My iPad is the most robust available but is of the 2 generation.  I started out with an iPad 1 and used the Dual GPS converter.  I MUCH prefer the current iteration.  I think that lots of memory is good so I can have all my music (which I listen to in flight through my LightSpeed headsets) and a million other things on it including lots of photos from travels, of family etc, and of course you do need the 3G and the GPS capability to avoid the Dual or Bad Elf.  I also like to fly with a small inverter that costs about $30 from Costco or similar vendors and provides enough milliamps of AC power to keep the iPad charged up while flying.  The inverter also has a USB plug in so you can keep something else charged  – like your cell phone.  Nice thing about this is I never worry about having full charge before I go flying and I don’t have to be concerned with running out of juice on a long IFR flight.

I usually do NOT get 3G connection while airborne, but except in rare unexplained glitch periods I get GPS full time.  I don’t like to count on the in flight weather from Foreflight in flight so I load up current and forecasts before flight (using that app to flight plan and file)  then I use XM/Sirius weather on my G496 for in flight weather.  For one thing it overlays on the screen and doesn’t require much attention away from my scan.  The Foreflight takes more manipulation for me to pull up data – may be that I’m just more used to using the XM weather. 

The no service while airborne (3G) is something I don’t pay attention to with the iPad but do notice with the iPhone when I’m trying to make phone calls.  That’s irritating.  Don’t want to spend the money on SAT phone and wouldn’t use enough to justify, but it is a pain when you call someone a few minutes out to tell them you’re landing soon and they can’t hear you, the call drops etc etc etc. 

Wouldn’t like to be without my iPad even though on most simple routine flights it’s more a backup to a backup what with the G496, the G430 and so on, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything and when I’m on a new route to strange airport with weather, it’s just about indispensable  so it’s important to use often to keep familiarity on a high level.

Hope this helps.

John Barrett