iPad in DA40

Moderators: Kai, Rick, Lance Murray, Mr. Gadget

User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Rich »

For most of its life, my DA40 has been used by pilots other than myself. Not really a flight school, but something like a flying club. Because of this:

1. A number of pilots have used their gizmo-of-choice mounted with suction cups to the canopy. This has resulted in the canopy looking like an octopus has run amok inside the airplane. (There is always some surface dust you need to be careful to remove or you get this effect.) I need to take Micromesh or some similar polishing approach to (hopefully) remove these scars.
2. I've not been comfortable with using a mounting scheme that would cover required placards or the N-number plate. These folks often use other aircraft and I've also wanted to avoid having a hassle over a ramp-check write-up.
3. And finally (off-topic, here): "PEOPLE: Garmin 530(W) and 430(W) do not have touch screens! Keep your greasy fingers (and jagged fingernails) off the screens."
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
User avatar
lathamwj
1 Diamond Member
1 Diamond Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon May 09, 2016 7:02 pm
First Name: Joe
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N218WL
Airports: KMIW
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: iPad in DA40

Post by lathamwj »

Hello, I just joined today. I've been flying my 2004 DA-40 since August 2004, based in Marshalltown, Iowa (KMIW). I was interested in viewing your mounts for an iPad or Android tablet. I didn't happen to consider a permanent mount; I've been using a RAM mount suction cupped to the small door on the pilot's side of the canopy, with two RAM double socket arms and an X-grip mount for my iPad mini. I run an iPad power cord, attached by small strips of velcro on the underside of the panel, to the plug-in electrical outlet at the right side of the front panel, and I have a Stratus 2 receiver on a RAM mount suction cup attached to either the passenger side of the front canopy or to the rear starboard window.

It seems to work well, but it has to be attached after the canopy is closed and detached before raising the canopy. I have a photo to attach, if someone can tell me how to do it, as I haven't figured out how to attach a photo.

Joe Latham
N218WL
User avatar
Colin
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 2006
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
First Name: Colin
Aircraft Type: DA42
Aircraft Registration: N972RD
Airports: KFHR
Has thanked: 319 times
Been thanked: 527 times

Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Colin »

Joe,

Welcome to "the other board."

If you click Full Editor there are some buttons on that next screen to attach files.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
User avatar
Steve
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1953
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 1:23 am
First Name: Steve
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N432SC
Airports: 1T7
Has thanked: 81 times
Been thanked: 493 times

Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Steve »

Joe:

Welcome to Diamond Aviators! I remember meeting you at one of the Diamond get-togethers in London in the early 2000s.

Steve
User avatar
Lou
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 370
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2015 1:39 pm
First Name: Louis
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: CGXLO
Airports: CZVL
Has thanked: 118 times
Been thanked: 115 times

Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Lou »

Went with the single suction cup Ram mount and a new iPad mini. Attached just above the vent window, it works great. I wondered how it would hold at altitude but at 12,400' last week, there were no problems.
User avatar
Colin
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 2006
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
First Name: Colin
Aircraft Type: DA42
Aircraft Registration: N972RD
Airports: KFHR
Has thanked: 319 times
Been thanked: 527 times

Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Colin »

I have now started attaching the suction cup after I get to altitude. That seems to eliminate that issue entirely.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
User avatar
Jean
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 741
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2010 7:28 am
First Name: Jean
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N446DC
Airports: EBLG
Has thanked: 30 times
Been thanked: 18 times

Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Jean »

Colin wrote:I have now started attaching the suction cup after I get to altitude. That seems to eliminate that issue entirely.
Same for me
40.446, G1000, KAP 140, Hartzell Metal
User avatar
MREICHL1019
1 Diamond Member
1 Diamond Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 4:53 pm
First Name: Martin
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N428DS
Airports: KLUK

Re: iPad in DA40

Post by MREICHL1019 »

I am using the RAM mount for the ipad mini, mounted right before the emergency window. Works great.
User avatar
Lou
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 370
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2015 1:39 pm
First Name: Louis
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: CGXLO
Airports: CZVL
Has thanked: 118 times
Been thanked: 115 times

Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Lou »

What are you guys doing for cord management? I tried some sticky back velcro today just underneath the lower panel edge. Four squares spaced out between the 12v supply and the iPad. Worked well but not sure it won't come off with repeated use.
User avatar
Colin
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 2006
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
First Name: Colin
Aircraft Type: DA42
Aircraft Registration: N972RD
Airports: KFHR
Has thanked: 319 times
Been thanked: 527 times

Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Colin »

I've had no luck with velcro in the plane. I think it gets hot in there when I park it without the cover and it melts the adhesive. And I think the paint is bumpy no-stick surface or something.

But I'm cheating with the cords because I put in a USB port behind my left calf. The cord drops straight from the iPad mini to where it needs to be.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
Post Reply