Any CFI recommendations for a cooling case for an ipad mini 6?

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TheSkyFlier@reddit

Not exactly what you’re looking for but I’ve got a pivot case, and the way it’s built with the thin inner case and the removable back plate creates enough air gap that I’ve never had an overheating problem even sticking it in the window in Texas. Anything you find that doesn’t completely insulate the iPad and keep the heat in should help.

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fyrcat@reddit (OP)

Thanks, I'll take a look. It is currently in a case and that is likely contributing to the heat issue. I take it out of the case and hold it over a vent until it cools down. Still not ideal.

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s2soviet@reddit

If you do decide you want a pivot case, I have a brand new unopened one sitting around for the mini 6.

Pm me if your interested.

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Unlucky_Geologist@reddit

I trained out if South FL and flew multiple 8 hour days casually in summer. Ipad mini never overheated once with my pivot case.

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TheSkyFlier@reddit

Okay I need to make a correction. I just flew today and got my iPad to overheat. Not so bad that shut down, but it did stop charging. It wasn’t draining battery, I guess because I had it plugged in, but it wasn’t charging the battery. Stayed at 58% for like 30-45 minutes. Still perfectly usable though. I did point a Cherokee air vent at it, but it didn’t do anything. If yours is overheating so much it shuts down and unusable then an actively cooled case might be what you need.

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DatabaseGangsta@reddit

I second the PIVOT case. Never had an overheating issue with it

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Davelength@reddit

This is how I set up my MGF cooling case. I have a second identical battery since I would often need more than one on a long day. Works great, and the battery tilts the top up to make it a little easier to see.

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MeatServo1@reddit

Cover the screen with a checklist to keep direct sunlight off of it.

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BozoThePilot@reddit

Serious advice, keep your ipad out of the sun. I don't strap mine to my knee. I keep it towards my stomach and I have it one of those ipad organizer kneeboards that come with a cover over the ipad.

I've never had an ipad shut off on me since. Also if you're flying in an airplane with up to date databases, you don't even really need the ipad mid-flight, save for approach/departure plates (and depending on the avionics you may not even need the ipad for that).

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Zealousideal_20008@reddit

super simple thing i’ve done based on recommendation from another cfi and it works great is to drape a microfiber cloth that you use on the windshield over top of it. it keeps the sun from baking it and works better than expected for a couple bucks.

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Both_Coast3017@reddit

Also try to keep the iPad out of the sun, especially when you aren’t using it. I would put mine into a side pocket or down by my feet to give it time to cool down when things weren’t busy

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Prestigious-Elk-9061@reddit

I’m not a CFI, but had similar overheat and shutdown issues when I started instrument training, which REALLY sucked. I found the Scooch iPad Heat Blocking Screen Protector and it seems to work pretty well. It’s not perfect but seems to buy me some extra time and might be worth the $60 to try.

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TxAggieMike@reddit

Sporty’s recently listed a cooling solution for the Mini’s called Bluebird.

But at $499.00, I think they have priced themselves out of the market in a big way.

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cptnpiccard@reddit

At that price you might as well purchase another iPad and just alternate between the two when one of them heats up.

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Poo_Canoe@reddit

That’s what I do. Redundancy.

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TxAggieMike@reddit

I might be a customer below $200.

But I agree that at $500 it is too much.

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Ok-Motor1883@reddit

Another option is a just a battery powered clip fan that blows on it specifically.

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One_Technician1086@reddit

Probably not the road you want to go as it won’t look pretty, but if you buy on Amazon, a cheap case, small 3d printer fan, a shallow depth plastic container, a AAA battery holder, usb-c input, and a switch you can make your own for about $35 that’s battery powered or plugin powered. I just wired the batteries and usb-c input to the switch and then to the fan and cut holes and hot glued it together and I got a semi sleek looking fan case that works exceptionally well

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Accomplished_Beat418@reddit

I use a RAM mount stuck to the furthest right of the wind screen, as far forward as possible, and tilted to keep it tucked under the right side dash.

This keeps it out of the sun, out of the path of the flight controls + my hand, and keeps it relatively cool with the air inlet facing straight down. I can’t stand the feeling of the air directly onto my face and bleeding into my comms, so it all works out perfectly. Perfect line of sight, no intrusion around the flight controls at all, and cooling throughout flight.

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TxAggieMike@reddit

This summer, I have been thinking of rigging a simple dyi shade made of cardboard and aluminum foil.

Or thin insulation board that has a reflective surface.

Or maybe an old ball cap. That could keep direct sunlight off of Mini and and make screen a bit easier to see.

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rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

I CFI in Florida and the heat has arrived. I've now had my ipad overheat and shut down on me twice in flight. Not all of our planes have ADSB-In so I really want to solve this.

I ordered the X-Naut Cooling Case from Sporty's but felt like it felt bulky and cheap and wouldn't handle sitting on my lap well, so I sent it back.

I'm considering the MyGOFlight Sport Cool Case but the whole USB strap sticking out between the case and the iPad seems like it would get in the way. Having no battery built in to the case itself means you have to use that cable or tether the case to the airplane / power brick. Not ideal.

I have seen the Bluebird Aero ipad case and it looks sleek like it would work on my lap, it has it's own battery but it also costs a premium. I can't find any reviews of this case and it seems like they're built by a guy in his garage and only has a 6 month warranty. Anyone use one of these?

Any other cooling cases I should consider?
While the option to mount is nice, I currently don't want to yoke mount or suction cup mount because I'm moving between different planes and not all of our planes have a yoke (center stick LSA) and some have a sliding or clamshell canopy (no suction cup).

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