@LeeGriffing recently bought a new iPad for the SuperCub, so it has me thinking…
My main questions are:
What is the best screen size for the cockpit?
How large should the hard drive be for aviation use?
Is the cellular option worth it?
I would be using an iPad primarily for flying and reading e-Books.
My current tech setup is:
Desktop PC with three big monitors in my home office. (The vast majority of my screen time is done on this, I will NOT be doing any serious work from the iPad)
Full size MacBook Pro (I use this computer when not in the office. From sitting on the couch in the living room, to working from it while in Ohio for the summer. I will NOT be doing any remote work from the iPad)
iPhone SE (I don’t like carrying around large phones and I am usually near my desktop or laptop anyway so I keep my phone super small. The downside to this is, it’s not very practical to just use my iPhone for running ForeFlight/Garmin Pilot while flying)
I got the previous generation 11" iPad Air, 256GB memory and the wifi+cellular - so I could get the gps feature that would allow “own ship” on the flying apps. I got an apple refurbished one. So between being the previous generation and refurbed it saved me like $700. So far, happy with it. With limited real estate, I can totally see why someone should get the mini in a GA airplane. I just wanted better resolution while keeping the most “range displayed” - if that makes sense.
Have you attempted to test how much you can save with 256GB?
For instance, how much map data / approaches can you have saved on the drive at once?
I’m always hesitant to buy anything with less than 1T… but if I’m only using it for aviation/e-reading that might be overkill but I honestly don’t know. I’d like to have a bunch of charts and approach plates saved locally.
I don’t want apple prompting me to sign up for iCloud storage after I’m past the FAF!
I don’t have any idea how much is being saved by foreflight as of now. I have downloads turned off for instrument plates because I won’t ever use them. I only care about VFR charts and weather publications. Love me some Surface Analysis Charts!