iPad mount
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2025 5:13 am
When I first built my plane, I included provisions in the canopy frame to hang a small clipboard for approach plates – those paper things from the last century. Then came along the iPAd and Foreflight. I used the same mounting provisions on the canopy to hang the iPad. The position is ideal in that the iPad sort of hovers over my left leg. In photos it appears to just float there.
The structure is fiberglass and incorporates a cooling fan. Officially the iPad has a service ceiling of 10,000'. This is likely for cooling - thus the fan. I have run it to a DA of 21,000'.
The back plate is spaced off the rear surface of the iPAd so air is forced to flow along the surface where the CPU is (or at least used to be). A USB charger is included to keep the iPad topped off.
A home-made friction ball-lock allows me to reposition the iPAd as desired.
Four fingers latch over the edges which allows the iPad to be snapped into place. Each ‘finger’ acts like stiff spring such that the catch can be released one at a time.
Each time the iPAd is updated a new frame is needed. The design changes a bit each time. When done, I just then transfer all the working parts to the new frame.
The structure is fiberglass and incorporates a cooling fan. Officially the iPad has a service ceiling of 10,000'. This is likely for cooling - thus the fan. I have run it to a DA of 21,000'.
The back plate is spaced off the rear surface of the iPAd so air is forced to flow along the surface where the CPU is (or at least used to be). A USB charger is included to keep the iPad topped off.
A home-made friction ball-lock allows me to reposition the iPAd as desired.
Four fingers latch over the edges which allows the iPad to be snapped into place. Each ‘finger’ acts like stiff spring such that the catch can be released one at a time.
Each time the iPAd is updated a new frame is needed. The design changes a bit each time. When done, I just then transfer all the working parts to the new frame.