Top 10 iPad Pilot Gifts for 2024

Top 10 iPad Pilot Gifts for 2024
iPad Pilot News

The team at iPad Pilot News has spent hundreds of flying hours researching and testing the best apps, gear, and accessories for iPad pilots. From rugged cases and mounts that offer maximum protection, to essential apps for training and flight preparation, these thoughtfully curated gifts are designed to make a pilot’s flying experience smoother, safer, and more organized. Whether they’re a student or seasoned pro, these top picks blend innovation with functionality to support every pilot on every flight. Explore even more iPad pilot gifts at Sportys.com.

Included Flight Gear Smart Charging Cables will charge any device with a lightning or USB-C in port.

10. Airborne iPad Charging Pack—iPad pilots are sure to have a primary device and perhaps even a backup iPad or iPhone to ensure they have access to critical flight information. Keeping these devices charged has never been more important. The Airborne Charging Pack will keep all of your mobile devices powered from engine start to shut down. Two USB ports provide up to 6.0 amps (3.0 amps each), giving it plenty of power for even the newest tablets and an integrated LED screen displays the voltage of the cigarette lighter socket it is plugged into.

9. Infinite Flight App—you can find plenty of flight simulator apps in the App Store, but most are aimed at casual gamers, not pilots. Infinite Flight is the most popular among pilots. It offers a sophisicated flying experience with plenty of customization options and a vibrant community featuring update blogs as well as community fly-ins. The app includes a Cessna 172, Cirrus SR22, and a CubCrafters XCub along with a number of maneuvers from Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course. With a few clicks, you’re able to jump between learning about a maneuver and flying it in Infinite Flight.

With a few clicks, you’re able to jump between learning about a maneuver and flying it in Infinite Flight.

8. Flight Gear iPad Bag—purpose-built specifically for today’s iPad-equipped pilots, offering a well-organized layout with custom pockets that safeguard electronics. This compact, lightweight, durable bag is designed to fit conveniently between the seats of smaller aircraft like a Cessna, ensuring your flight tools are always within reach. With a padded iPad pocket, headset hanger, and quick-access pockets for other essentials, it’s the perfect fit for modern cockpit needs. Other thoughtful features include a charging cable pass-through for powering your iPad, an external water bottle, and flashlight pockets.

Honorable mention goes to the Flight Outfitters Lift 2.0—combines the tried and tested features pilots loved from the original Lift bag with updated fabric and modern enhancements including a padded iPad sleeve.

The iPad Bag includes a charging cable pass-through for powering your iPad.

7. Sporty’s Pilot Training App—the app includes everything but the kitchen sink and has helped tens of thousands of pilots earn their pilot certificates, add new ratings, learn how to use a wide variety of advanced avionics systems and get checked out in new aircraft types. The platform is known for bringing new content, new training tools, and technological enhancements every year. Pilot Training offers pilots the ultimate flexibility in training, providing access to all of Sporty’s aviation courses on dedicated iPhone and iPad apps, Mac app, an Android app, online and on the TV, using the included apps for AppleTV, FireTV, AndroidTV, Roku and Chromecast.

The Pilot Training App brings new content, new training tools, and technological enhancements every year.

6. Flight Gear Backup Battery—In the world of the iPad pilot, flights demand power, and Flight Gear’s line of backup batteries is more than capable of keeping all your devices charged. Designed specifically for the iPad flight deck, these battery packs offer multiple USB ports and safety features that ensure stable performance. Choose from the serious power of the giant 20,000 mAh version that can charge multiple iPads at once or its little brother, the 10,000 mAh version at less than half the weight. The newest option is a 2,000 mAh, keychain-sized battery pack which is enough power to buy you an extra 30 minutes when in a pinch.

Flight Gear’s line of backup batteries is more than capable of keeping all your devices charged.

5. Flight Outfitters iPad Flight Desk—perfect for the modern iPad pilot with built-in flexibility for different missions. The innovative concept incorporates a universal kneeboard design and a custom organizer case. The kneeboard can be used independently, or nested inside the case to make the ultimate lap desk. A rigid mounting board is attached to thick, elastic straps to provide a secure surface for an iPad or phone. Three sizes of silicone holders (included) provide the perfect size for full size iPads (9-11”), iPad Mini, and most phones.

Honorable mention goes to the Flight Gear iPad Organizer—at less than half the cost, its chock-full of features including a universal mounting surface will accommodate most tablets even with a case. Looking for simplicity? Our Editors’ suggest the Rotating iPad Kneeboard. No bells and whistles, it’s just a simple mounting surface holding an iPad with elastic bands.

Three sizes of silicone holders (included) provide the perfect size for full size iPads (9-11”), iPad Mini, and most phones.

4. Robust Mounts—this collection of phone and iPad mounts offers excellent quality at surprisingly affordable prices. The cradles are universal so they accommodate different size iPads and even most cases. There are two main mounting cradles: one fits almost every phone and the other will fit every tablet. Each cradle can be matched to an adjustable arm and mounting base which includes a single or double suction cup, yoke clamp, or C-clamp base. The system uses a 25mm or 1” ball to connect the pieces. Our Editors’ pick for a complete Robust iPad mounting system is the Universsial iPad Suction Cup Mount.

The Robust series mounts have universal cradles to accommodate different size iPads, with or without cases.

3. ForeFlight Mobile—a good Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) app is essential for the iPad pilot. These all-in-one planning and navigation apps can do an amazing number of tasks, from weather briefings to moving maps. There are many apps to choose from, but ForeFlight is firmly established at the top. ForeFlight includes flight plan filing and weather briefings, digital sectionals and airport/facility directory, in-flight navigation when used with a GPS, in-flight weather (from ADS-B or SiriusXM receivers), and more. Instrument pilots will also appreciate the included IFR charts. There are even options for synthetic vision, a checklist, digital logbook, and weight and balance calculations.

ForeFlight can do an amazing number of tasks, from weather briefings to moving maps.

2. iPad Mini—the list wouldn’t be complete without a top iPad pick. Our pick is the new iPad Mini (Wi-Fi + Cellular, 256GB model). Introduced in October 2024, the iPad Mini uses Apple’s A17 Pro processor to support Apple Intelligence features. The iPad Mini continues to be the most popular model among pilots thanks to its affordability and small footprint in the cockpit. The Wi-Fi + Cellular iPads contain the internal GPS chip that can be used to activate moving map capabilities in ForeFlight; however, the Wi-Fi only model can be paired with an external GPS like Sentry which provides GPS positioning as well as in-flight weather and traffic via ADS-B.

The iPad Mini continues to be the most popular model among pilots thanks to its affordability and small footprint in the cockpit.

1. ForeFlight Sentry Plus ADS-B Receiver—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.The Sentry Plus takes the best features of its predecessor and adds upgrades that truly make it the ultimate iPad accessory for pilots. With an integrated OLED display, 18-hour battery life, and a next-generation flight data recorder, Sentry Plus keeps essential information within reach. Plus, it’s equipped with jam-resistant GPS, a built-in G-meter, and even a carbon monoxide detector, providing peace of mind in the cockpit.