diamondaviators.net

Rich wrote: ↑Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:34 pm The mini 6 is now available and yes, I ordered one. (iPad mini has long been my backup/alternate for the Pro 11.) One quirk is it does not share identical physical dimensions with any of the previous ones, so the custom-fit mounts I have for those won't exactly fit this new one. Until RAM comes out with a new EZ-ROLLR for it I'll have to improvise, using one of the older mounts .

I use the RAM X-Grip mount for the mini and it works great. Should fit the new Mini nicely. Very stable when flying, especially in landscape mode.

https://www.amazon.com/RAM-Universal-Lo ... 582&sr=8-3

dmloftus wrote: ↑Thu Sep 16, 2021 3:38 pm I use the RAM X-Grip mount for the mini and it works great.

I use this also and find it works well for the mini. I like that the open back allows me to direct the vent at it to keep it from getting too warm.

One thing that became more apparent during our hot summer this year is the flexing of the rubber in the RAM balls. It's more pronounced the warmer it gets. And the further they are from the actual payload (i.e., iPad + mount) the more that payload tends to jiggle in turbulence. Today I made some additional modifications so there is only one ball and that's the one attached to the iPad mount. Everything else is rigidly attached.

I make no effort to direct cooling airflow to the iPad. Even in this summer's hot weather it has never overheated, continuing my experience of several iPads over many years. I mount it so as to keep the sun from shining directly on the large surfaces, especially the screen. This keeps insolation - driven heating down to negligible/nonexistent.

dmloftus wrote: ↑Thu Sep 16, 2021 3:38 pm
I use the RAM X-Grip mount for the mini and it works great. Should fit the new Mini nicely. Very stable when flying, especially in landscape mode.

https://www.amazon.com/RAM-Universal-Lo ... 582&sr=8-3

I checked with RAM and they expect a cradle for the -6 will be months away. I ordered this universal doodad as a hedge against being able to cobble one of my mini 2 cradles to work OK for the time being.

I prefer the custom-designed cradles as they are fully secure in all orientations and what I have used for a decade without any problems.

Rich wrote: ↑Thu Sep 16, 2021 9:06 pm I make no effort to direct cooling airflow to the iPad. Even in this summer's hot weather it has never overheated, continuing my experience of several iPads over many years. I mount it so as to keep the sun from shining directly on the large surfaces, especially the screen. This keeps insolation - driven heating down to negligible/nonexistent.

You're very lucky not to have one overheat. My iPad Mini, regular iPad, and iPhoneX have all overheated at one time or another. It doesn't take long after inadvertently setting one on the passenger seat for it to display that dreaded message. Then it's opening windows and holding them below the ball vents for several minutes to reactivate them. I do not mount them as I prefer to use the G1000 as much as possible and utilize the Apple devices as an occasional reference. I keep my iPhone in a snap-in holster on my seatbelt across my chest and my iPad tucked between my left thigh and the cabin wall so they are both easily accessible when needed. I've never had a problem with them loose on my lap when in use. I have several different RAM and other mounts for each but the Diamond cockpit is just difficult to position them without losing visibility or range of motion. At 6'5", I need to preserve every mm of space I can.

I don't have a G1000 or anything like it. So for reasonable access to ADS-B, approach plates, even things like airways and real maps I need to mount the iPad in ready view. It's an invaluable extension of my panel. For years I had iPads mounted on my stick, but the Pro 11 made that unworkable, so now it's mounted on a stalk above the fuel selector. It blocks no visual or tactile access to instruments or switches, though for fuel tank selection, power adjustments and such I access by feel. No big deal.

I like it better where it is now because whoever is in the right seat has ready access to the same information. This is helpful to my wife and for when I'm doing Instrument practice with a safety pilot.

It's not luck that my iPads don't overheat. Just keeping them protected from direct sunlight has always been enough.

Rich wrote: ↑Sat Sep 18, 2021 6:43 pm I don't have a G1000 or anything like it. So for reasonable access to ADS-B, approach plates, even things like airways and real maps I need to mount the iPad in ready view. It's an invaluable extension of my panel.

Hi Rich, yes I would do exactly the same without a G1000. When I used to rent steam gauge C172's, I always had my iPad Mini mounted. And usually a full-sized iPad ready as a backup. As you said, they are invaluable in that case.

Rich wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:09 pm

dmloftus wrote: ↑Thu Sep 16, 2021 3:38 pm
I use the RAM X-Grip mount for the mini and it works great. Should fit the new Mini nicely. Very stable when flying, especially in landscape mode.

https://www.amazon.com/RAM-Universal-Lo ... 582&sr=8-3

I checked with RAM and they expect a cradle for the -6 will be months away. I ordered this universal doodad as a hedge against being able to cobble one of my mini 2 cradles to work OK for the time being.

I prefer the custom-designed cradles as they are fully secure in all orientations and what I have used for a decade without any problems.

It’s pretty much a certainty the Apple Pencil 2 won’t fit onto the mini 6 magnetic anchor using this particular universal cradle. Not a showstopper as an interim solution, but something good to know.

Confirm X-grip non-support for Apple Pencil 2 mount for iPad mini:

The x-grip actually works slightly better on the -6 than on the previous minis because of the repositioning of the buttons. There is the issue with the apple pencil, though, for those who care.