FREE-FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS

Photo: Marcus King

FREE-FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS

From solar-powered matchbox to full-spec comp machines, choosing the right vario for your trip is important

Cross Country Promotion

Not every pilot wants to travel with a full-weight instrument. As well as the weight, general travel insurance tends not to fully cover expensive electronics. Obviously full-spec instruments are best for flying competitions, but if you are going hike-and-fly, vol-biv or simply want to keep things simple while you travel, then light is often right.

Fortunately there are lots of lightweight, low bulk, robust instruments that will work for most pilots. At their simplest these can be simple beepers, which register if you are going up or down. They can be the size of a key ring, clip on to a riser, and sit there for your whole trip. Many of them are solar-powered. The upside is they are cheap, easy to use and do the job, but they won’t have a screen or be able to record your flight.

Further up the scale are units that can be paired with your smartphone to make a fully-functioning vario/GPS that can track, record your flights and has a screen. You will need to factor in battery charging for your phone however, which can add weight. Above those are small all-inones. These cost more but are full of features, typically have a screen, and the battery will see you through a full day’s flying. Some can even be used as competition instruments.

The latest developments in instrument technology is all around collision-avoidance and seeing where other aircraft – including your buddies – are in the sky. This can actually change the way you fly – you can see pilots climbing on your screen and go there!

A top tip before travelling is to test your new device, either on the ground or, better, in the air. Get to grips with how it works before you get to take-off on a mission-critical day.

LeGPSBip+

This is a solar-powered vocal GPS assistant with instant vario – the only Vario/GPS that speaks to you! It records your tracks (8Gb memory), has a high precision vario thanks to its accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, and, with a double-tap, it tells you all the flight information you need: altitude, speed, climb rate, duration, etc. It also records KML files that can be opened in Google Earth where you can see all your stats, and an FAI/CIVLcertified IGC file. Three customisable profiles can be set (eg XC, hike-and-fly, tandem). Solar-powered, it weighs just 35g!

lebipbip.com, sales@stodeus.com

Skytraxx

Skytraxx have been developing and tailoring flight instruments for 10 years. Their products are born out of their own enthusiasm for flying, and refined by countless pilots, from beginners to world-class athletes. Instruments are feature-rich while being simple and intuitive. Manufactured in the heart of Europe they cater to all pilots, from hike-and-fly to technology enthusiasts. All Skytraxx instruments come with FANET+, the open communication standard that combines with FLARM for collision avoidance. Realtime data display, from the location of your friends in the air to live weather, rounds off this featurepacked machine.

skytraxx.eu

SkyDrop

At just 68g the SkyDrop is a very light fullfeatured instrument with display. It includes all the basic and advanced functions of a vario/GPS in a compact casing with four distinctive colour options. As well as the instant vario, it features Bluetooth connectivity with Android and iOS, with fully customisable screens and widgets. A certified IGC logger, it can be used in FAI Cat 1 and PWCA competitions. Waypoint navigation includes airspace violation warnings, altitude above ground, wind speed and direction, thermal assistant, a digital compass and G-sensor. And it’s tiny! just 98x56x18mm.

skybean.eu

Digifly

The Digifly Air is a top-of-the-line, high resolution display instrument with full functionality. It has 30-hour battery life and a clear display, and is one of the few instruments that has a pitot tube. Simple enough to use straight out of the box, you can also customise it to fit your level and style. Although packed with features it is simple enough to use, and is aimed at new pilots as well as time-served competition pilots. The sensitive vario uses 10 – yes 10! – sensors to ensure no time-lag between hitting lift and being told about it. Clear to read, the Air can be as simple or complex as you like. This instrument could last your whole flying career.

digifly.com

MIPFly

MIPFly One was born from a combined love of flight and electronics. Designed with openness and expandability in mind, for a large range of pilots – from beginners to veterans. The readability of the 4.4” screen in full sun is incredible, and it has a refresh rate of 20fps. It features most top-line vario features: GPS, live tracking, maps, weather, thermal assist, IGC logging, AGL, task management, waypoint navigation and a customisable UI, and also has support for Bluetooth and Wireless extensions.

mipfly.com

Naviter

If you’re looking for a full-spec instrument, the Oudie 5 is it. Now with integrated FANET+ and FLARM, it allows you to share the sky with friends and enjoy the safety of being seen by others. With pre-loaded worldwide maps and airspace, it works right out of the box. The Oudie 5 XC is a cutdown version for noncomp pilots; the Oudie 5 pro offers advanced competition functionality. In combination with the highly regarded SeeYou software, the Oudie 5 offers pre-flight planning, inflight navigation, and post-flight analysis.

naviter.com