Best size of iPad for small aircraft use?

IMO a large phone is the right size for in-flight nav. Easy to find a spot on your panel. Can't stand having a dinner tray mounted on my controls.

I reconfigured my previous android phone as a nav device by uninstalling everything but the EFB app. My current phone is backup. I carry a tablet in my side panel pocket for looking closer at charts and plates.

All 3 are connected to a Stratux for WAAS GPS plus traffic and weather. The Stratux is wired to ships power and mounted under the panel with remote antennas.
 
I like to have the mini for mounting and the full size in the bag. The mini is used while actually flying, the full size for viewing weather and putting routes together. It is nice to have a backup in the event one were to develop issues.
 
Kenny Phillips said:
Does everyone go to Stratus for that, or are there "off brands" (which are half the price) that are as functional?
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Depends what ADSB devices your EFB supports. Stratux is probably the cheapest if you’re into DIY/Open Source AND your EFB supports it. In one of our planes we get ADSB In thru the transponder, in the other we have a Garmin GDL50 portable that’s hardwired to ship’s power.

For EFBs, iFly, Garmin Pilot, and Foreflight all support Stratux, Stratus, and GDLs. IIRC, with Garmin Pilot supports the Sentry 3 (one of Foreflight’s reciever).

Here’s a thread discussing some options.
jd21476

Thread 'Recommendations on ADS-b receiver'

I have been using a Stratus 2S for a few years but it is slowly dying. I keep it mounted in my plane and plugged into the cigarette port so it is always ready.

I want to replace it and do the same. I have been looking at the Stratux and the Stratus 3. I havent looked into the Sentry yet.

What does everyone use and like? Why?

I don’t remember if/what EFB you want to adopt, so check the documentation for compatibility before buying portable ADSB.
 
I like the mini size. Unless you already have a larger iPad that might work for you too. Personally I have a larger one as I don’t want 2 iPads.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Oh reeeeeeeaaaaallllly?

Color me skeptical. There have been rumors of that for YEARS. It's right up there with the Apple TV, the Apple Car, and other supposed projects that have been investigated and killed if they even existed at all.

I'll believe it when I see it.
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Foreflight rots on the phone, even on a larger one. (I've got the pro max). They put it in dumb mode when it detects it's a phone not an ipad.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
It's not just where you mount it, but where it's pointing. The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection! So, in my Mooney, I yoke mount it and it points pretty much straight at my face, or maybe a little down. Probably fine if I don't wear a white shirt on a sunny day. ;)

But, speaking of heat and battery life, always keep the iPad at the lowest reasonably-readable brightness setting. Screen backlight is the primary user of power, keeping it off of full will make your battery last much longer and keep the iPad from heating up as much.
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As Apple is rumored to release a Mini with an OLED screen I may have to just wait. That should give me the best of all worlds: high contrast and decent battery life.
As my medical is still on hold (turns out the FAA wants more tests than is normally done) I've got a little time.
 
flyingron said:
Foreflight rots on the phone, even on a larger one. (I've got the pro max). They put it in dumb mode when it detects it's a phone not an ipad.
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It's not all that different any more, there was an effort a while back to make them as close to the same as possible, within the limitations of good UX on a small screen of course. Adding the FPL drawer to maps was a big help.

I still use the iPad for readability, and consider the iPad a no-go item when flying IMC, but I'll fly VFR with the phone only.

Kenny Phillips said:
As Apple is rumored to release a Mini with an OLED screen I may have to just wait. That should give me the best of all worlds: high contrast and decent battery life.
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Don't wait for the rumors - Wait for the next release, and just buy whatever comes out because otherwise you're gonna be waiting at least a year. Especially with the Mini, which has a somewhat irregular release schedule.
 
I bought a used 9.7-inch iPad (Air 2) when I was a student pilot. Thing is huge, blocks the tach in a 172R when it's on a yoke mount. Sucks to put on a kneeboard.

The more I flew, the less I used it. It lives in my flight bag now and I use my iPhone mini for 99% of the tasks the avionics alone can't accomplish. I'll get an iPad mini if the antique Air 2 ever dies.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
I still use the iPad for readability, and consider the iPad a no-go item when flying IMC, but I'll fly VFR with the phone only.
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Heck, I've been known to fly VFR without any digital electronics at all. :)
flyingcheesehead said:
Don't wait for the rumors - Wait for the next release, and just buy whatever comes out because otherwise you're gonna be waiting at least a year. Especially with the Mini, which has a somewhat irregular release schedule.
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Oh, I dunno. Apple rumors usually get pretty solid a month or two before the actual release.
 
asicer said:
Oh, I dunno. Apple rumors usually get pretty solid a month or two before the actual release.
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...And then sometimes the thing doesn't get released anyway.

Generally speaking, yeah, if it's August you'll have an OK idea that there's a new iPhone coming in September, but exact specs are usually incorrect to some extent.
 
asicer said:
Given that it's stuck on an OS version 4 generations old, it's already dead to Foreflight and Garmin :)
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That's fine, I'll keep paying Foreflight until they stop allowing me to download current plates and charts or until the iPad's battery life drops off.

My point was, I would not recommend most GA pilots opt for a 10-inch tablet.
 
You could put a cigar lighter voltage meter with USB C ports in your older bird and keep it 100%. Cigar Lighter Charger. I use a USB A to C cable and it keeps my mini charged with full (or nearly full) brightness.
 
I think this kind of depends on "The Mission" and how the plane is equipped.

I was overly reliant on gadgets for quite a while, loved big giant iPad in 172 with dual suction pad on pilot window. This blocked some normal field of view.

I stayed quite reliant on big iPad even as I got a G3X with traffic and all the doodads.

I try not to use the portables as much but will carry a mini and Garmin portable receiver for XC. All of the stuff shows on my PFD as it is.

Phone is enough.
 
I use and prefer the full size IPad with foreflight subscription. As I age bigger is better for my aging eyes. I have used the full size I Pad in several different airplanes.
 
Mini with cellular, less stuff to carry and most carriers let you add a data sim for free anyways
 
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