Flight Data Recorder

[EHaury at aol.com]

Terry

The flight data recorder works well and provides useful information. Excel, 
and the ability to order the data, is necessary to make best use if it.  I feel 
that the altitude data are the most useful, in that they allow assessment of 
how well one returns to / maintains entry altitude, really important on things 
like vertical eights where the airplane passes through the same point thrice. 
Speed data are also informative and, I believe, can help one improve maneuver 
presentation.

Having said that, I haven't used it as much as I would like. Getting access 
to the data port through the bottom of a Hydeout isn't very convenient. We've 
flown it in Andre's Smaragd and did not get consistent altitude data, probably 
due to pressure variation within the fuselage. The manufacturer provides info 
on how to attach a tube for exterior pressure pickup, we just haven't done 
that yet. I'm building a Partner which will have a pitot tube port in the wing 
LE, the exterior pressure pickup and easy access through the canopy. All post 
season fall projects, along with checking the recorder altitude / speed numbers 
for accuracy.

Jim Oddino is using one also. We have both looked at voltage after the 
regulator. No surprises here, the regulator does the job. (Might be interesting to 
look at volts without the regulator.) Jim has effected a change in software to 
improve the range of voltage data acquisition. 

Earl
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