We began our test series where all flights begin, with launch preparations. Data loggers are instruments to assist test pilots and provide additional objective information on parameters which are difficult to judge in the air such as roll and pitch angles, height loss, course changes and durations. Test pilots check the synchronized results for plausibility. Pilot and glider movements are simulated from the recorded data, and this simulation is synchronized with the video material of the test flight.
Geo 5 paraglider software#
G-Force: from the accelerometers contained in the pilot data logger the G-force acting on the pilot is calculated,Īltitude: both the barometric height (recorded at 100Hz) and the GPS height (5Hz) are recorded.ĭata processing: the processing software is written to automatically recognize the beginning and end of a test manoeuver. Velocity: the pilot data logger contains a 5 Hz GPS, from which the velocity over ground is calculated, Vertical velocity calculated over a 0.5 second window from the barometric altitude sensor, The loggers collect the following information:
Geo 5 paraglider Pc#
Data sets are transferred from standard micro-SD memory cards to a PC after landing. Logger data is collected continually from the beginning to the end of the test flight and the two instruments are synchronized with each other via a low-range radio signal. The best position for data collection has been determined to be where the C-gallery lines are attached to the canopy at the 70% collapse marker points. The pilot data logger is firmly attached to a main suspension strap on the pilots harness.Ī second smaller glider logger is attached to a cell wall inside the glider using two strong magnetic plates. The data loggers have been developed by a local engineering company together with DHV Systems Engineer Peter Wild. Over the last two years the test pilots from the DHV have been testing the use of data loggers for the documentation of flight tests. We wanted to investigate the complete bandwidth of the A and B classes, so in addition to pure LTF-A gliders we also chose both “low end” (as criteria we chose the manufacturers recommendation whether a glider should be used for schooling or not) and “high-end” LTF-B class gliders. Instructors Barbara Lacrouts, Ben Liebermeister, Björn Klaassen and Karl Slezak spent two days on a beginners slope and collected valuable information on the glider launching characteristics from approximately 200 starts. Physicist and Systems Engineer Peter Wild worked as Technical administrator for the data loggers. Flights were filmed from the ground and with on-board Gopro cameras, and recorded (see the info box) using data loggers. All flight tests were conducted by our DHV test pilots Harry Buntz and Reiner Brunn.
In addition to this, we checked the use of big-ears and B-stalling for rapid descents.
For the test we chose 16 different glider models and tested them particularly in areas most accidents occur: collapses, spiral dives and launching characteristics. We wanted to know how large the differences really are, and how well current LTF-A and LTF-B gliders are suited to pilots who don't spend too much time in the air. It is well known that there are some big differences in the expectations of required pilot skill in the “appropriate” LTF-A and LTF-B classes. For beginners and low-airtime pilots choosing a new glider is a delicate matter. This Arabic proverb reminds us that even when we trust in God we shouldn't ignore our own common sense. “Trust in Allah, but tie up your camels”.
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