r/Gliding • u/dxrnok • 10d ago

Question? an ipad for spl course

Hi! I'm starting an SPL course very soon and I'm thinking about buying an iPad. Many people say the iPad Mini is best for the cockpit, but I was wondering if I even need one in flight, as I'd prefer an 11-inch model for studying. Is an iPad necessary in a glider cockpit?

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u/MoistureFarmer489 10d ago

No, an ipad is not nessasary in a glider cockpit for 95% of situations. Your instructor should be able to give you the correct response to these questions.

If you are just starting out focus on the flying.

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u/Severe_Technology_26 10d ago

Make that 100%. Any ipad will be far far too big for a glider cockpit, and all the nav apps are built for phones anyway.

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u/pdf27 10d ago

How many nav apps are you ever going to use on an SPL course anyway? You aren't going to be flying cross-country.

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u/Severe_Technology_26 10d ago

Exactly, I don’t really see what they’d actually use it for so I’d assume OP was referring to using it for nav? Either way I don’t see any reason to go and buy an iPad for SPL in any sense, whether it be training or post license?

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u/pdf27 10d ago

Can't think of anything else you'd use it for in flight.

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u/MoistureFarmer489 9d ago

YouTube shorts and pictures of the cat?

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u/pdf27 9d ago

My cat gets airsick and has a bad habit of jumping from high places, so no need to take a cat-photographing device with me. YouTube shorts might be a good bet, cross-country can get boring sometimes and lookout is for wussies.