I am getting ready to rip apart the panel in my 182 and am debating on whether or not I want to do a Guardian flush panel mount with my iPad mini. I like the clean look of having it flush in the panel over the co-pilot yoke. Currently it is mounted on the pilot's yoke with a ram mount. I like this because its right in front of me and easy to reach/reference when needed.

New avionics will include dual G5's, GNS 530, PAR200B, GTX 330, and a JPI 900. I will also have a flightstream 210 for loading flight plans to the 530. I also plan to have a ram ball on the pilots side for my iPhone which I do use about half the time for quick references like metars and CTAF/freq references. Overall, the idea is a basic light IFR panel.

My concerns with having it flush mounted over the co-pilots yoke are that 1) it will catch a glare from time to time and not be easily seen from the pilots side, and 2) that it won't be as easily accessible for quick actions like getting a com/nav freq, checking metars, loading an approach plate etc

The alternative to the Guardian mount would be going the ram ball route on the copilot side that way I could angle the iPad out if needed. Obviously this isn't as aesthetically pleasing as the flush mount, but on some level seems more practical. Since I will have a ram mount for the iPhone on the pilots side, quick references like metars or freqs could still be easily accomplished.

Any insights or thoughts on the subject would be appreciated. Thanks!

I just ordered an AirGizmo IPad mount that "cants" the screen towards the pilot for easier viewing.

The guardian is light years better than air gizmos in terms of build quality, fit, finish, etc. A downside for me is that the guardian takes up substantial space behind the panel around bottom/top of the ipad, even though it looks very minimalist and clean from the front side.

There may be an in between solution. Rather than a full RAM ball system which takes up space behind the ipad, putting it further from the panel, maybe consider using a RAM holder (like this or similar: https://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/8971 ) and then creating a small bracket that tilts it where you want. When designing your panel you could add a few rivnuts or nut plates in a standard hole pattern about where you want the ipad, then you could go the RAM ball direction or make your own angle bracket. The RAM balls and these holders all use the same hole pattern so you could even mount the ipad cradle directly to panel. Also allows easy upgrades as ipads change or go obsolete.

Just a thought.

-Asa

I'll be watching your progress with great interest as an "upgrade" to the AirGizmo mount. As you have pointed out it is a bit limp but all I could find for now.

asa wrote:The guardian is light years better than air gizmos in terms of build quality, fit, finish, etc. A downside for me is that the guardian takes up substantial space behind the panel around bottom/top of the ipad, even though it looks very minimalist and clean from the front side.

There may be an in between solution. Rather than a full RAM ball system which takes up space behind the ipad, putting it further from the panel, maybe consider using a RAM holder (like this or similar: https://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/8971 ) and then creating a small bracket that tilts it where you want. When designing your panel you could add a few rivnuts or nut plates in a standard hole pattern about where you want the ipad, then you could go the RAM ball direction or make your own angle bracket. The RAM balls and these holders all use the same hole pattern so you could even mount the ipad cradle directly to panel. Also allows easy upgrades as ipads change or go obsolete.

Just a thought.

-Asa

Asa, this is the cradle I currently use on the yoke, and I love it. Its easy, secure and can be tilted whichever way I want. Like you said, if I went this route I would probably mount the ball to the far side of the panel using the mid to longer arm so it could be angled flat against the panel (1-2" outset to account for depth of the cradle and ball) or angled over towards the pilot for solo flights. Same premise as a tilt out wall mount for flat screen tv's.

Also, you hit on something poignant that probably is more important than anything I've previously mentioned. With the guardian or airgizmo mount, you are locked into a specific size tablet for the foreseeable future, and I really don't like that considering how quickly these accessories become outdated.

Couple more points for the RAM system.

I avoided doing a flush mount so there's not a big hole in my panel that only works with my current tablet. A RAM ball or alternative makes upgrades much easier. I ended up going with a Pivot case (https://flyboys.com/products/pivot-mini-5th-gen) and the Pivot AMPS plate mount (https://flyboys.com/products/high-defle ... -ppk-1-kit). AMPS hole pattern is an industry standard, so if you want to change mount in the future, that's easy too. Not a 182, but here's my setup over the copilot yoke. No issues with glare, easy to use/view, and looks much cleaner than my old yoke mount.

kevbot wrote:I avoided doing a flush mount so there's not a big hole in my panel that only works with my current tablet. A RAM ball or alternative makes upgrades much easier. I ended up going with a Pivot case (https://flyboys.com/products/pivot-mini-5th-gen) and the Pivot AMPS plate mount (https://flyboys.com/products/high-defle ... -ppk-1-kit). AMPS hole pattern is an industry standard, so if you want to change mount in the future, that's easy too. Not a 182, but here's my setup over the copilot yoke. No issues with glare, easy to use/view, and looks much cleaner than my old yoke mount.

IMG_0617.jpg

Approximately how far does this setup stand off the panel ?

I cant help you on putting it on the copilot side but on my 150 I mounted it in the center with the guardian mount. I would think you would have plenty of room to do the same? Depending on what you do with the radios at least. Reaching over to change anything one the ipad or even looking over to the copilot's side would be irritating to me. I had a lot of mockup time with a piece of poster board and carboard cutouts the same size as my radios to see where everything fit best. And of course I ended up getting new radios so my radio hole is bigger then it should be now.

I recent had the opportunity to use one of the Pivot Ipad mounts and it was nice. They offer a "low profile" model, not flush but only a 1.5" standoff which allows for a nice bit of angling towards the flying pilot if required.

It's identified as a Pivot Flush Permanent Mount (AMPS Plate) with PPK-1 and available thru www.flyboys.com

Hello,

I see that the new iPad Pro 12 something inch is three times brighter thN past ones, (up to 1600 nits) due to the mini LED lighting.

… I think this is a game changer for sunlight readability, I too am interested in a panel mount but imagine there will be smaller iPads coming out with this technology in the next six months to a year and just in case their dimensions change I’m going to hold off and just do a surface mount for now.
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Not the clearest pic, but as close to a flush without the cutout. MGF aluminum mount. Can't find it on their site anymore though

I use a MyGoFlight mount on the copilot side yoke also. Expensive, but very nice stuff. Universal holder work so I don’t need to remove the iPad case to mount it either.