadsheet (works in numbers on ios devices) let me know. Happy to share it. RodneyCFI on here is using it now and I think he likes it.
Click to expand...


I was going to go that route (Sporty's have a template for Numbers available as well), but thought I'd give WnB Pro a try when I saw it. Besides, cheap SoB that I am - Numbers to run the free template is $10.00, WnB Pro all ready with nothing for me to do but enter my weights and arms is $4.99.
>
 
another vote for W/B pro and Foreflight I also use pilot wizz for conversions but E6B Pro has a good interface as well
 
And...spent all damned day trying to apply the BodyGuardZ anti-glare screen protector. Bubbles abound. Have been back and forth with customer service all day and followed each suggestion but--bubbles abound! I am so frustrated I can't see straight!!
 
John, what are you using to smooth the guard out as you slowly apply it from top to bottom or bottom to top? I jused a credit card (only good use for one by the way) and it worked very well with no bubbles.
 
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