Ag-Flying -Light bar setup.

[Lowlevldevl]

Talking to different pilots, everyone has their own preference for how their lightbars should be set up. Some (like me) prefer a linear arrangement, where each light is set at increments of say 1m all the way to the end of the bar ( apart from the first either side of centre which is at .5m) This puts the last light at 14m (Satloc)
Often I'll get into an aircraft somebody else has flown and the bar is set so the end lights are at say 250m with intervals reducing down to 1m spacing near the centre. Whats the reason for this?
How do you work out what the incremental values are? I need to know this so I can set it back up the way it was when I get out again:E
While we're at it, how about the bottom row, angle? What and why?
Cheers.

[Agwaggon]

AArrrrhhh,, So your the bastard !!!:*

[Dizzee Rascal]

Sorry for being thick but what the hell are you talking about?

[Lowlevldevl]

This is a lightbar. Its part of the GPS guidance system we use so that we fly evenly spaced parallel lines. Works a bit like a localiser but can be set up by the pilot to his personal preference.
In this example the next line is 24 m to the left and the correct track is a few degrees to the right on line number 125 (or 125 kts or 125 litres/ ha) depending on how its been set up

http://www.agnav.com/ind_largebright.gif

[Rarely Dble Amber]

I only tried working with a linear light bar once. Didnt like it much. With the non linear setup, I have a better feeling for how quickly i am closing in on the line. With the Del Norte light bar we have 30 lights either side of centre.. heaps!! if lights 1-10 are set at 1 metre, lights 11-20 are at 2 metres and lights 21-30 set at 3 metres. (or something like that) So at about 60 metres or when im about 3/4 of the way around my turn the lights start going out, then as the rate of closure decreases the sensitivity increases, a such the lights continue to go out at about the same rate. Then when Ive rolled wings level and start in on the run it is as sensitive as it is going to get. It just gives me feedback from about the time Im starting to look for my next entry point. If I need to know when Im 250 metres from the line I just look at the dist off track figure that is also on the light bar. (250 metres is a good point to start a turn in when flying at right angles to the line)

Since we are talking about lightbars, what is it with Satlost lightbars??... You have the 'Distance from line row' showing you where you need to go, and the 'angle off line row' showing you which way you are ARE going!?! Stupid:suspect:

[Lowlevldevl]

With the linear set up. I think of it as a funnel. Which is exactly what a lightbar is, right?
The largest part of the funnel, the wide bit at the top is represented on the lightbar by the numerical display. Watch that come down to about 15 metres. When the lights start to move I know I'm in the narrow part of the funnel, and pretty much on line. I don't want the lights to move at a constant rate. I want them to decrease in rate until they stop in the centre. I set Angle of Intercept up at the same spacing as the Off-Track Error. That way, it doesn't matter where the lights are in the display, as long as they've come off the 'stops', the line is makeable.
Whatever you're used to is what will make sense. I know I'm all over the place if I try to use it the other way.
http://www.buytikitorches.com/images/funnel-small_1.jpg

[Rarely Dble Amber]

Yeah but..

keep in mind, when you have 30 lights (60 total) to play with. You can still have that "narrow part of the funnel" effect as well as the wider part of the funnel visually represented on the light bar.


The speed of the lights at various distances gives me a very good idea of how my turn is going. If they start going out too quickly, I know I need to get my **** together to get on line. Same for when they are going out slowley, means I'll need to open my turn out a bit. Just watching the dist off track figure in the lightbar window doesnt give me the same "feel" for how the turn is going.

Your are right tho, it all depends on what you are used to..

would be interesting to know how many ppl actually use a linear lightbar.

[Turboman]

Yeah, I use a linear spacing. Tried the parabola curve spacing (all scientifically setup for the perfect turn) ten years ago but never really liked it. I like the movement of the lights giving me the rate of closure with a linear setup.

Up until last year I had the same spacing as Devil. I decided to to try 0.5 metre spacings just to see if it would improve my accuracy. It was pretty uncomfortable initially, but it didn't take long to get used to it.

I think my angle off track is linear also at 1 degree per light. I find using the bottom row of lights at night helps immensely.

[185skywagon]

Here is my setup in the 185. Agnav compact Brightbar.
Xtrack on the bottom and OAI on top.



http://www.skywagons.org/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=VH-SIA&id=PICT0567

psst, can you blokes tell me how to get this image to display?? i have done a search and did what they said to do. no luck.

:O

[airag3]

Definately another area where everyone does it differently with the same end result!!

I've heard the same thing said Turboman re the Angle Of Intercept lights and their usefullness at night , I'll find out soon enough as night rating will be in a few weeks.

My preference is for first 4 lights at .5m, followed by next few at 1m then a few more at 2m , then 5m etc. etc., as outside 20m or so off track I turn on the numbers anyway and the close spacing of lights close to the run gives highly accurate guidance.

[Lowlevldevl]

http://www.skywagons.org/gallery/albums/VH-SIA/PICT0567.sized.jpg

When you create your post, find your photo (it has to be hosted somewhere not just on your harddrive), right click on it, click 'properties', highlight the URL, copy it, come back to the message, click on the IMG button, paste what you've copied into the text box, hit enter, Voila!

[Dizzee Rascal]

Whilst the lights look pretty, please tell me none of you are using that in the UK?

:ugh: :\ :uhoh:

[Lowlevldevl]

I'm pretty sure ag-aircraft are non-existent in the UK(your Tornados kept running into them) but if we were, whats your problem?

[Dizzee Rascal]

What is ag aircraft exactly? Sorry, just never heard it before?

[Lowlevldevl]

They don't actually let you fly a shiny biz-jet, do they Diz?
http://www.dannysairagri.com/formation.jpg

[185skywagon]

LLD,
Thanks mate.
the compact brightbar doesn't have enough lights compared to the smart bar by agnav. It suits what i do, but wouldn't be much good on the crop.

I am only just starting to mess around with OAI rather than AOI.
seems like it is moderatley useful once you understand what it is showing you.
:confused:
superspreading 180
http://www.skywagons.org/gallery/albums/album130/p1127_0033.jpg
:ok: