Good Day all,

ForeFlight on their website recommends that to "Buy the Wi-Fi + Cellular version of either the iPad Pro (128 GB+), the iPad Air 2 (64GB+), or iPad Mini 4 (64GB+)"

Has anyone run into recent trouble with older versions of the ipad?


Cheers

Macdon221

I have a first-gen iPad mini, and it’s reaaly being taxed by the latest ForeFlight version. It also won’t update to the latest iOS versions, either (planned obsolescence, I reckon). If performance is a requirement, I’d probably pick up a later version unit so you’ll get some longevity out of it.

You will need a cellular equipped version (just don't need to activate it on a cellular carrier) to have GPS for the features on Foreflight to work; unless your have a bluetooth enabled WAAS GPS in your nav instrumentation that the iPad can link to (wouldn't make a lot of sense if you have GPS nav anyway...)

What version of the iPad do you have in hand now? If you own one, just use it and see what happens. If you are shopping, go big.

I have an iPad 4. It's just hit the point where it won't update operating system 11. I'm stuck in the 10s. The battery isn't holding either. I'll be looking at a 10.5" iPad Pro 256GB with Wi-Fi and cellular to replace it. Why not save a little by going without the "pro"? It's because I got four years out of this one. If I look at the price difference and divide it by the number of hours I'll have it in my hands over the next four years, it isn't much. Also, I'm pleasantly surprised to see that prices have actually come down. If I look at the model most similar to what I own now, its 25% cheaper than I paid four years ago! For the upgrade, it's the same price I paid last time.

I don't know what your "older version of iPad" is, I ran it until 1.5-2 years ago on an iPad 2 before upgrading to an Air 2. It was pretty obvious the old model wasn't cutting it any longer. I suggest trying it on yours and see what happens. As others have noted, Apple is also end-of-life on some as far as OS updates go, so if you're in that boat upgrade to a newer one. ForeFlight will evolve to utilize new OS functions. If I were buying today, I'd get a Pro 9.7. Mini's are an older model now, and I don't find the 9.7" screen of my Air 2 to be cumbersome. I do use a Ram yoke mount and X-Naut cooling tray, they do overheat in sunlight - usually at really annoying times.

I don't find battery life to be too much of an issue since I keep it plugged in while flying, but if yours dies within a couple hours I'd replace it on that factor as well. Cables come out and power adapters fail, and you won't know unless you're looking for it.

I am running an Ipad 3, biggest memory. I have broken the screen twice - both times by opening the copilot door while refuelling. Each time my initial reaction has been bummer/great I can by a new one. I then researched and just changed the screen, and this last time I changed the batteries as well. Actually not very hard.

It runs Foreflight fine, but I close everything else when I run it, and put it into airplane mode when I am cross country as it just eats power looking for cell signal. Just put it back on when I am near big cities and it picks up signals pretty fast for weather.

Looking to replace soon with a mini I think. I always buy biggest memory.

Check Craigslist, often some good deals out there if you are able to take the hassle and risk.

I bought a mini 4 128gb celluar yesterday from the apple store $70 black friday gift card included. I believe the pro's are getting a $140 gift card. Now is the time to buy. I believe the sale is on until the 27th

I run an iPad mini 2 with no major issues. Got it for cheap and I’ll keep using it until it stops running smoothly! Up until last year I used an original iPad but it was very slow.

DeltaRomeo wrote:You will need a cellular equipped version (just don't need to activate it on a cellular carrier) to have GPS for the features on Foreflight to work; unless your have a bluetooth enabled WAAS GPS in your nav instrumentation that the iPad can link to (wouldn't make a lot of sense if you have GPS nav anyway...)

Don’t need WAAS for ForeFlight. I run a $100 Bluetooth gps puck. Or a stratus. Depends on what I’m doing.

CamTom12 wrote:I run an iPad mini 2 with no major issues. Got it for cheap and I’ll keep using it until it stops running smoothly! Up until last year I used an original iPad but it was very slow.

DeltaRomeo wrote:You will need a cellular equipped version (just don't need to activate it on a cellular carrier) to have GPS for the features on Foreflight to work; unless your have a bluetooth enabled WAAS GPS in your nav instrumentation that the iPad can link to (wouldn't make a lot of sense if you have GPS nav anyway...)

Don’t need WAAS for ForeFlight. I run a $100 Bluetooth gps puck. Or a stratus. Depends on what I’m doing.

Yeah, forgot about adding a "bad Elf" gizmo, etc.

I have an iPad Mini 2 (A1490) with 32 GB of memory. It works fine with Foreflight.

I carry a Garmin Glo bluetooth gps as a backup and also have Garmin Pilot on the iPad since sometimes in areas of no broadband I get a "No Data" screen on Foreflight while Garmin Pilot never fails.

I only have Foreflight due to my ADS-B system does not talk to my Garmin Pilot app.

TD

I have an original Mini and a Mini 4. I keep both of them updated with ForeFlight, and the Mini has the last update it would accept. I'm waiting for ForeFlight to OK the latest Apple update before I do that to the Mini 4. I keep the Mini as a backup to the Mini 4, but the difference in performance is dramatic--the Mini 4 is much faster, but honestly the Mini is still plenty usable, especially for VFR use. For IFR, changing pages from map to plates and changing plates is a little too slow for my taste with the old Mini--it's a good thing that I fly a poky airplane!

Incidentally, I have never had either of them shut down, in spite of using them on some pretty hot summer days. I think it's because I have a forpilotsonly.com iPro Navigator yoke mount, which is very skeletal to allow air to the back of the device in addition to having the flip up cover to shield it from the sun.

I also have ForeFlight on my iPhone SE--belt and suspenders approach to life--but I'd hate to have to use it for navigation, as the screen is just too uncomfortably small.

Cary

I’ve have used the larger I-Pad with Garmin Pilot and found it to be a little large in the cockpit. Switched to the mini I-Pad and like it a lot better. At first, I thot the screen display might be too small, but the High-Res on the Mini4, it's great. Saying this, I use it yoke mounted in my Piper Mirage, not a tall dragger...Boooo..!! (I’m Looking). It is amazing what the flight programs will do, with the I-Pads. I never thot a day would arrive, that I did not have to carry any maps or approach plates. Plus, just plug in to the internet to get updates. Plus, I-Pad approach plates, you are geo referenced, sliding right down the slot. Plus, I do all my “What-Ifs” on the I-Pad, WX, re-routes, fuel, etc, then put in the panel avionics. Hint: If you are going to purchase/update your I-Phone, as an add-on, you can get a mini I-Pad really cheap, like $100. This is at AT&T, I’m sure Verizon is the same. Plus, get the I=Pad with WiFi/Cellular. You need the cellular, so you can get GPS in the airplane. But, you don’t have to have a cellular plan, to get the GPS signal. The cellular/GPS I-Pads have the black strip on the back of the I-Pad. My Cellular plan costs $10 a month, cheap in aviation terms. Dave b.

I use an older Mini2, 32G, cellular. Works, but is slowing down a little. I've got JeppFD (worldwide) and FltPlan on it. Use it for ferry flights all over the world, I don't carry any paper (except GenDec forms). I like the size and would get another if this one broke, stopped working, got lost. Actually what I'm really waiting for is Apple to update the iPad Mini line to a better processor and less "dead" area on the edges of the screen, like the iPhone X.

I'd definitely get the cellular model with built-in GPS antenna, but I'd go at least 64G, probably 128. Never had a problem with GPS signal but could just be the planes/helicopters I was flying. Thinking I should get a backup bluetooth antenna, what's cheap and works?

I had heard that Apple was going to quit making the Mini I-Pad. The Mini 4 has been out for a long time, ( 3-4 years?) with no up grades to the processor or screen resolution. I asked in the Apple store about the Mini 4 and was told that Apple is continuing to make them. I have a Mini 2 & Mini 4, purchased both from Flea Bay. But, get a I-Pad with cellular for the GPS, no GPS on the WiFi I-Pad, you don’t have to purchase the cellular plan, unless you want too, $10 a month. Dave B

The Ipad 5 rumors are all over the Mac Rumors forum:

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/12/21/ip ... ming-2019/

The full size Ipad I found is just too big. My mini 3 works just fine with the latest Foreflight and IOS updates.
If indeed the new mini 5 appears in the first quarter of 2019 it might find its way to my 185 as the screen is supposed to be much better and not get so washed out as the 3 does in sunny days.

For some reason the entire link did not highlight so just copy the link and paste it.

I bring the following on longer flights:
iPad Mini 2 - Backup
iPad Mini 3 - 4G Edition, iPad Panel Mount
iPhone 6s+ - No Sim Card, Velcroe'd to Panel

All connect to Stratus and use Foreflight.

I like having two devices running Foreflight in the cockpit as it allows one pilot configure/look something up, while the other remains active or runs AHRS.

It looks like the iPad Mini 5 will be announced very soon. I expect good things and based on the aggressive pricing of iPads by Apple over the last 3 months, an attractive price at launch.

Good price on iPad Mini 5 may drive down the price of Mini 2/3 in Refurb Market. Note that the iPad Mini 2/3 and 4 do not share a common mount due to tiny size differences. Keep an eye on shape of Mini 5, it may need its own mount as well.

One other thing - stay away from the 16gb models, after the bloat that goes on them, and a few states worth of Foreflight, you are at zero space.

Latest news is that a Mini 5 should be out soon, first quarter 2019. Whether it will be worth investing in, I don't know enough of its particulars to say. I'm disinclined to buy just to have the latest and greatest--it has to offer something beneficial over and above what I already have.

I still have both my Mini 4 and original Mini as I said earlier in this thread, and both still work ForeFlight fine. So does my iPhone SE. Any glare issues are ameliorated by the MyGoFlight glass screen protectors that I installed on all of them. I can pair any of them to my Stratus 2 (which incidentally I won't replace soon, as the Stratus 3 isn't that much better).

I haven't actually used the original Mini in ages, although I keep it current and make sure it still works, in case I need it as a backup. Apple no longer updates it, but it still works FF OK--although I suspect that there will be a time when it won't, as FF increases its requirements.

I admit that I'm still amazed that all of this stuff works so incredibly well. I haven't bought paper charts in several years, and I have no feeling that I'm less safe by chucking them. Having weather and traffic on a screen in my little bitty airplane still seems a lot like a dream.

Cary