Today my ipad3 overheated and shutdown mid flight whilst running in navigation mode. The iPad was mounted on my knee in portrait mode and shutdown approx 50 minutes into a return flight from Abberville in France to the UK. Although the cockpit temperature was not uncomfortable, the device was in direct sunlight under the perspex canopy of a DA40. I was wondering if the IPad app is rather processor hungry whilst operating in GPS mode? I intend to reduce the brightness of the display and turn off the 3g funtionality on the next flight to see if that aids the problem.

The iPad cannot be made to overheat by software, no matter how processor hungry (SkyDemon isn't particularly so). Leaving them on the dash in full sun has resulted in this happening in the past, though, they are known for it somewhat.

Did you have a power cable connected? The third generation iPad gets pretty warm whilst charging. I guess if you coupled this with heavy use and some direct sunlight, it could be enough to get it too hot...

Virtually all Apple's products have an overheating problem, including but not limited to, iPads, MacBooks and iPods. Indeed this is one of the reasons why iPod 200Gb was withdrawn from the market a few years ago and we are now static at iPod 160GB. This overheating is a serious problem with Apple's products as it damages the rechargeable batteries, markedly shortening their life spans.

Very Newbytheway

DurhamTeaseAirport

I recently flew 1000nm to the s. of France and back with an iPad 3 plugged in throughout (and very slowly discharging, about 3% an hour) and mounted on my yoke (AA5B). I had no overheating problems at all; I wonder if it needs more air circulation that it might get sitting on a lap?