Been using MSFS for years. I currently have a 1080p monitor and honeycomb alpha with pedals.
Now I want to go to the next level by having external monitors for panels. I have a few old iPads that I’d like to use for pfd, mfd and switches.
What’s the best software or hardware to buy so I can go to the next level?
Thanks
@Crunchmeister71 is the resident Guru.
Maybe he will reply.
Air Manager is probably your best bet for that. There are hundreds of instruments, switches, etc available for it. It’s a payware app though. Not cheap by any means, but worth every penny IMHO.
There are a couple of caveats:
Don’t buy the iPad version. Get the desktop version that will allow you to download and install custom instruments.
You will need a program like SpaceDesk or Duet that allows you to use your iPads as wireless touch monitors. You can then display your Air Manager panels on those screens.
If you plan on using instruments that use popout screens from the sim (GNS 530/430, G1000, etc), I strongly recommend using Popout Panel Manager (free) to manage the popout of instruments and placement.
If you use touch-based instruments like the G3X, G3000/5000 or GTN750, you’ll have to enable touch support for the specific popout windows in Popout Manager, as there’s no native touch support in MSFS.
I was looking at air manager. It looks ok.
However, it requires popping out panels from MSFS. And adjusting and resizing. It sounds like a hassle.
I was hoping that there are native apps. I will try AM and report back
Thank you
There are no apps that will do GPS screens natively.
That’s what Popout Panel Manager is for. You have to manually pop them out and place and size them the first time. Annoying for sure. But once you’ve done it once, POPM will automatically pop them out and place them for you.
I second Air Manager. I used to have a iPad mounted in the radio stack position, and toggle between a radio stack and ForeFlight. A shame the pic is cropped, but you get the idea. A quick double click of the home key, and I’d have all my nav/com, transponder, etc, ready to go.
For the instruments, I also used Air Manager and a 17” USB monitor. Super low resource requirements.
The bezels were styrofoam cups, cut off and painted black.
The Captain had chicken, topped with mozzarella, basil pesto and a tomato slice. 
Beautiful!
I will install spacedesk, air manager and pop out panel manager.
I have 4 iPads and a Lenovo touch laptop (very old) and will give it a try.
SpaceDesk and Popout Panel Manager are a good combo and they are free. Might be worth trying out to see if you want to go that way.
This is the layout I use for the Honda Jet. Main panels are a pair of 22" touch screens. Left and pedestal touch screens are Wimaxit 15.6".
I have older iPads with ios 9.3.5 and itunes says Spacedesk and AirManager are not compatable. Do you know if there is any way to use these older ipads with MSFS 2024?
I have an old iPad with spacedesk, it works fine. Air manager sees it as another monitor and works fine. Did you try it?
