.IGC Flight Analysis
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seeyou lxnav igc flight analysis datalogger clear nav

It can be used by everyone, for perfecting your circuits with the guidance of your instructor looking over your shoulder giving advice, perhaps going for your 5hr soaring flight or completing your first 500km FAI triangle under the guidance of a local coach, right up to the very top end of the spectrum of winning a world championship – it’s a tool that everyone needs in their toolbox to maximize the enjoyment of this wonderful sport of ours!

Datalogger

The GPS log comes from a datalogger, there are many on the market and it’s important that you choose the right one for you, your syndicate, club, or glider in general.  This data logger, for example, the LX9070 or ClearNav vario (what I choose to fly with) produces an IGC file, which once run within the SeeYou program, can provide a detailed analysis of your flight.  It can allow us to collect statistical data similar to footballers or yachting races, 3D replay is available, along with replaying multiple flights to see how you and your buddy interacted together during the day, or by seeing how he/she also got the jump on you to win the days race.  Sadly the really good bar stories of hearing the day winner ‘say’ he/she got away from 300’ in 10kts are basically gone now, because one can’t hide it or tell a white lie anymore

Sure it may not pay to get that detailed, but occasionally one can lose a podium by a matter of points, or not being able to complete your first 750km flight because you ran out of light by just a few minutes, it does happen.  Legendary UK coach and author of ‘The soaring engine’ lost a bronze medal at the Prievidza club class world gliding championships by just points, he did the calculations and learned that because he had his logger on a 4-second interval and not 1 second, he came 4th – a brutal lesson, but with just a few points in it, even a small improvement can be tremendously worthwhile.  It may reveal fundamental errors, which will give you big leaps of improvement too, or at worst, confirm that you are doing things correctly.  It’s a great confidence builder in the last statement written, which in itself is priceless.

Flight Analysis Program

Gliding is a complex sport, perhaps that’s the attraction for many.  You can fly higher, faster, farther, or do cleaner aerobatics.  With SeeYou flight analysis program we can get all sorts of useful data out of our GPS dataloggers, let us have a look at some of them below...

  • Where did we contact the thermal?  Overlay the satellite picture, see if you can visualize the thermal source then lock it away for the future?
  • What was your circle radius? How long did it take you to complete a 360*? This can help with water ballast management, perhaps bugs on the wings are the issue, perhaps it’s because you’re thermalling too flat and not able to stay in the thermal, or even compare thermalling speeds of that of your mate!
  • Wind drift and thermal structure?  Did you notice the wind speed pick up as you climbed higher? Did that move the expectation of where you found the lift under the cloud? Perhaps you missed an opportunity of thermal wave – do you know how to recognize it upon reflection?
  • Turnpoints, did you manage to get just one point into it, or have you wasted too much time going too far into it?
  • Off-track deviations? I use a total of 7% extra track kilometers than actual for an acceptable general deviation rule of thumb. 
  • What was your average cruise speed? Average glide distances and at what glide ratio?
  • Do others fly faster in sink and slower in lift, or vice versa?
  • What is your average climb strength for the day? How does it compare to others? Perhaps they were turning tighter or flying slower, have a look!
  • How much time or height did you waste looking for or centering climbs?

The list goes on and on, there is so much information within this terrific program, ask to sit down with a local idol at your club sometime, I’m sure they’d be willing to help you step through it!

Banner Photo by Wings & Wheels
 

Adam Woolley  Adam Woolley was born into the gliding world, being the 3rd generation in his family. Going solo at 15, his thirst for efficiency in soaring flight & quest for a world championship title to his name has never wavered. One big passion is sharing his experiences & joy with other glider pilots all around the world. Adam is an airline pilot in Japan on the B767 & spends his off time chasing summer around the globe. He has now won 7 national Championships & represented Australia at 5 WGC's & 1 EGC.