Originally Posted by
JimmyS
Would you all recommend an iPad or iPad mini for a private pilot student? What about an instrument pilot? Is it truly necessary these days?
If you to recommend, will they need one with lots of memory or is 128GB fine? Thanks.
Is it truly necessary? No. Is it considerable help with even the basic version of ForeFlight and a stratus or clone for situational awareness and ADS-B input? Yes it is, particularly for automating the filing of IFR flight plans, current approach/departure plates, sectionals/IFR charts/etc., and keeping abreast of TFRs which pop up constantly over major league stadiums, forest fires, and movements of some politicians and military equipment.
For my GA flying I use a somewhat elderly mini that’s 128GB. If the aircraft you are using has in intercom input you can get a dongle to Bluetooth the ForeFlight audio into your headphones.
I have a full size iPad but the smaller one on a suction mount is quite adequate without threatening to obstruct the yoke or the view of the aircraft instruments or the travel of the yoke.
https://youtu.be/D7nJ7WR-sk8?si=vTQ1xiRqgy7ys78-