Preflight is one thing, the other is weather dynamics. I do mostly long legs (5 hrs) and during this time weather can change significantly. Forecasts are a good estimate, but often quite wrong.
Well, it's all possible, but the fitted systems are 5 figures, plus a significant running cost, and the DIY solutions are a bit messy.
However, the bottom line is that this
is all you really need. £300 for the phone, say $200 for the SIM and a big initial topup ($160) and some cheap little Windows laptop.
I do exactly that but I use the old LS800.
If you want it on an Ipad then you are up against the Apple User Experience and Maximum Permitted Functionality Determination Politburo 
I have tried Thuraya couple of years ago (inspired by Peter's article on satellite telephony) and found it useless for data - but ended up calling briefing rooms to get TAFs and METARs (probably twice when unable to get them from Info etc...) with it - so it did kind of deliver ;-) (never the less I returned it). But I'm a rather cautions pilot that does not fly if there is a good chance of marginal weather in destination(s) or possibility of icing/thunderstorm on route in my "attainable" FL.
I might give Thuraya a new try to see if it improved at all.
To summarise my findings, admittedly from c. 2009, is that the old Hughes-made 7100/7101 worked (and works today) fine, for the 9.6k dial-up which is all it can do as far as internet data goes.
The GMPRS-capable phones were just too buggy for my patience.
Their new XT phone may be worth a look (IF Thuraya have fixed their GMPRS service) but I haven't found anybody who will lend me one, given the critical nature of my last review 
But the XT's relevance is only if you want GMPRS and its extra speed.
I might speak to Skydemon people about this - they do have a rudimentary weather 'display' in the PC preflight/planning displays which are replicated on their real-time GPS device (based upon METAR data loaded at the last device sync before going flying).
They seem to appreciate that having 'all data in one place' is a good strategy and also seem to have the charts/updating of issue, cracked - albeit at the cost of an annual subscription. So their view will be interesting.
I might also pose a question to the LAA about it, though I fear the lawyer factor will drive a 'we can't endorse inflight weather radar for VFR a/c' response - I hope I am wrong.
Has anyone any experience of reasonable contacts in the CAA who might respond to a question on the mattter?
we can't endorse inflight weather radar for VFR a/c
What you do in the cockpit regarding portable equipment, on a private flight, is nothing to do with any regulatory authority.
There are prohibitions on the carriage of things like guns
I use "Rainy Days" on Android. Shows pretty good Euro weather radar. Typically I use it before setting out to make sure that there are gaps in the showers when you have scattered Cb's around and it is pretty accurate. Works in the air if you can get 3G coverage.
PS I did email Tim Dawson a while ago about adding a similar feature to Skydemon whereby it would overlay the precipitation radar onto the Skydemon chart.
Peter,
you said that you need the satellite connection for METARs and TAFs because in some countries ATC is not able to deliver that information. I agree about ATC but I wonder whether it should be possible to get the desired information from other airliners. Every airliner nowadays has the ability to download METARs/TAFs (besides Ryan Air) and it should be fairly obvious that ATC is having trouble understanding you. Shouldn't you always be able to find some bored airliner copilot that can get you the information?
We are spoiled in Central Europe. RADAR coverage everywhere and ATC can overlay precipitation and strikes on their screen and help you circumnavigate.
