Best tablet for foreflight

[godsrcrazy]

I am looking at buying a new Tablet. I have heard some good things about the Samsung. Just wondering if anyone could tell me which Tablet they prefer while using ForeFlight and why.

[fish4life]

Unless it's changed recently I think foreflight only works with iOS devices eg iPad's only

[Rookie50]

https://www.foreflight.com/support/buying-guide/

[CpnCrunch]

You might want to try Fltplan Go. It works on Android and iOS, and it's free.

In terms of tablets, I prefer Android in general, although I would recommend avoiding Samsung due to all the crapware. If you're a technophobe, get an ipad. Bear in mind that you must get the cellular+wifi version of the ipad otherwise it won't have a GPS. Also, no matter what you get, make sure it has at least 32GB of storage otherwise you might run out (especially on Android, which tends to suck up a lot of your storage space for the operating system).

[fish4life]

You can get GPS without the cell versions of the iPads if you are ok with buying a Bluetooth GPS on the side which will give you an accurate waas reading. As for storage I would say minimum 64gb personally

[DSoup]

You might want to try Fltplan Go. It works on Android and iOS, and it's free.

In terms of tablets, I prefer Android in general, although I would recommend avoiding Samsung due to all the crapware.

Well one of the big advantages of android is rooting and running a custom ROM...

[CpnCrunch]

Well one of the big advantages of android is rooting and running a custom ROM...

At what cost to stability though? I think the best option is to get a Google Nexus device, which has no crapware and regular updates. I recently got a 6P, and it's pretty much perfect in every way (although a little too small for viewing approach charts easily, so I use a tablet for that).

[lhalliday]

ForeFlight is iOS only.

I planned and flew a flight from Langley to Powell River last weekend, ForeFlight on an iPad Mini. It worked fine. It did the en route wind/speed/distance calculations and told me how well I was doing against my flight plan. It told me when I was on and off course.

The one thing I had to do myself was the initial climb and cruise power/fuel consumption/TAS/IAS. POH and E6-B, then enter the data in to ForeFlight.

...laura

[AirFrame]

Personal experience with a number of tablets is that under a bubble canopy GPS reception for the internal GPS works great. In an airplane with a wing overhead, or a metal roof, YMMV for reception. A badelf bluetooth GPS can be placed well forward on the glareshield and will likely get better GPS signal. Then you can pass the tablet around the cabin to show passengers and you won't lose your position.

I had no problems with a full-size iPad in my RV-6, but I do find the Nexus 7 fits nicer on my kneeboard... I've heard from others that the iPad Mini fits about the same. The mini is a great little tablet, if you need Foreflight it's probably the best bang-for-the buck option. Even if you get an iPad Mini for Foreflight, I highly recommend giving FltPlanGo a try before you shell out for Foreflight. FltPlanGo will give you most of the important functionality of Foreflight, at zero cost.

[SuperchargedRS]

A iPad mini retina with cellular (as only the cell models have the built in GPS chip).

Comparing foreflight to fltplan go isn't really fair, foreflight is the standard, whereas fltplan go is a gimmick, don't get me wrong I use fltplan.com and use it all the time for flight planning and love it, it's just for the moving map, approach plate overlay, W&B, weather, etc you're putting a poodle in a cage fight with a 500lb gorilla.

[fish4life]

What makes foreflight so much better than fltpln go? Not trying to start an argument but fltpln go has all the maps you could ever need and even gps overlays on approach charts I don't really know how much more you need considering it's free

[AirFrame]

Comparing foreflight to fltplan go isn't really fair, foreflight is the standard, whereas fltplan go is a gimmick, don't get me wrong I use fltplan.com and use it all the time for flight planning and love it, it's just for the moving map, approach plate overlay, W&B, weather, etc you're putting a poodle in a cage fight with a 500lb gorilla.

Have you used the latest version? It used to be like that but isn't anymore. Granted, it's not as easy to use, but the georeferenced moving map, approach plate, and airport diagram are all there. W&B and weather are too. Connects to external GPS, Stratus/Stratux, etc. as well. I've used FltPlanGo and Foreflight side-by-side, and for VFR flight the additional yearly cost for Foreflight isn't worth the small improvement in usability. Some people will need that ease-of-use.

To the OP: It costs nothing to try FltPlanGo, at least give it a whirl and see if it meets your needs before paying $150US/year for a full install of Foreflight ($300US/year if you want US coverage as well).

[awitzke]

I'm not a big apple fan but I bought an ipad mini specifically for Foreflight. It's just a superior app compared to anything android on the market. This coming from an android only phone user.

I have an original mini cellular and it gets the job done well. Has internal GPS and I fit it on a suction cup RAM mount.

[HiLo]

I can vouch for FltPlan Go. It works great (on my Galaxy S6, YMMV). I'm pretty old school, so I would recommend keeping paper copies of the CFS, basic charts. You wouldn't want to be lost and have to explain to a controller how you forgot to charge your phone.

[godsrcrazy]

Thank you everyone for your input. Can you tell me does fltplan go also cover the Caribbean.

[CreatingLift]

If I was buying a tablet to use with FF i'd also go with the iPad mini with cellular and a external Bluetooth GPS that works well, I've used the Garmin Glo without any trouble. 64 GB or more so that you truly are not limited and your digital map is that much more valuable.

[AirFrame]

Thank you everyone for your input. Can you tell me does fltplan go also cover the Caribbean.

A quick google search of "fltplan go carribean" returns a lot of links (most on the company website) suggesting that it does.

[billgeno]

Recently, I completed a trip from the East Coast down through the US and then over to Puerto Rico in a 172. We had paper on board, but I relied upon my iPad and the FltPlan app primarily. It performed flawlessly. Granted it took some trial and error to figure out what display option would show the chart I needed to use when in the Caribbean, but it was there. The only information I couldn't get in the app, or at least find it were the equivalent to the CFS/AFS for Bahamas and Turks. We had to get the books from the Banyan FBO at FXE.

I used ForeFlight during my flight training days as a supplementary tool, and to this day cannot justify the price when Free works almost as well..

HTH.

[CpnCrunch]

While Android tablets are generally cheaper than ipads, and more functional, you might want to consider the new 9.7 ipad pro. It has an antireflective coating, so will likely work well in the cockpit. The reviews are saying it is one of the best displays ever (in terms of colour accuracy, brightness, as well as the antireflective properties).

Battery duration is another factor to consider.

[7ECA]

You can also get screen covers for most iPad models, I have one on my iPad mini that is anti-reflective and it does not affect the readability at all. It does make it a lot easier to use on bright days though.

[SuperchargedRS]

While Android tablets are generally cheaper than ipads, and more functional, you might want to consider the new 9.7 ipad pro. It has an antireflective coating, so will likely work well in the cockpit. The reviews are saying it is one of the best displays ever (in terms of colour accuracy, brightness, as well as the antireflective properties).

Battery duration is another factor to consider.

Glare has never been a factor for me in the years I've been using my iPad mini, if it becomes a factor just get a QUALITY screen protector from someone like http://www.powersupportintl.com

I was going to "upgrade" from my mini retina cellular to the pro, but it's just too big, the mini really is the perfect size for the cockpit.

As for FF vs fltplan. FF just has more options, between winds aloft, to PIREPS right on the map, diffrent weather models, synthetic vision, overlaying geo ref plates onto your charts, W&B, altitude profiles views, automatically switching to taxi diagrams once you're wheels down complete with audio warning when you approach a runway, pressure altitude with alerts for devices with a baro sensor. just a TON more R&D went into it, if you look into some of the folks behind the scenes at DD, they have a top notch crew and product.

Believe me, if I could get away with a free app I would, but as someone who flys both in the backcountry as well as professionally in IMC, foreflight really is the top dog.

For the tablet, my mini works great, no external junk, just have it in a nice canvas flip case, with a note pad on the from of the cover with a pen loop I had stitched on, never needed to strap it to anything or mount it anywhere.

[CreatingLift]

9.7 ipad pro

This one?



Good luck yoke mounting that

Seriously though, GA cabins are small enough.. I don't think that would be comfortable on a knee board either (looks like it would take both knees!)

Don't forget to learn to use the avionics in the a/c your flying ..

[Chris M]

9.7 ipad pro

This one?

*humongous picture*

Good luck yoke mounting that

Seriously though, GA cabins are small enough.. I don't think that would be comfortable on a knee board either (looks like it would take both knees!)

Don't forget to learn to use the avionics in the a/c your flying ..

That's the 12-inch version, designed to be a laptop replacement. The 9.7 is the same size as a regular iPad.

[AirFrame]

And FltPlan Go keeps getting better...

http://imageserver.fltplan.com/FltBrief ... ssue1.html

Approach Plates on Maps Now on FltPlan Go for Android

FltPlan Go for Android now allows users to view approach plates directly on maps.

This new feature has options that enable viewing of Weather, METARs, and Winds directly over approach plates. The transparency of the approach plate and weather can be adjusted to allow for clear viewing of the selected base map layer.

This feature enhances situational awareness when transitioning from the enroute phase to the approach phase of your flight. For those interested in buying an Android to use with our app, we suggest the Samsung Galaxy tablets for their tested performance, stabilty, and range of sizes available.


New Enhancements to FltPlan Go for Android

In our latest update to FltPlan Go for Android, we added some exciting new features. Here's what you'll find when you update to the latest version:

• An external tab to handle connections to portable ADS-B units, including the new Dual XGPS-170, Pathfinder, L3-Lynx, Stratux, iLevil, Dynon and many installed avionics.

• The ability to customize your aircraft icon between single engine-prop, jet, or helicopter -- with eight different color choices.

• A filter for runway length in Airports Nearby Me. This new feature saves valuable time checking each airport

• A Split Screen option in the Maps section. With Split Screen, you can divide your screen either vertically or horizontally and display your map on one side and your chosen split screen display on the other side. Choose from Airports, Departure Airport Procedures, Arrival Airports Procedures, NavLogs, Weather, ScratchPad, and Tools.

• Over 6000 Instrument Approach Fixes for Canada have been added.

• Runway Center Lines for Canadian airports are now available.

[xchox]

How about phones? My iPad and Toshiba tablets are great. But sometimes I just want to check somethin or verify. Got me a Nokia Windows phone and its better then any Android or Apple phone I have ever used. I can run several email accounts right on the desktop, tougher then the gear on a flight training 172, battery lasts forever, easy to use, I can play my Xbox games, and is compatible with all Microsoft products like office.

The only problem is... No flight apps. I'm up for a free upgrade and since Nokias new line isn't coming out for another year or two in North America... I might as well get something good for flying. Thoughts?