Iridium vs. Starlink Mini in the Blackwing – What Works with the Garmin G3X?

One of the questions that often comes up when I meet other Blackwing pilots is connectivity.
How do we get weather and data in the cockpit, and more importantly – how does it integrate with the avionics?

My Setup – Iridium via ADL190

In my Blackwing, I’ve installed the Golze ADL190.

• It uses the Iridium satellite network, giving me worldwide coverage.
• I pay around €40 per month for the service.
• Weather data is sent straight into my iPad (SkyDemon) and also appears on the Garmin G3X, provided there’s a compatible ADS-B In link in the chain.
• It’s not “broadband internet”, but for weather and basic messaging, it works reliably anywhere.

The Alternative – Starlink Mini (the “Sterling antenna”)

Some Blackwing owners like Julian Walder in his SE-MCE Blackwing have gone for a different approach: a Starlink Mini terminal, which costs about €50 per month.

• This gives them high-speed internet in the cockpit, good enough for email, live maps, or even video calls.
• For tablets, phones, and laptops, it’s a game-changer.
• But: the Garmin G3X cannot use this internet directly, Julian tells me. The panel only understands weather/traffic from Garmin-approved receivers (GDL 39/50/52, GTX 45R, GNX 375, etc.) or via the Golze ADL.

Can You Combine Them?

Yes. Starlink can serve as a fast backhaul for the ADL190. Instead of pulling weather over Iridium, the ADL can use Wi-Fi (Starlink) to fetch the data – and then still pass it on to the G3X in the proper format. But you cannot simply plug Starlink into the G3X.

The Fine Print

Starlink officially reserves “in-flight” use for its Business Aviation packages, which are far more expensive than €50/month. Many GA pilots nevertheless use the Mini informally, especially at GA speeds and altitudes, but it’s worth being aware of the service limitations.

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Conclusion

• Iridium ADL190 = proven, certified, fully integrated with G3X.
• Starlink Mini = brilliant broadband in the cabin, but not linked to Garmin avionics.
• Best of both worlds: keep the ADL190, and let it use Starlink as a faster data pipe if you really want live internet on top of cockpit weather.

For me, the ADL remains the safer choice – but I can definitely see the appeal of having Starlink onboard for passengers and for those longer ferry flights. Maybe I will add a Starlink Mini Antenna as well, we’ll see

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Join the Discussion

I’m very interested to exchange with other pilots on this subject and to hear first-hand experiences. If you’re flying with Starlink, ADL, or any other solution in your Blackwing (or another aircraft), please drop me a line in the comment section below.