Duksrule

So I picked up an IPAD 1 on Ebay for a few hundred bucks and loaded the Foreflight app. It seemed pretty good in the trial so I went ahead and paid the $75 for the actual app. This is worth the money. I fly a 172 for fun love this thing. I got the RAM mount from sportys and also the bad elf GPS from Ebay. My plane has a KLN94 with a MFD and Foreflight is acurate to within 5% or better of my GPS, it even has a GPS altimeter in it. You can bounce between VFR/IFR charts, approach plates etc.... In the map screen you can put in a flight plan just as you would if you filed and it has each waypoint listed on the screen and pretty much a nav log for each waypoint. It took a few tries to figure on where to mount it. I finally put it on the copilot yoke and it is perfect. It covers up the transponder in my NAVII but thats it.

If I could add anything (and it may be in the $150 version, I'm not sure sinse I have the cheaper one) I would have a way to show holding patterns on the IFR sectional or the approach plate and also show holding pattern entry. While not a big deal that would be a nice addition. I use to use a Kendle to store my PDF plates on but that thing will now be heading to E-bay. I still carry paper charts in my bag and also specific plates for the airports I frequent and flight plan to just in case but this IPAD setup is pretty sweet. It even has a scratchpad page that you can either type into or draw on the screen with your finger. This is great for picking up my clearance and jotting down instructions or AWOS.

It is nice to get something for a change and be glad you did. Not that I would ever do it other than in an emergency but I have no doubt that I could cover the complete pannel and use just this program to safely get where you need to be to land.

block30

Hey thanks for posting that. Could you explain the chart update process? For example how much of the US does that 75 dollars cover and is it 75 doars every 56 days, every year? And finally with the charts, you get both IFR and VFR with the same subacription?

Duksrule

I only updated from the trial to the full version yestarday but I believe that it updates like all other apps. My trial version had last cycles charts/plates on it and showed the little sign on the app that means an update is available. I hit the "update" button and pow all charts and plates updated. My guess is that with each new cycle the app will have an update available. I also like that you can touch an airport on the chart (obviously you have to have a network or sevice available) and it brings up an option to add it to your route, download plates etc...

So say I am doing my normal trip from KCPK to 8G6, I put those two in and it draws a line on the chart. Then I can go along the route and click on other waypoints/airports and add them, get info, get plates etc... Also on the airport info page it has everything you need from traffic pattern alt to freqs if you are VFR or you can just touch on the plate and it downloads then you can arange them how you like. As you can tell I am excited about this program.

Duksrule

It has all of the US on it but you need to have a connection to download what you need and it has to be downloaded before you loose the signal. So you will need whatever you are going to use before you go flying. I plan to just download everything along the route so that I have it. Then I can delete it when I am done if I need the space. I also plan to tether it to my droid so that I can use it when I don't have a wifi spot available.

block30

Keep us posted, or at least PM me with your experiences. I am thinking about trying to convince the wife the IPAD/Foreflight thing is right for me!

Coto Pilot

I don't fly that much, but have the $150 version and I think it is amazing. You can add the entire country and have it download overnight as it does take a while. The moving map on the taxi charts and approach plates is well worth the extra $75. The accuracy compared to a King Air ProLine is dead on.

Duksrule

Is there a setting to download "everything" rather than going through and picking and choosing? Also how much space does it take up? Mine is a 32G model.

Ottopilot

Has anyone had GPS problems inflight? Does the Bad Elf work well?

Duksrule

I have the bad elf. I have used it twice in my 172 and it works great. Actually almost matches my planes GPS exactly.