First off, I have an awesome son (also a pilot), wife and daughters! They recently gave me an Ipad Mini5 for my B-day.

In the past I have used Avare on an Android and was pretty happy with it for the flying I was doing. I haven't travel more than 3-400 miles in the past few years, but I plan to travel more in the future.

I plan on installing the Mini5 in the Airgizmo mount in the Murphy Rebel I am finishing. In the meantime I want to use it in the RANS and 172.

I've searched out the various apps that I listed in the subject line above, but most of the info seems at least a year or more old. Foreflight still seems to lead the pack per se. I'm wanting to hear from you guys/gals what you are using and how you like it. Also any of the other apps you are using.

I am wanting a system that is as easy (intuitive) as possible. I am not a techie by any means. Give me something mechanical and I'll fix it....had me a computer and with in a few minutes that thing that come to my mind is, "where's the f'n hammer!! JK But you get the jist, The easier to use the better. Heck I was getting a little frustrated just getting the mini5 set up to use. Just different enough from android to make me stumble a bit.

Pros and cons of the other apps?

Thanks!!

I use ForeFlight, and have since right after it’s release. The University bought subscriptions, and once you use and become familiar with one of these programs you won’t want to change to a different one. Not long ago I got a trial use of Garmin Pilot, and ran it beside ForeFlight. Frankly, I think they’re close in functionality, but the skills I have from using FF made me cringe every time I tried to do things in Pilot.

Like most things, these are tremendously powerful programs, but you just use what you need. I try to add a function I’m not familiar with every once in a while, but these things are so powerful.....

So, frankly, pick one, learn how to do what you want to do and don’t look back.

Me, I like ForeFlight.

MTV

Thanks Mike! Much appreciated.

I was late to the Ipad application game and didn't start using an Ipad until 2017 when both Garmin Pilot and Foreflight were both available. I think they still offer a free 30 day trial for both products. For me it came down to the Garmin pilot being easier for me to use and I liked the graphics better. There was a split screen option on the Garmin Pilot that wasn't available at the time on foreflight - although I think they have it now. I did feel the weather applications and forecasting were much better on Foreflight. Garmin pilot now has a great area forecast application that has been very useful for flight planning. I think both Foreflight and Garmin PIlot are constantly updating the software and competing with each other to make their apps better. This is great for the market and should lead to continued development and improvements. I know Garmin pilot releases new updates every few weeks. I would sign up for both if they still offer the free trial and see what you prefer. I never tried some of the other apps you mentioned.

Josh

Same as Josh. I did the trials on both apps and chose Garmin Pilot. I like the Garmin interface- it’s very similar to my Aera 660. That and I got a good deal on a GDL 39 for ADS-B in (upgraded to the GDL 50 this summer).


They all offer pretty much the same features. It just comes down to what you prefer and can learn the easiest.

Download them all and start playing around!

I use IFLYGPS in my S7S on a $99.00 Samsung 7" tablet mounted in a RAM mount. For VFR use, it is simpler to learn than FOREFLIGHT, which I agree is the best. IFLY does most of what the other due, and costs less. It displays traffic on both the map and synthetic vision views. I run the homebrew stratux ADSB receiver and have been happy with the set up so far.

If you aren’t flying IFR or interfacing with a Flitestream 210 or 510, they should all be equally useful. Fltplan Go is free. I haven’t tried the app, but the website is maddeningly clunky.

MTV is right; once you learn one, it’s generally not worth the effort to learn another.

Thanks guys!! I found the downloads for the free trial of Foreflight and Garmin Pilot. Since I probably won't be flying much for the next couple of months (winter and traveling) I may download to play with while I'm on the road.

Any more input is appreciated!!

I've been using FlyQ for years. They are constantly enhancing the product. They are about to release a version 4.5 with weather related flight planning and in flight capabilities. There's also an online version which links up to your iPad. There's a phone app too.

I have the IFR version. If you are a current customer, they offer black Friday specials every year. I have one where for something like a one time payment of $600 I have a lifetime subscription.

If you go with ForeFlight be sure to watch the countless numbers of instructional videos they have on YouTube
Also use it in the car while traveling to get better at using it. Let someone else drive

I'm also a happy iFly customer. I used Avaire for a while then did the demo for Garmin and iFly. I didn't like the Garmin app.

I like iFly because it looks like a sectional chart and the flight planning is super intuitive (for me - I've read differing opinions).

I have since purchased the iFly 740b and have it in my Citabria. Great customer support

I have been using Garmin pilot for 6 years now due to the fact is was available on android as well as mac. This winter I picked up a contract job that uses Foreflight, I really do not see a difference at all in functionality or ease of use. They have gotten now to the point that when one makes an upgrade the other follows it very quickly. Your plan is solid, use both for free and choose as you wish.

The tiebreaker for me was the charting in track-up mode, which I prefer.

At the time of my comparison, Foreflight used sectional charts. Unless heading north, this was not a good look; reading the charts sideways or upside down. Garmin has proprietary charts which flip all the data and wording around, regardless of orientation.

Otherwise, I found them equally useful and user-friendly. Perhaps Foreflight has fixed this.

Ifly has a button to switch from track up, to north up display. They are constantly adding features. When they added synthetic vision, no cost increase. I recall the next version will plot your route using your highest preferred altitude, it will route you around the tall mountains if you want, along with routing you by the cheapest gas prices, etc.. They are a small company, you can pretty much talk with the owner, if requested. The updates for Vfr are only like $79 a year. The FlyQB guys out of Seattle are kind of like that also. I tend to gravitate to the "little guys", as opposed to the corporate kings.
That being said, from what I've seen, they are all so close in the feature set, it's almost a coin toss.

I was pretty set on Foreflight since they are the Gorilla in the room. And Mike V recommends it. He has more flight time than many of us here and I value his opinion. Mike don't let your head swell too much! JK

After all the great comments and other considerations, I may just try the FlyQ for now. Still haven't made a decission since I am in no hurry. My main reason for thinking of using it (FlyQ) is due to the fact that I can use it on 4 devices. and it is usable on both Andriod and IOS. This Mini 5 is my very first use of an Apple product and there is a definite learning curve for me. Being able to use the app on other devies will allow me to install it on my phone and my Samsung tablet, ie...great backup since I normally have my phone with at all times.

Keep the comments coming! It is greatly appreciated.

Sporty's iPad Pilot News website has good info: https://ipadpilotnews.com.

I get their email newsletter and I usually learn a thing or two when I read it.

Just a note - FlyQ is having a black friday sale for 50% off a lifetime subscription:

https://seattleavionics.com/bf

I use Garmin Pilot on Android, and even then usually only for flight planning. I much prefer having a dedicated GPS moving map device in the plane, even if it's only a 796 or 660 type.

I was an early adopter of FF, circa 2011, but I stopped using iOS a few years ago, and FF well before that. Not sure I would choose FF even if that wasn't the case. I've often made irrational technology decisions like actively avoiding the lead players in a vertical.

Lots of people rave about it. Demo them and make up your own mind. Older guys like Mike V, bless his heart, often make tech decisions based on what they already know or are comfortable with. Even he admitted that.

Zzz wrote:Older guys like Mike V, bless his heart, often make tech decisions based on what they already know or are comfortable with. Even he admitted that.

I’d be the first to say that.....but that’s cause I’m lazy, not cause I’m old.

MTV

Keith,

Here’s a deal for you: https://seattleavionics.com/eCommerce/B ... CFIStudent

Fill that out and you get a year of FlyQ for cheap. Sign up now, even if you’re leaning toward one of the others, at that price.

MTV (Old Fart)