Backup Artificial Horizon

[jepropst]

If you fly a simple plane and wish that you had a cheap backup artificial horizon, you may want to look into the Apple app “Pocket Horizon Pro”. It costs about $10 and runs on an IPod, IPhone, or IPad. I tried it out this morning on an IPhone with an external “Dual” Bluetooth gps. The application performed as advertised and I feel it could be trusted as a backup artificial horizon in case of an emergency. Additional information related to the app can be found at: http://logical-drive.com/pockethorizon/ The application does require that the IPhone, IPad, or IPod be mounted horizontally and vertically perpendicular to the line of level flight. It also requires an external GPS such as the Bad Elf or Dual. I did try using the app with only the IPhone internal GPS and gyro, and while it did still function, it did lose some of its apparent stability.

[rkittine]

I have a Ram Mount for my iPhone and the following apps:

Artificial Horizon
Digital Compass
Altimeter
Airspeed Indicator

All of them are pretty inexpensive for the iPhone, though more for the iPad. Only one will run at a time on the iPhone, but maybe more could run at once on an iPad.

Thay all work great.

If the site was not full as far as pictures are concerned, I would upload a picture of my panel with the iPhone mounted.

Happy New Year - Bob

[EDGEFLY]

Bob,

Since you didn't say otherwise, I assume your reference to an "Airspeed Indicator " App, means an iPhone or iPad operable thing. I took a quick look in my iPad App Store and came up with nothing for an "airspeed indicator" app. Could you please share your source for this ?

I have the other three apps and I believe they all depend on the device GPS for source information. Also, at the moment, they do not operate and display simultaneously on my iPad 2. Surely some innovative soul will be along with a mobile device panel app which will display all of them and maybe more in parallel with Foreflight.

Dale

[rkittine]

Hi Dale,

Got it off the iTunes App. Search. I think it was $1.99 for the iPhone. Aircraft Airspeed Indicator iAware. Search Aircraft Airspeed. Maybe only available for the iPhone? Doubt it, but who knows. Same company for the others.

RAM makes a full range of mounts. Screw, clamp on or suction cup base with different length arms and many different holders. I use a Belt Clip holder to hold my Handheld radio and a clamp type for the iPhone.

Not sure if I have your E-mail address, but if you e-mail me at rkittine at sign aol dot com, I will send you a picture of the set up. Google Ram Mounts and you will get the catalog on line though it is not all that easy to navigate.

Best Bob

[Richard Murray]

Well I'm an old dog and I want to learn a new trick.
My limited knowledge of airspeed incorporates a pitot tube from which a hose delivers air to a pressure instrument.
How in the name of Steve Jobs did he or one of his disciples figure out how to measure airspeed in a closed cabin?

[jepropst]

Richard,
Since all the data is derived from the IPhone or IPad gps and gyro, my guess is that it is actually displaying ground speed and not airspeed. I found that there is almost an endless collection of aircraft instruments on itunes. While I have not tried any of these apps, there is quite a variety of aircraft type instruments shown on http://www.fliware.com It appears that the developer created the graphics from actual instruments.

[rkittine]

Yes John, like a GPS the iPhone app for Airspeed is actually Ground Speed, since I have a new Airspeed Indicator and a GPS the only App I normally have turned on in the iPhone is the Artificial Horizon when it is murky or hazy. The graphics and settings are quite accurate to the real thing.

Bob