How to mount and use your iPhone as an EFB in the cockpit

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The larger iPhones are finding a home in many cockpits, which can run full-featured versions of popular flight planning and navigation apps like ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot. Regardless of how you use your iPhone, it's smart to secure it in the cockpit. Here are a few options from Robust, RAM and MyGoFlight that offer convenient ways to keep them stable.

New high-output USB charger powers 3 devices at once

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Keeping all of your portable devices charged before flight presents a challenge for pilots, as the number can quickly grow to over 6 devices. Sporty's latest Flight Gear Three Port Smart Charger simplifies this task thanks to its ability to deliver up to 65 watts and charge three devices simultaneously.
iPad kneeboard

New slimline iPad kneeboards—universal fit, low price

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Our never-ending quest for the perfect iPad kneeboard has turned up a new contender: the Slimline Rotating Kneeboard from Flight Gear. This simple, no-frills kneeboard is (as the name suggests) small and unobtrusive in the cockpit—perfect for the pilot who's worried about a kneeboard interfering with the yoke during takeoff and landing. At only $22.95, it's also one of the least expensive iPad kneeboards we've seen.
GPS outage

GPS outages—how ADS-B receivers can protect against jamming

Portable ADS-B receivers like Sentry are must-have devices for many pilots, delivering subscription-free weather that helps make better in-flight decisions. Beyond datalink weather, many pilots have also discovered the value of having a portable ADS-B receiver as a backup. There's another level of redundancy that most pilots don't consider, though: GPS failure.

Stratus 3 ADS-B receiver adds new app and avionics compatibility

The Stratus line of ADS-B receivers has been a pilot favorite for over ten years now, thanks to their ease of use and reliable reception of ADS-B traffic and weather. The latest model, Stratus 3, recently added support for new aviation apps and panel-mount avionics systems.
Battery pack

Updated Flight Gear battery pack adds features, cuts size

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Keeping all your portable devices charged in the cockpit isn't easy. Our favorite option for the last few years has been a sleek white battery brick from Flight Gear, and now an updated version is available. The Flight Gear Battery Pack is 20% smaller than the preceding generation and still just half an inch thick, but it packs 20,000 mAh of power. There's even a new organizer case.
Roll-up organizer

New roll-up organizer contains your charging accessories

The growing popularity of portable electronic devices means a growing stash of charging cables, cigarette lighter plugs, and battery packs. Before long, the bottom of your flight bag can look like a giant bowl of spaghetti. A new roll-up organizer is a simple but surprisingly helpful tool to combat this disorganization. 

Portable ADS-B and SiriusXM receiver buyer’s guide

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For the price of a few flight lessons, you can have in-flight weather (ADS-B or SiriusXM), GPS, traffic, flight data recorder and a backup attitude/heading display, all on your iPad. There are a lot of options out there, so we assembled this buyer's guide to help you sort out the details, with updated information covering ForeFlight's new Sentry Plus.
Charging cable with screen

New charging cables include status screen

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Charging cables used to be simple: buy one with a Lightning connector and plug it into your iPad. But since the early days of tablets, things have become much more complicated. We've recently been flying with some new cables that finally solve this problem, and add some helpful features as well.
Sentry Plus ADS-B Receiver by ForeFlight

ForeFlight launches next generation Sentry ADS-B receiver

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Now there’s a new top dog in the portable weather receiver market, with the introduction of Sentry Plus. While slightly larger than the original Sentry, it’s still a compact and lightweight device that easily mounts on a side window via a suction cup. In addition to popular features like datalink weather and traffic, Sentry Plus includes some thoughtful upgrades and performance enhancements. Here’s a look at some of the new features.
Bivy app screens

Bivy Stick offers new option for in-flight messaging

A portable satellite communicator is ideal for updating friends and family when your ETA changes or for tracking flights in remote areas. Now there's a new player in this market. ACR Electronics, a well-known manufacturer of personal locator beacons, has launched the Bivy Stick.
Garmin Pilot emergency mode

Using the Garmin D2 Mach 1 smartwatch with Garmin Pilot and inReach

Garmin's latest smartwatch for pilots, the D2 Mach 1, is loaded with all the advanced features you'd expect from an industry-leading avionics company: GPS, moving map, pulse oximeter, altimeter, fitness tracking, and smartphone notifications. But the watch also is another node in Garmin's Connext platform, which ties together multiple devices in the cockpit, from iPad apps to panel avionics.