SP-400 handheld can display an ILS
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...and a 3 degree deviation
up (fly down towards the needle to be on course).
up (fly down towards the needle to be on course).
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How is the SP400 calibrated?
The VOR or ILS signal is demodulated to just the components which are all in the audio spectrum. This is called a "composite" signal (erroneously, many avionics people call it a "composite video" signal, which is something completely different). Then, elementary DSP techniques can be used to generate a CDI or RMI presentation from this, and you can do handy things like suppressing GS indications in the absence of a valid LOC, or suppressing GS if the thing thinks you are flying a BC approach.
In the past, you had a circuit board full of trimpots (e.g. the notoriously unreliable KN72 or some other "box" to which pilots would routinely trust their lives because it could fail in subtle ways) but today this would be just some firmware.
It would be trivial to test the SP-400 with a common avionics tester like the IFR-4000, or any of the cheaper boxes in common use.
There again, I would not be using a $399 handheld for a precision approach! I'd be making for my alternate!
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If you never fly anywhere, that's fine.
I would also prefer a DIY descent, using GPS, over the sea, and then land VFR at a coastal airport. This is how "VFR" pilots have been flying "VFR" to coastal airports for yonks. This is why most non-precision instrument approaches at coastal airports are practically irrelevant (they are present for legal reasons, AOC ops etc).
But if you are inland, with some terrain around, not enough fuel to fly to the coast, and all the radar vectoring options are not going to get you to a runway in VMC, then your only choice is to fly an instrument approach. Same if the coastal airports are shut because they close at 6pm.... and it is dark and their runway lights are off.
There are loads of ways to run out of options.
Also, this thing is a radio and no pilot should fly without a handheld radio, in case of an electrical failure (plus a handheld GPS).
If I did not already have a good Icom radio which I don't want to get rid of just yet, I would buy this one right away.
Just make sure the US shop does not rip you off on delivery charges. Many US firms have no idea about the options and just send everything Fedex (etc) for $200.
I would also prefer a DIY descent, using GPS, over the sea, and then land VFR at a coastal airport. This is how "VFR" pilots have been flying "VFR" to coastal airports for yonks. This is why most non-precision instrument approaches at coastal airports are practically irrelevant (they are present for legal reasons, AOC ops etc).
But if you are inland, with some terrain around, not enough fuel to fly to the coast, and all the radar vectoring options are not going to get you to a runway in VMC, then your only choice is to fly an instrument approach. Same if the coastal airports are shut because they close at 6pm.... and it is dark and their runway lights are off.
There are loads of ways to run out of options.
Also, this thing is a radio and no pilot should fly without a handheld radio, in case of an electrical failure (plus a handheld GPS).
If I did not already have a good Icom radio which I don't want to get rid of just yet, I would buy this one right away.
Just make sure the US shop does not rip you off on delivery charges. Many US firms have no idea about the options and just send everything Fedex (etc) for $200.
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You can never have too many contingencies - you never know, you might need them one day, better than have them than wishing you had them.
As to encouraging pilots to do something they shouldnt - complete nonesense, if a VFR only pilots thinks he can fly an G/S in IMC I bet you he will find a way of doing it without the need for help from a hand held radio.
As to encouraging pilots to do something they shouldnt - complete nonesense, if a VFR only pilots thinks he can fly an G/S in IMC I bet you he will find a way of doing it without the need for help from a hand held radio.
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Just make sure the US shop does not rip you off on delivery charges. Many US firms have no idea about the options and just send everything Fedex (etc) for $200.
For a US shop that is reliable and has sensible delivery prices to the UK, try Marv Golden, although unsurprisingly they don't stock Sporty's radios - they do a few Icom and Vertex models that handle VOR, but not ILS. VOR is probably rather less useful if you have a GPS.
G
G
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Except
a) the whole idea is that you can fly an ILS without any aircraft electrics
b) there are almost no GPS approaches in the UK
c) none of them can be flown with a handheld (well, not out of the database)
a) the whole idea is that you can fly an ILS without any aircraft electrics
b) there are almost no GPS approaches in the UK
c) none of them can be flown with a handheld (well, not out of the database)
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I think in much of the uk unless you are seriously short of fuel youve got a good shot ot getting yourself visual with a base of 600 to 800 feet - not suggesting you would want to but when the devil drives.
Your real problems start with bases of less and every where socked in.
With a total panel failure this could be a life saver but then again how many airports with an ils couldnt also provide a sar in an emergency?
Continueing a sar or letting down with this box of tricks when the base is really on the deck should prove interesting mind you.
Your real problems start with bases of less and every where socked in.
With a total panel failure this could be a life saver but then again how many airports with an ils couldnt also provide a sar in an emergency?
Continueing a sar or letting down with this box of tricks when the base is really on the deck should prove interesting mind you.
The reviews on Sporty's look pretty good. If I had one, and had an emergency, you bet I would use it.
-- IFMU
-- IFMU
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Intercepted, I noted the same thing and wondered about it. I meant to be thorough about checking it, but due to various distractions I did not make enough notes to be able to tell. Also the aircraft was VFR and had no ILS in the panel so I could not compare. However, the experience from flying the ILS was not particularly different from what I am used to, so I too suspect that the manual has it wrong. If the glideslope dots are 1 degree each you would need to go 2 degrees below ground level to see full upward deflection on a standard 3 degree glideslope, and that does not make much sense.
Both needles move in half-dot steps, an information not available anywhere I have looked. If that seems a bit coarse, the flying experience actually suggested it is adequate.
I did not find a way to order the SP-400 other than directly from Sporty's in the USA. Shipping was 10 days to Denmark and cost a modest $14.80. However, the 12V power cable is in back order.
I expect to be billed for custom.
Back to IO540's initial question: the headset adaptor looks identical to my 15 years old King's adapter. So if ICOM and the old King's match, the answer is yes. Might be industry standard.
Both needles move in half-dot steps, an information not available anywhere I have looked. If that seems a bit coarse, the flying experience actually suggested it is adequate.
I did not find a way to order the SP-400 other than directly from Sporty's in the USA. Shipping was 10 days to Denmark and cost a modest $14.80. However, the 12V power cable is in back order.
I expect to be billed for custom.
Back to IO540's initial question: the headset adaptor looks identical to my 15 years old King's adapter. So if ICOM and the old King's match, the answer is yes. Might be industry standard.
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Definitely not.
DME needs a powerful transmitting device, and there would be massive legal issues selling a handheld "DME".
Would be great fun designing one though
Fancy wading through the wonderful 1960s well-fingered documents...
DME needs a powerful transmitting device, and there would be massive legal issues selling a handheld "DME".
Would be great fun designing one though
Fancy wading through the wonderful 1960s well-fingered documents...
So I know what I would be doing and it wouldn't be relying on a $399 handheld!. Each to their own.
But indeed: each to their own.
