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View Full Version : How Do Pilots Hold Their Pocket PCs?

Brad Adrian
02-23-2003, 04:29 AM
<a href="http://www.diblasi.com/aviation.htm">http://www.diblasi.com/aviation.htm</a><br /><br />Here's a tool that could prove to be very useful to anybody who needs to hang onto a Pocket PC/GPS system while flying an airplane (or driving a car, for that matter): the NavPad.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/kneeboard.jpg" /><br /><br />"The perfect mounting solution for your handheld GPS or PDA in stick-controlled airplanes, helicopters, unltralights. The display is visible at a glance without special mounts or permanent installations. The tapered circular base conforms to your leg and is secured by a simple Velcro strap. Your electronic device is perfectly protected against vibrations. Instead of a GPS attach a clip board and you have a hands-free chart holder. Price: $39.95"<br /><br />I know that this is being marketed for pilots, but I can envision other times when this kind of device could really come in handy:<br /><br />• While using a GPS/mapping system while driving a car<br />• For hanging onto a Pocket PC while boating<br />• To reduce fatigue during lengthy Pocket PC game playing<br />• To make using a Pocket PC simpler during long waits at the doctor, dentist, etc.<br />• Just one more way to look really cool while using your Pocket PC<br /><br />What about you? Any ideas for additional uses?
opus
02-23-2003, 04:48 AM
Just one more way to look really cool while using your Pocket PC
If your audience is PPCT readers, absolutely. If your audience is regular folks, replace "cool" with "maxi-ultra-dorky" :roll:

And, yes, I want one... :oops:

-- Opus
Cortex
02-23-2003, 04:56 AM
not sure i'd like to fly with the guy who:

1. has a big yellow piece of plastic velcro'd to his leg

2. is looking at that big yellow piece of plastic on his leg
ombu
02-23-2003, 05:05 AM
not sure i'd like to fly with the guy who:

1. has a big yellow piece of plastic velcro'd to his leg

2. is looking at that big yellow piece of plastic on his leg

Me neither, but maybe they have a blue model! :lol:

It would be perfect with a keyboard holder. :lol:

Regards.
Steven Cedrone
02-23-2003, 05:21 AM
not sure i'd like to fly with the guy who:

1. has a big yellow piece of plastic velcro'd to his leg

2. is looking at that big yellow piece of plastic on his leg

Well, as long as they take it off before exiting the aircraft...

Steve
fivespeed
02-23-2003, 06:57 AM
$39.95??? I bet you could make one of these for less than $5.
Sheynk
02-23-2003, 07:31 AM
$39.95??? I bet you could make one of these for less than $5.

make that 4.95!!! :D
Paul
02-23-2003, 08:06 AM
You could always tell ppl that you're checking your blood pressure...
gfunkmagic
02-23-2003, 09:05 AM
Well as a pilot let me say that this is rather awkward. First of all, most pilots already have their flight check-lists and plans attached to their legs via velcro attachments similar to those shown. The idea of having your flight check list velcroed to one leg and this PPC velcroed to your other leg is ridiculous. Whenever we've taken a GPS module, just place along side the dask or attached via suction cup to the window. Otherwise this would be very uncomfortable to fly with...
Ekkie Tepsupornchai
02-23-2003, 09:52 AM
In another color, I'd love to try one of these out... don't know if I'd pay $40 ahead without a trial though.
numo
02-23-2003, 10:40 AM
An iPaq with a sleeve and additional card is quite bulky. I don't think that this is a) comfortable, b) actually usable when there are some even light g-forces, c) desirable to use during flight (or driving) - you don't see anything outside when looking at this (as opposed to panel-mount, when you can at least use your peripheral vision).
johncruise
02-23-2003, 08:13 PM
For those saying why put this into your leg while you can mount this on your dashboard/cupholder/etc, here is a quote from the article

"Your electronic device is perfectly protected against vibrations"

About the color... I couldn't agree more with you guys. Maybe Jason would be the only one to buy one of this things in yellow since he likes Wolverine very much :lol: j/k
Steven Cedrone
02-23-2003, 08:24 PM
An iPaq with a sleeve and additional card is quite bulky. I don't think that this is a) comfortable, b) actually usable when there are some even light g-forces, c) desirable to use during flight (or driving) - you don't see anything outside when looking at this (as opposed to panel-mount, when you can at least use your peripheral vision).

But don't pilots use legboards or am I dreaming???

Steve
PetiteFlower
02-23-2003, 08:25 PM
I'd actually love to have something like this that I could put on my desk rather then my leg. But not for $40!
Busdriver
02-23-2003, 08:57 PM
I'm afraid this would get in the way of the catering 8O

But seriously, I personally haven't used a kneepad since I flew in the military. And when I did use it, I needed it to write on. I'm not flying small airplanes right now, but if I did I would probably mount the PPC on the control yoke and continue to use a kneepad to write on. BTW, I can't read my Casio 125's screen in the cockpit during the day. I guess I need a PPC with one of those newfangled screens.

As far as the price is concerned, anytime anything gets even remotely associated with aviation then the price skyrockets.
yawanag
02-24-2003, 12:19 AM
One use would be to put on my leg while waiting to be called at the beauty parlor. I lost a stylus when I jumped up after being called. At the time, they cost $14.95. I know it could happen again with the stylus but I'm more conscious of it now.

The second way I'd use it if it weren't so gaudy is in Church. When the minister says, "Let's turn to . . ."

PetiteFlower, there is already a device out there you would love. It's called PDA PIVOT and can be found at www.mobilefanatic.com. I bought it for my Jornada 548. Don't use it as much now that I have T-Mobile but it is still a great product. The site shows abour 10 ways you can convert it. Take a peek.
cavuu
02-24-2003, 01:13 AM
It is unlikely that the gps would get a good or acceptable signal with it on the knee in a metal aircraft without an external antenna. Might be handy in an open ultralight.
I can just picture a pilot walking into the FBO with his yellow PDA mount on one leg and the kneeboard on the other, power plug hanging from the belt. Would make a good cartoon :D
ctmagnus
02-24-2003, 07:20 AM
PetiteFlower, there is already a device out there you would love. It's called PDA PIVOT and can be found at www.mobilefanatic.com. I bought it for my Jornada 548. Don't use it as much now that I have T-Mobile but it is still a great product. The site shows abour 10 ways you can convert it. Take a peek.

I was thinking about that too. Seems more useful to me, but of course I'm not a pilot.
numo
02-24-2003, 11:53 AM
But don't pilots use legboards or am I dreaming???
AFAIK they do, but these don't usually weigh 250+ g nor is their center of gravity 10 cm above the leg. And I really hope they clip the important papers to the yoke and are not trying to read the approach chart on their knees :-)

Seriously, it is one thing to quickly look something up (especially what you have written there) and another thing to try to decipher a tiny screen in flight.