Swingle-san,

I have not used Wing-X on a cross country. Foreflight has great functionality as a reference tool, but not really sure I would want it as my primary flight display/navigation. I am sure capabilities of the ipad will improve through software and peripherals (engine monitoring, gyro, etc.) specifically for aviation.

But my biggest reservation if I was doing what you are doing is glare. Its hard to see the ipad in certain lighting situations. maybe a screen protector would fix most of this - probably. But I would consider that, and seek feedback of others.

Thanks Ems, that helps me make Ipad decisions. I don't want to have to deal with the glare and such. Maybe I can still find an excuse to need one someday anyway...

I ordered one of those Milloway panels. They're pretty badass! The boy can mold.

This video demonstrates the iPad 3G by ForeFlight Mobile HD's cofounder and principle developer.

The possibility of a connection between the iPad 3G and an autopilot is addressed in the iPad hooked to Autopilot???? thread.

So my suggestion on NOT using the ipad as a PFD and/or primary moving map may be changing a bit. I got this email this AM from the founder if iHUD for the iphone/ipad. I had asked him a while back (actually before the iphone 4) about utilizing one of the micr AHRS devices that are out and about for connection to an iphone to provide a true back-up (or primary) attitude instrument for flight applications.

His email this AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Emmet,


It has been a while. But now I have good news. We have worked hard to get iHUD Remote done, which is the real AHRS thing. I know it is not as expected the iHUD Pro, but probably much more designed for the pilot.

Please check iHUD Remote which is available on the App Store http://www.i-hud.com/iHUD_Remote_suite.html

Please let me know what you think.

Hope you are doing fine!

Best regards,

Jurg


iHUD Remote is available on the App Store:
http://www.i-hud.com/iHUD_Remote_suite.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The AHRS is the real development. Evidently the internal gyros in the ipad 2/Iphone 4 have been notoriously difficult in eliminating drift/instability due to vibration and other issues encountered in an actual plane. This little guy is a true remote AHRS with air data capability.

What makes this so compelling now is the rate of development and refinement of flight software going on for the ipad. It's so "upgradable" that probably it will become a truly competitive choice as use for a PFD/Moving map to purpose-built aviation tech. It's got to have some of the hardware mfg's a little nervous.

http://aviation.levil.com/AHRS_mini.htm



Note that it works with several applications including Wing-X, iHud, and some others. Some providing now true synthetic vision.

Pretty cool!!

^^ Truly incredible development there, will be exciting to see where it goes. No doubt there will be a lot of implications for flight safety, the downside is - now more than ever - it's going to become progressively more difficult to remember to look out the window.

I agree, and I'm a bit conflicted over the idea. For a long time I wanted this as an "emergency only" capability in case I got into a hairy IMC situation. But as a member here said to me "will it really just become an excuse to push your limits". That was a sobering comment that probably is not without its truths.

emflys, that kind if thinking makes me shutter. Self discipline and currency are two fundamental tenets of piloting. If you are saying that having the capability of an iPad 3G will cause some to get reckless, its time for them to quit flying and buy a simulator program.

On the other hand, the iPad 3G, with its GPS chip, and some of the available apps or sophisticated software like ForeFlight or WingX put capability in the VFR pilot's hands that has previously cost thousands in avionics. Some may abuse it, but the disciplined pilot will find in incredibly advantageous.

I used ForeFlight HD on my trip to OSH this past summer. I agree it's not a good primary navigation instrument but it's a great situational awareness tool. I used it mainly so I didn't have to buy paper charts. I found it easily visable in the light conditions in my plane which is pretty bright, I have lots of glass. Paper charts show approximate positions of airports, I'm not sure how accurately they depict airspace. I would not want to use my position overlaid on a chart to keep me out of restricted airspace. The garmins have the boundaries programmed in so for now, the garmin will be my primary navigation tool.

But again, for flight planning and situational awareness, ForeFlight HD is great!

I've gone back to using my Garmin 296 for primary GPS. But I still use Foreflight on every flight too if for no other reason than to check Metars and for cross countries, winds aloft. No paper charts either.

cyberbiker wrote:emflys, that kind if thinking makes me shutter. Self discipline and currency are two fundamental tenets of piloting. If you are saying that having the capability of an iPad 3G will cause some to get reckless, its time for them to quit flying and buy a simulator program.

On the other hand, the iPad 3G, with its GPS chip, and some of the available apps or sophisticated software like ForeFlight or WingX put capability in the VFR pilot's hands that has previously cost thousands in avionics. Some may abuse it, but the disciplined pilot will find in incredibly advantageous.

I am not sure why what I said is suggesting I or someone else would become reckless. Not even close to what I stated. I simply meant that the capability may provide an excuse/temptation to push on where normally you would just call it a day. I don't think that type of self reflection is reckless or should make you shudder. I think its a normal process of evaluating your personal and aircraft limits SO YOU WON'T do anything reckless.

I simply meant that the capability may provide an excuse/temptation to push on where normally you would just call it a day.

I'm with you. We all saw more gamesmanship during the advent of Rnav and GPS as we knew pilots were creating their own instrument approaches in flat terrain around rural America. The weather would miraculously become VFR as they neared their destinations. There is no question that all the advances in flight information make pilots more confident about their situations. Some choose to fudge the rules with more info whether flying with an $80K panel, an iPad or a handheld GPS.

Short of info overload, I'm for giving pilots all the flight information they can handle. Doesn't make sense to limit helpful info to all because some will abuse their responsibilities. I'm just glad better information can now be in the hands of those who have had to pass on more expensive avionics setups.

Besides, now they can spend the extra on a good motorcycle.

The temptation to open Floatflyer's email attachments of big boobed babes mid-flight via the 3G connection is the most dangerous of all.

On a android tablet/phone, has anyone used Avilution Aviation Maps?

Just wondering if it's worth the $5/mo? Looks pretty slick.

Those who haven't seen the iPad and ForeFlight software in action or are unaware of what ForeFlight includes might enjoy the info and links in "iPad with ForeFlight Mobile HD - Summary of Capability."

mountainmatt wrote:On a android tablet/phone, has anyone used Avilution Aviation Maps?

Just wondering if it's worth the $5/mo? Looks pretty slick.

I used it on my Droid phone for a while. It's not as polished as ForeFlight but it works well for showing you where you are on the chart. You can do flight plans on it and save them on their servers. It's also got weather overlay, airport information, weight and balance

Easy to try out and easy to cancel since the subscription is monthly.

Seems like at this early stage a bunch of software developers are climbing into the field and selling apps and subscriptions at relatively inexpensive prices. That will thin out as the aviation software industry matures and consolidates, and the relationships of supply and demand and price vs quantity refine the reality.

There are more Android phones out there than iPhones, but more iPads than Android tablets. Furthermore, the pilot community is more techo and is less likely to make a choice based on price alone. than the global cellphone community. The pharmaceutical industry and the airlines are already embracing the iPad in huge numbers - 11,000 for UAL, alone. I imagine that will continue to give iPads an aviation edge as the potential for profit will energize software development and improvements.

So iPads are currently offered in 16G, 32G and 64G, right? Is the base model sufficient for the aviation-type apps described on this thread? (I'm assuming it would have to be the 3G-enabled version.)

Thanks. -DP

DP,

If you don't plan on loading with video and music, it's probably fine. If you get one of the external bluetooth GPS's, you don't need a 3G model. THat's what I would do. Just get the external (which you can put in direct satellite view) - its the same cost as going 3G and you can also use it with your iphone, if you have one.

E is right, but I wouldn't discount the value of having 3G on board as well. Obviously, it won't be of much use in flight, but I use the heck out of it when updating wx, filing flight plans, checking email, etc...when WiFi is unavailable. Of course, you have to pay for the monthly subscription for that to be of any use...