iPad 6th gen cellular worth it? Need it for flying and foreflight only

[rayriceroni00]

Hi everyone,

Considering a refurb iPad with cellular. I only need it to run Foreflight in an airplane, so I need GPS. My pro wifi is out of luck, and I'm not a fan of an external GPS receiver.

I know the regular iPads are inferior to the pros. What's everyone's take on a regular 6th gen iPad? I don't need mind blowing audio. I only really need a ton of battery life and a screen that is nice and sharp. Bezel doesn't bother me.

Any input is appreciated!

 

[Apple a Day]

I’m really happy with the non cellular 6th gen ipad, it’s probably my favorite ipad to date. You mentioned not wanting an external gps receiver, but the internal gps receiver won’t be sufficient for navigating, by far. I have an Air Force issued ipad mini 4 and a wifi ADS-B receiver. I’m not sure how much it was but it’s probably in the neighborhood of $500 and let me tell you that you won’t want to fly without an ADS-B receiver again. Just a few features, up-to-date live weather radar overlays, all your FLIP, charts and approach plates, on demand notams from anywhere, atis, metars, tafs, etc. You can can overlay your aircrafts position on approach plates in realtime. Lastly, its wireless and no bigger than a hockey puck. Suction mount it to a window and let it do its thing. Youll need a foreflight subscription, but they’re inexpensive for the value. Hopefully this helps. Oh, and get an apple pencil and write your atis down and ditch the paper kneeboard permanently.
[doublepost=1547911821][/doublepost]You could also buy an inexpensive backup battery pack (I’m not sure the term) and throw it in your flight bag for longer flights in case battery is a concern for you.

 

[EssModelsRule]

I’ve seen other pilots on this forum praising the iPad Mini form factor, especially for use in tighter cockpits such as Cessna’s. Rumors are pointing to a spring release of a Mini 5.

 

[rayriceroni00]

I’ve seen other pilots on this forum praising the iPad Mini form factor, especially for use in tighter cockpits such as Cessna’s. Rumors are pointing to a spring release of a Mini 5.

I've been holding off on the mini since it's so old now and my plus iPhone doesn't seem that much smaller. I'd love a mini 5. Perfect size IMO.
[doublepost=1547915107][/doublepost]

I’m really happy with the non cellular 6th gen ipad, it’s probably my favorite ipad to date. You mentioned not wanting an external gps receiver, but the internal gps receiver won’t be sufficient for navigating, by far. I have an Air Force issued ipad mini 4 and a wifi ADS-B receiver. I’m not sure how much it was but it’s probably in the neighborhood of $500 and let me tell you that you won’t want to fly without an ADS-B receiver again. Just a few features, up-to-date live weather radar overlays, all your FLIP, charts and approach plates, on demand notams from anywhere, atis, metars, tafs, etc. You can can overlay your aircrafts position on approach plates in realtime. Lastly, its wireless and no bigger than a hockey puck. Suction mount it to a window and let it do its thing. Youll need a foreflight subscription, but they’re inexpensive for the value. Hopefully this helps. Oh, and get an apple pencil and write your atis down and ditch the paper kneeboard permanently.
[doublepost=1547911821][/doublepost]You could also buy an inexpensive backup battery pack (I’m not sure the term) and throw it in your flight bag for longer flights in case battery is a concern for you.

Appreciate the input. I keep getting this impression like the non Pro iPads somehow look like a cheap fire tablet next to the pros. I guess I need to see them in the store and compare.

Foreflight on just internal receiver has been good to me. Sounds like you're doing a lot more intense flying than I am. I'm only doing 1-2 hour hops under 150kts in VFR. I've used iPhones for years in Foreflight, and it's been dynamite. I have friends using iPad on internal GPS receiver only, and they say accuracy is consistent. I haven't used ADSB much at all. It concerns me that in my area people will start relying on it, and we're in a place that many planes don't need it since we're outside major airspace. I hope ADSB doesn't start taking the place of human eyes scanning for traffic.

 

[Apple a Day]

I share your sentiment, I’ve had people fly through MOAs not talking w/ us or ATC. I sure hope they are using their eyeballs to clear. That’s cool to know the built in GPS works, I wouldn’t have thought it could. As far as my personal gen 6 ipad goes, its fantastic and i don’t regret saving hundreds over the pros. Its fast!

 

[rayriceroni00]

I share your sentiment, I’ve had people fly through MOAs not talking w/ us or ATC. I sure hope they are using their eyeballs to clear. That’s cool to know the built in GPS works, I wouldn’t have thought it could. As far as my personal gen 6 ipad goes, its fantastic and i don’t regret saving hundreds over the pros. Its fast!

Appreciate the input. Good to know they work.

I may also see if I can find anything to slap my 8 plus to my forearm in landscape mode... like velcro to a band. Would be nice to keep my hands free and not mount to the yoke.

 

[1BadManVan]

6th gen iPad is an awesome bang for the buck iPad, great performance and the screen is nice and sharp.

 

[ssledoux]

I’ve been using a 6th gen with LTE for the last 9 months or so. It was going to be my interim device between selling off my 12.9 2nd gen pro, and buying the new, smaller pro. I was really torn after the pro releases because it’s a really great device, and I considered just sticking with the 2018.

Ultimately I decided to go back pro, partially because I only bought the 32gb iPad thinking it was temporary, and partially because it’s my only computing device, and I just prefer it to have the more powerful internals of the pro.

Bottom line though - it’s a fantastic little pad for the price, and I loved that it had the pencil support!

 

[pete480]

I can't wait for the mini 5. I'm using a 4 in my 172 mounted to the yoke and it's perfect.

 

[rayriceroni00]

I can't wait for the mini 5. I'm using a 4 in my 172 mounted to the yoke and it's perfect.

I guess I'll try to wait for the Spring and see what happens. Not sure I can take the iPad on the yoke though. I learned to fly years ago with a Garmin 195 on the yoke. That was great, because you interacted with it so little in flight.

How do you handle the iPad on the yoke moving if you're trying to scan the map or pull up airport info?

 

[pete480]

I guess I'll try to wait for the Spring and see what happens. Not sure I can take the iPad on the yoke though. I learned to fly years ago with a Garmin 195 on the yoke. That was great, because you interacted with it so little in flight.

How do you handle the iPad on the yoke moving if you're trying to scan the map or pull up airport info?

The only time the yoke is moving too much to use the iPad is during takeoff and landing. I’ve tried to mount it in other spots in the cockpit, but it was either too far away, or would block part of the panel. The yoke mount I have keeps the iPad low, at the perfect angle and doesn’t stick out far.