diamondaviators.net

This works perfectly. I also run a power supply cable from the cig lighter adapter throught the back of the panel to the ipad.

https://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/p ... dmount.php

I have, of course, the Stratus USB adapter installed in the spot formerly occupied by the not-supposed-to-use-it-in-flight accessory plug. It powers my iPad and my Stratus 3.

When I switched to the iPad Pro 11, I found it sometimes wouldn't charge when connected to the USB adapter. The iPad didn't discharge, but wouldn't acquire charge if not fully topped up to start. The fix? Simply turn down the screen brightness from the max - to 3/4 or so. The unit wants to be at full brightness in full sunlight, but it really doesn't need to be. With this reduced brightness no problem replenishing battery while in operation.

No such problem with the Stratus 3, though I do have it in power-saving mode, which works fine.

Another neat trick I just realized about mounting my newer iPad where it is is the ability to use the flashlight function as a replacement for my ineffective-and-burned-out-anyway pilot map light.

Because of its position it lights up the Mini-Z or other paper things I might use, as well as the whole panel.

Wow, thanks for that. Pretty sure I *never* would have thought of it and it's just what I need there.

Rich, Any chance of getting a picture of your transponder install? Do you find it in the way of the passenger's knees at all?

Lance Murray wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 6:55 am Rich, Any chance of getting a picture of your transponder install? Do you find it in the way of the passenger's knees at all?

Here's my panel. The KT74 is angled. You can see where the roughly 1" extra protrusion turns out to be. That protrusion is close to being centered on the front passenger seat and hasn't in anyone's way in the five years it's been that way. It is sort of cobbled looking but being canted a bit toward me actually marginally more usable for the little interaction one has with it.

Thanks Rich. I am trying to decide between stuffing a GTX45 in that space like you did or do a remote mounted GDL88 UAT.

Lance Murray wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 3:08 pm Thanks Rich. I am trying to decide between stuffing a GTX45 in that space like you did or do a remote mounted GDL88 UAT.

I haven't been able to find it, but someone posted here on the site a 335 which installed more cleanly. Part of the reason for canting is the positioning of the connectors at the rear of the box, so that might explain it. One advantage of the GTX units (as I understand it) is being able to have 2 sources available for the WAAS input. Right now, if my 530W is out for service (as it recently was), I don't have ADS-B out.

Back on track, here. After realizing I could use my iPad's flashlight function (not all mounts will allow this, BTW) I had another epiphany.

Flying at night requires carrying a flashlight with D-cell batteries or an equivalent. So what's "an equivalent"? I have a AA-powered LED flashlight stowed in the netting by my knee. This is pretty much become the standard and has long been considered an acceptable equivalent.

Considering that it has been said that the definition of a flashlight is "a device in which to store dead batteries", I realized I now have have 3 backups to that dead battery container: my iPad, my iPhone, and the floodlight, all of which can be powered independently of the aircraft main electrical system.

Having once had to pilot a totally dark airplane (inside and out) from the four corners area into the Phoenix area at night, I know how much I would have appreciated these particular backups.

There is one weakness remaining, however, which I also realized. The aforementioned problem flight was before the advent of pilot-controlled runway lights. They were simply turned on at dark and left on all night, so the landing itself was uneventful. These days, in the absence of a handheld comm radio things would be different. Time for another farkle hunt.

I can't see this affecting cockpit use but after years of refusing to do so, Apple (as of iPad OS 13.4) actually supports the use of a mouse or trackpad with the iPad . A plain old bluetooth mouse works fine.