Flight Data Recorder

[Bryan Kennedy]

Great feedback. I have seen this item and have been planning on calling
them. I think they need to interface it with G2 flight sim to give you a
complete playback. I assume all you see is the stick movements form the info
I have seen on the web.
 
Looks like this could be a real learning tool if we could integrate it into
some package (like G2)  that would show us not only a front view (ie. Box)
but a top view (ie. 150m) maybe the next step is to add GPS.
 
It sure would be nice to download each round and analyze the info..
 
Bryan
 
NSRCA 1744
AMA  1744

-----Original Message-----
From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org] On
Behalf Of EHaury at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 1:26 PM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Flight Data Recorder


An ad in the latest MA by Eagle Tree Systems for a Flight Data Recorder
attracted my attention. Being able to record airspeed / altitude / servo
commands, etc., for review after a flight would seem to be a useful tool for
pattern and this device is advertised to do just that for a reasonable price
($150). Details are at: www.eagletreesystems.com

The first good sign is service, ordered Tues. morning and received Fri.
Second good sign is that the software loaded on my PC without a hitch. The
recorder calibrated as described and was in a Hydeout and in the air in no
time (still Friday). Lastly, data from the flight transferred to my PC for
evaluation. (A supplied USB cord between the recorder and PC.)

It's tricky to interpret the data from the supplied graphics in that you
need to figure out just where in the pattern the data were generated. I flew
a take off sequence with a level 180 to enter the pattern, so altitude data
were consistent for a while and the first pull-up was obvious. With the
playback on slo-mo, altitude changes and elevator inputs allow one to follow
a pattern pretty well.

The data can be transferred to Excel and manipulated to provide graphics of
the data of interest. It took about 45 min. to build charts of airspeed,
elev, and altitude for the Square on Corner (I'm a bit Excel rusty). The
data clearly show the entry altitude, the altitude gained (or lost) between
elevator inputs, max altitude, finish altitude, and the airspeed through the
maneuver. Pretty nifty!

The device comes set to capture data at the rate of 4/sec which will give 22
min. of record. I found that 8/sec is probably better for our use (10/sec
max available) and that will give about 13 min of record. When the buffer is
full it stops collecting until reset. I've made no effort to verify speed
and altitude measurements except that with the recommended altitude
calibration it knows the runway is 0 altitude. (Relative numbers are of good
value anyway.)

Overall this device looks to be a useful tool to help one improve practice
sessions. There is no realtime downlink or closed loop control, so nothing
outside the rules. (Hmmm - judge thinks entry and exit altitudes differ,
wonder if he / she would like to see the real numbers?) 

Earl



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