Cases for tablets?

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UngaWunga

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Ipad tablet (ipad air 11"), looking for a good case to use the with it to hold it on my lap. I have a mount for it in my plane, but I'm looking to do some additional training where that mount can't be used. Suggestions?
 
Hold the phone, I am friends with someone who makes leg-mounted iPad holders. I tested one out for him and I found the product to be fantastic let me see if I can dig it up.
 
This is one option but I know he makes another one that's one single unit I'm waiting for him to get back to me on that.

Screenshot_20260611_184921_Chrome.jpgScreenshot_20260611_184931_Chrome.jpg
 
I bought a typical/regular case with a flip over cover for my tablet, then put two strips of the soft side of velcro on the back of the case. Took an old small aluminum knee board, and put the hook velcro on it. So now I can fly with the tablet attached to me, or take it off and use it as a normal tablet.
Guessing that you might be able to rig up a holder for a yoke that would hold a regular case. I suggest that as my experience over the years with different tablet and phone cases is that they're usually not all that resilient to being frequently removed and re-attached to the tablet. Little plastic bits tend to snap.
 
I typically mount my iPad for my flights so I can use it without looking down, but use it in my lap when instructing to take notes for debriefing. The MyClip has been around for a long time. I think I’ve had mine for almost 10 years (photo not mine).

And yeah, I have no,problem using it with my iPad’s fairly standard fold-over cover case.

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I have tried the kneeboarding holder and not really a fan,too much time spent looking down rather than looking out the window. I’m happy with a ram mound at eye level.
 
The Pivot case and mounting system is hands down the best I've seen.

pivotcase.com

PIVOT CASE | Better Connection. Better Protection.

PIVOT is the global leader in portable, protective EFB cases, and mounts. Our pilot-designed, standardized system secures devices to vehicles, surfaces, and personnel -enhancing function, protection, and flexibility. PIVOT mounts never expire and support current and future device deployments...
pivotcase.com pivotcase.com
 
Jon Wilder said:
The Pivot case and mounting system is hands down the best I've seen.

pivotcase.com

PIVOT CASE | Better Connection. Better Protection.

PIVOT is the global leader in portable, protective EFB cases, and mounts. Our pilot-designed, standardized system secures devices to vehicles, surfaces, and personnel -enhancing function, protection, and flexibility. PIVOT mounts never expire and support current and future device deployments...
pivotcase.com pivotcase.com
Click to expand...
Seems like a good semi-permanent solution for an owned aircraft, particularly with an aviation-dedicated iPad.
 
midlifeflyer said:
Seems like a good semi-permanent solution for an owned aircraft, particularly with an aviation-dedicated iPad.
Click to expand...
Even for rented aircraft. They have suction cup mounts, and even leg straps for using it as a knee board. I have both. I'll use it as a knee board until I'm ready to depart, then move it to the suction cup mount. It uses a slide/lock system that makes it easy to move around to different mounts.

On an owned aircraft, you can install a Pivot panel mount.
 
Jon Wilder said:
Even for rented aircraft. They have suction cup mounts, and even leg straps for using it as a knee board. I have both. I'll use it as a knee board until I'm ready to depart, then move it to the suction cup mount. It uses a slide/lock system that makes it easy to move around to different mounts.

On an owned aircraft, you can install a Pivot panel mount.
Click to expand...
Doesn't even need to be a Pivot-branded mount. Any 2" ball is compatible. I have a couple of ball mounts on my panel, allowing for a small tablet to my left and potentially a guest/larger tablet for the co-pilot side. Love the Pivot case for my iPad Mini, since it's used purely for aviation and is either mounted or in my flight bag. I would not recommend the pivot for an everyday case though, just for usability/screen protection reasons.
 
Albany Tom said:
I bought a typical/regular case with a flip over cover for my tablet, then put two strips of the soft side of velcro on the back of the case. Took an old small aluminum knee board, and put the hook velcro on it. So now I can fly with the tablet attached to me, or take it off and use it as a normal tablet.
Guessing that you might be able to rig up a holder for a yoke that would hold a regular case.
Click to expand...
I don't know about the iPad, but the Android tablets I use all had available cases with magnets that hold the flip over cover closed. Those magnets are strong enough to hold the tablet even on a vertical surface (though I wouldn't trust that alone in a plane), so I made a wooden kneeboard with a steel plate for the tablet to stick to; it worked quite well.
frfly172 said:
I have tried the kneeboarding holder and not really a fan,too much time spent looking down rather than looking out the window. I’m happy with a ram mound at eye level.
Click to expand...
This is true; I didn't realize how much I was looking down until watching some video I took. Unfortunately in the planes I fly there's really no room to put it on the panel, and the one time I tried it the tablet interfered with the magnetic compass, which was at the top of the panel.
 
UngaWunga said:
Ipad tablet (ipad air 11"), looking for a good case to use the with it to hold it on my lap. I have a mount for it in my plane, but I'm looking to do some additional training where that mount can't be used. Suggestions?
Click to expand...
I have a suggestion, but it wouldn't be appreciated here. :) :) :)
 
Jon Wilder said:
The Pivot case and mounting system is hands down the best I've seen.

pivotcase.com

PIVOT CASE | Better Connection. Better Protection.

PIVOT is the global leader in portable, protective EFB cases, and mounts. Our pilot-designed, standardized system secures devices to vehicles, surfaces, and personnel -enhancing function, protection, and flexibility. PIVOT mounts never expire and support current and future device deployments...
pivotcase.com pivotcase.com
Click to expand...

I'll second this. We just recently converted all our work planes and Ipads to Pivot cases and mounts, and so far I am very pleased with them. Depending on the model of airplane we either have yoke mounts or suction cup mounts, and they both work well.

The cases are pretty stout too, and I like that they have two options for the Pencil holder - a magnetic/charging one and a more secure clip that it definitely isn't going to fall off of.
 
Control Vision, the company that sold Anywhere Map years ago, produced and sold this kneeboard. I use it and really like it. I don't believe they're available for purchase today but perhaps one could 3d print one?20180117_201413.jpg20180117_201404.jpg20180117_201357.jpg20180117_201343.jpg
 
Full coverage cases are a good way to help a tablet overheat.

A rigid frame holder with plenty of openings is a better way to do things.
 
FORANE said:
Control Vision, the company that sold Anywhere Map years ago, produced and sold this kneeboard. I use it and really like it. I don't believe they're available for purchase today but perhaps one could 3d print one?
Click to expand...
I don't know about the connection to the knee strap, but the frame looks like a RAM Tab-Tite, IMO, one of the two best RAM tablet cradles. The other is the X-Grip.

Edit. I just fund this. RAM® Tab-Tite™ with Kneeboard Mount for iPad mini Series. The "Snap-Link Rotating Leg Mount" is available separately.
1787074469666.png
 
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I needed to solve a similar problem for an iPad Mini. I've tried every mounting position including the yoke and the left side of windscreen but for me the thigh is best. But I also mount my iPhone Pro Max on the windscreen to the left of the panel, at eye level, and I display traffic there - handy when close to the airfield.

The other problem I had to solve was overheating. On hot sunny days all of the mounting positions had a problem of iPad overheating. I'm sure everyone has seen the mounts with integrated fans but they cost far more than I want to pay.

Here's my solution, and I love it...

This is a $30 Peltier cooling device that mounts magnetically to the back of the iPad: https://a.co/d/06tj6CYM
It doesn't just blow air - it lowers the temperature of whatever it's mounted to.

Then I had Claude design me a mount for 3D printing that accommodates a velcro strap for my thigh and another to secure the cooler. Flight testing showed that the magnetic mount alone was not enough for the cooler so I redesigned to add a strap for it. I mount the iPad so the USB-C ports for it and the cooler are both accessed from the knee end of my thigh. You can see in the photo that the cooling unit props the iPad angling towards me which is perfect.

It's very secure, does not encroach anywhere on the touchscreen of the iPad, and solves the overheating issue.

I've attached the .stl file for anyone who has access to a 3D printer - you will need a 16 cm bed. In order to attach that file I had to change the suffix to .pdf. Just change it back and give it to your 3D printer software.


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The best solution for an overheating iPad is an Android tablet. ;)
 
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