MyGoFlight vs. Ram - Which do you prefer?

[SoCal 182 Driver]

I'm trying to decide on a mounting system for my iPad Air running Foreflight (in a Cessna 182). I'd appreciate PIREPs on the MyGoFlight articulating arm versus putting together a system of arms and ball connectors by Ram. In particular, I'm interested in stability.

Thanks!

 

[MountainDude]

I have been using Ram on the right side yoke for years and it's been rock solid. Just upgraded the iPad and needed to get a new cradle. Called RAM, whose CX and manufacturing is in USA, and they helped me pick the right product. Super cool.

 

[sarangan]

I'm trying to decide on a mounting system for my iPad Air running Foreflight (in a Cessna 182). I'd appreciate PIREPs on the MyGoFlight articulating arm versus putting together a system of arms and ball connectors by Ram. In particular, I'm interested in stability.

Thanks!

I fly a 182, and I have tried pretty much every setup, including 3D printing my own. All of them obstruct too much of the panel, or the window. Now I just use my phone on my knee. It requires no setup time and no hardware to carry around. I've been pretty happy with it.

 

[Jim_R]

I've used RAM yoke mounts for my Android tablets for years. Not sure what you mean about stability--when the joints are tight, they're pretty solid; I've never once thought, "boy, this sure is flopping around" or anything. They're good with warranties, too--after several years, one of the yoke grips cracked, and RAM replaced it. (I don't remember who paid what for shipping, but whatever it was I thought it was reasonable.)

 

[decalogue]

I just look at it to brief or for whatever info I need, then for the most part I turn the screen off and put it in the side pocket. Not sure why people have them on and front center all the time

 

[CB1]

I tried the RAM mounts and switched to Mygoflight for my Cessna 172N. The Mygoflight products are high quality engineered aluminum that give a versatile strong mount. They take up much less space which results in a more flexible and "elegant" installation. I use a yoke mount (Mygoflight Sport Mount-Flex Yoke) for an vertical iPad mini in front of me and without covering up the panel. My right hand panel is mostly empty so I have another iPad mini mounted there horizontally using a Mygoflight Compact Bolted Quick Release MNT-2030. I use an Otterbox Defender protector cover for the minis and screwed on Mygoflight Sport Mount GPS Adapters to the Defender cover to mount the iPads and simply clip them in and out. I think Mygoflight is making iPad covers that have the mount integrated to the cover/holder. They have more products now. Good Luck!

 

[CMongoose]

I've used both and prefer Mygoflight. The MGF is lighter, more flexible and the single screw to tighten the mount makes adjustment a lot easier.

I used he suction / window mount for years, but prefer the yoke connector. I also have their cooling case, which works well, although it can be difficult to tell whether it is running or not, in a noisy cabin!

 

[robin ardoin]

I have both. Currently use the MGF and a MGF case for a iPad mini 6. I find both the RAM and the MGF about equal in ease of adjustment but, due to the thickness of the the clamping arms on the RAM vs the thinner articulated arm on the MGF, I can position the latter a little better for my liking. I had MGF panel mounts on both sides when I bought my plane so I bought in to the 'eco system' further. With the MGF case, I can dismount the case/iPad together in seconds and not alter the position of the mounting arm; with the RAM, I must loosen the arm clamp enough to free the ball from the RAM case or pop the iPad from the case, leaving the case mounted. MGF plusses- clean and neat look, easy dismounting of electronics. Minuses- cost+++, proprietary, the iPad case can rotate in the mount. Ram mount plusses- much cheaper and can obtain elements from multiple sources. Minuses- a little more bulky in form and appearance and dismounting of case requires loss of position of the clamping arm (minor inconvenience). In the end, I think it is 'six of one, half dozen of the other'. If I had not had MGF elements already installed in the plane, I would be perfectly fine with RAM mounts and saved at least half a tank of fuel in $$.

 

[SoCal 182 Driver]

I just look at it to brief or for whatever info I need, then for the most part I turn the screen off and put it in the side pocket. Not sure why people have them on and front center all the time

Do you fly instrument approaches? If so, wouldn't you want the plate visible during the approach?

 

[robin ardoin]

I also have their cooling case, which works well, although it can be difficult to tell whether it is running or not, in a noisy cabin!

^^^^ This ^^^^ For the cost of the unit, an LED lit when operating would have been nice. I struggle to determine if it is operating as well- overall disappointed with the cooling case. Since I have installed an A/C, I'll see if the cooling case is even a necessity this spring/summer.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I've been using RAM yoke or suction mount (depends on the airplane) for 15+ years and never had a problem. I saw a MyGoFlight Pivot when they first appeared but the added cost never attracted me. That may be because I fly a variety of shared airplanes; if I owned my own and was looking for something more (sort of) permanent, I might take a second look.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Do you fly instrument approaches? If so, wouldn't you want the plate visible during the approach?

Believe it or not, on a another forum, there was this guy who was insisting that it you have the chart displayed during the approach, you are doing it wrong. Brief the approach and put the iPad away. You shouldn't need it any more. The back and forth got interesting.

 

[decalogue]

Do you fly instrument approaches? If so, wouldn't you want the plate visible during the approach?

I do

No just panel, I have everything I need there, altitudes for each waypoint, mins, etc

 

[Skymac]

MGF

 

[WDD]

An I Pad Air is going to be rather large no matter how it's mounted. I used an I Pad mini sized tablet Ram mounted on the left side of the windshield.

 

[Dana]

I just look at it to brief or for whatever info I need, then for the most part I turn the screen off and put it in the side pocket. Not sure why people have them on and front center all the time

When I fly cross country a tablet (Android/Avare) is my primary navigation display, so it needs to stay visible. I put it on a kneeboard (tight cockpit), but I've had good results with Ram mounts elsewhere.

 

[decalogue]

When I fly cross country a tablet (Android/Avare) is my primary navigation display, so it needs to stay visible. I put it on a kneeboard (tight cockpit), but I've had good results with Ram mounts elsewhere.

If VFR why not use landmarks and time and heading, just refrence it after passing current landmarks to cross check?

If IFR well there’s a million ways to get your fix and course, I hope the tablet isn’t very high on that list

 

[SoCal 182 Driver]

An I Pad Air is going to be rather large no matter how it's mounted. I used an I Pad mini sized tablet Ram mounted on the left side of the windshield.

I found the mini too small for me.

 

[Dana]

If VFR why not use landmarks and time and heading, just refrence it after passing current landmarks to cross check?

Low and slow, pilotage is usually more practical than dead reckoning. IFR, "I Follow Roads". I can't remember the last time I calculated a heading or times at checkpoints. Moving map GPS just makes it a lot easier, without the difficulty of managing a paper chart in an open cockpit.

Yes, my flying is more, shall we say, "informal" than many here.

I found the mini too small for me.

I use an 8" tablet on my knee if I'm going anywhere distant, and just my phone (in a bicycle handlebar mount) for local flying.

 

[WDD]

If VFR why not use landmarks and time and heading, just refrence it after passing current landmarks to cross check?

You'd need a map in the cockpit. Which your tablet EFB will provide. And as a bonus it will put your position on the map. So instead of looking at a paper map and the clock, you're looking at the tablet. Seems to me an upgrade.

Bonus - it also shows weather ahead as well as other planes coming up in your blind spots.

 

[decalogue]

Low and slow, pilotage is usually more practical than dead reckoning. IFR, "I Follow Roads". I can't remember the last time I calculated a heading or times at checkpoints. Moving map GPS just makes it a lot easier, without the difficulty of managing a paper chart in an open cockpit.

Yes, my flying is more, shall we say, "informal" than many here.



I use an 8" tablet on my knee if I'm going anywhere distant, and just my phone (in a bicycle handlebar mount) for local flying.

The pilotage stuff is just fun, maybe Im a sadist, but turning off location services and using a Apple pencil on the sectional with the timer up and hitting my waypoints on time and target still makes me smile like shooting a ILS to mins and “hey there’s the runway”

That said I will nearly always back up a visual with a IAP outside of playing in the pattern