The new Archos 9 (9 inch tablet with Windows 7, bluetooth, wiFi, touchscreen) may be the way to go but it's not released yet and will be priced at c€450. Looks very nice and highly usable outside the cockpit as a netbook.
Archos 9 profile by Obsessable

After a lot of faffing and half a day in the office spent surrupticiously meddling with it I got Inflight working on my Ipaq 5550 and BT-308 GPS. Is there a minimum signal strength? I had problems getting a consistant connection - the GPS was quite hapilly paired, and I could see it was connected in GPSUtility and getting data and position info but it took *ages* for Inflight to recognise the fact that there was a GPS connected and occasionally dropped out for no real reason...Is there a minimum required satellite strength to get it to work properly? The ariel was up against a window facing a wide open space and was only a meter or so away from the PDA...

OK Tim... Mums the word:ok:

Excellent software Tim, well done :ok:

A couple of requests/observations/bugs for you for the Plan software...

1. Would it be possible for the user to set a symbol for user waypoints? That way we could have different symbols for different types of waypoint (e.g. we could add missing VRP's with the correct symbol, etc).

2. An extra button to enable user waypoints to be displayed, or not, on the map. Every other feature has this facility, but waypoints doesn't.

3. (Not yet seen with v0.9.5.22182) Some auto-generated METAR's are causing parsing errors in the cloud field. If the cloud is reported in the format "SCT035/" it causes an error to be displayed.

4. If the display of NOTAM's is turned off in the map they are still displayed in the enroute features window.


As I said above, an excellent piece of software that I am gladly letting other pilots know about. Have not had a chance to try out the latest InFlight in-flight yet but will hopefully do so tomorrow.

All the best,

MFC


<edited for spolling mistokes>

Awesome piece of software, no doubt about it.

The first thing I'd like to add to the wishlist was to enable for adding external NOTAMs, either through adding one or several URLs to online NOTAMs or through cut-and-pasting them into the program manually, and parsing said notams for mainly coordinates for obstacles, temporary R/D areas and U/S obstacle lights. I live in an area which is rapidly turning into a wind farm, so the list is usually loooooong.

Creating an external parser is of course an option, and something I'm thinking about doing anyway to enable updates of Swedish airspace etc with every new AIRAC cycle, but I'd rather have it integral to the software.

Cheers,
/Fred

Thanks for the feedback.
MFC
1. Good idea, it'll go on the list for post-v1 builds
2. I hadn't thought people would want to hide their own waypoints. If the concensus is that people DO want to do this, I'll add the option
3. This was fixed before 0.9.5
4. By design

ft, it did actually support this at one point but I got rid of it because there was no way of getting rid of notams that one had entered already, so one could end up with duplicates. If this turns out to be something that lots of people want, I'll re-instate it because all the code is still there. You'd need to paste notams with their Q line intact, obviously. Also B and C lines I think.

Tim, while compiling CSV files for aerodromes and runways, I had a feeling a few more items could be useful:
- flags for takeoff-only and landing-only runways
- flags for VFR/IFR, day/night aerodromes (and/or for the type of runway lighting)
- maybe a separate remark field for all kinds of useful info

Tim,
regarding the NOTAMs I think there will be a need, unless the software can be made to automatically download NOTAMs for every part of the world (as I think it does for the UK at the moment?).

We currently have eight pages of QOBCEs (obstacles) in the NOTAMS. With a few OBST LIGHTS U/S it makes for interesting night flying. I don't know if we're ahead of the times regarding the wind power plants, but I'm sure that's the way it will be all over the place eventually.

Add a few temporary restricted areas for military exercises now and then and you're really certain to eventually miss something.

How about letting the user choose to either add to existing manually entered NOTAMs, or to just wipe all NOTAMS (or just manually added NOTAMs) when entering new ones?

Skyangel Data on Win CE 5.0 ipaq 314
 

Hi all, at first I had to say "Great Work". I like the Design and the airspace view additionally to the 2D view of Course. The PC Version works really nice on vista and I was possible to create my own Airspace, Airport and runway Data for all of Germany.

:ugh:On my PNA Device with windows ce 5.o the Programm works too. But it´s not possible for me to make it show other terrain,airspace or what ever.
It only shows me UK an Irland wich came with the install .cab to the Device.

I can´t find any help or example for doing that.

So I can´t test in Flight.

I hope you can help me. If it is possible.

Thank you :D
Best
SG38

For the moment InFlight doesn't support importing of user data. If you want to take responsibility for German airspace data in SkyAngel that's great; contact me through the website and we can discuss it. I can produce a .skydata file out of the data you collect and that can be used with InFlight.

This is what I'm already doing with Swedish data, which is being assembled by another individual.

Probably finger trouble on my part but I've just downloaded v0.9.5 and the routes I saved in v0.9.1 will not display. They give every indication of loading but nothing seen!

Otherwise, superb program. Would even consider paying real money!!!

With a bit of tweaking and some third party software it's possible to get your Nokia N95 (With integral GPS) to act as the GPS aerial - annoying as i've just bought a bluetooth GPS.

Having had a bit more of a play with the fly version, I really like the centreline option but found the implementation a bit clumsy - how about an option when you tap on the airport in question and in the sub menu (Which - for sake of example at Oxford - shows "OXFORD DME / OXFORD KIDLINGTON AIRFIELD / OXFORD NDM") add the option to go to the centreline screen with the airport already selected?

Oh, and for some reason the Centreline screen doesn't appear to know what the runways are for most military airfields and some unlicesensed airports (Lasham, North Weald all missing? If it's the source data that needs updating then quite happy to assist as it's an awesome piece of kit, otherwise.

Creating personal Database for Germany
 

Hi you,

I startet creating my personal Database for Germany.
Airspace no problem. It works out of the box from the soaring server.
Instructions on your site.

Now I created Asphalt and Grass airfields and runways. It looks very nice to see the colour of the runway and the direction of the runway and the lenght on the runway.
It is very cool that different lenght also shown different in the map.

Stand now is: creating obstructions. There I hang till now.

:rolleyes: BUT :rolleyes:

My biggest problem is the GPS connection on my PNA ipaq 314 travel companion
with windows ce 5.0.
port and baudrate ok. But no connection.

I hope the problem can be solved.
I don´t hope to create my Database only for my PC.
That´s nice but not realy comfortable in flight.

Can you help?

by
SG38

Obstuctions.csv Symbol
 

Hi,

Only the Wind Turbine is very nice. And that the Symbols are also dynamik in map with the height. Antenna is ok too.

But What meens Height and Altitude?
I have a Database of Buildings and Antennas where the Point at the top
is in Feet MSL. So I configured it Height=300ft, And Altitude 300ft. It looks ok.
The Height I think is only for the Map Scaling.

I miss other nice Symbols like Cooling Tower, Bridge,Industrial, Building etc,
There is no option to include user ones.

Is ist planned for Inflight to show the Airspace in the bottom window in flight Direction? Or only for Flightplanning before.?
Seeing in Realtime in Flight the Airspace in front were very cooooool I think.
And Safety. And cool.

For IPAQ or Smartphone it was in the past a problem of screen dimensions.
But I have on my 4.3 inch PNA with 800*480 and all the other Navigation Systems with CE place for it.
And if that is possible:
Why not only the sideview; Compile also a FlightView for the Airspace window.
Make visible what nobody can see in front of.

:oh: thats enough
stop now

By
SG38

HF: the route file format has probably changed since that version.
x933: we're still working on the data for military fields; should be much better in this week's release.
SG38: read the website. That's already how the approaching features instrument works. The altitude and height of the top of an obstruction are different and it's very important to get it right if you're creating data for SkyAngel.

Thanks, Tim. I had a feeling there'd be a technical explanation. My computer skills are summed up by the phrase "point and click"! :uhoh:

I am absolutely blown away by this, I'm not a techie type so I'll leave the nuts and bolts to those who are but I think this is the most incredible bit of software I've seen for flight planning.

I am as tight as a duck's chuff and I'd pay for this.

I think the work you've done, Tim, puts the big boys to shame. I've used lots of things in the past and I now know that this is what I'll use in future for flight planning and a moving map.

The side view of the route on the planning software is an inspired creation.

I am totally in awe of what you have achieved.

Given that we've established just how parsimonious I am I have a very old PDA and a mobile rescued from a dustbin - do you have any cost effective suggestions for what hardware I might acquire to run the moving map?

Thank you.

JAFO, thanks for the great (and humorous) feedback!

I'm no expert on hardware but I know lots of people are using very inexpensive car satnav units, that they've fiddled with somehow, to run SkyAngel InFlight. There are quite a few replies in this thread from people confirming that the software runs on their device.

As soon as I can (hopefully within a week) I'll have a forum set up on the SkyAngel website specifically to discuss the hardware on which it'll run.

Database for other countries in Europe.
 

Dear Tim.
I havent tried the software yet and I have followed this threat. It is respectable what you have done.

I live in Germany and am going back into instructing and General Aviation flying after many years flying across the atlantic and far east.

I am not a computer geek. However I am converting my old laptop into a GPS.
I ordered a GPS receiver on amazon.de I was wondering if I downloaded your software if I could optain a Database for Europe somewhere? (Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria)

I am also looking for a palm computer to use as a GPS since the laptop is a little big for a 2 seater with a stick.

Yours Sincerely,

Freightops

Freightops, so far there aren't any .skydata files available for other European countries apart from the sample France database offered on the SkyAngel site. There are lots of people in the process of creating such databases, though, so stay tuned.

SkyAngel 0.9.6 Released!
 

A new version of the SkyAngel software has been posted for download. Here's a list of the improvements in this version:

Data
----
All runway and VHF frequency data for UK military airfields is now included
Some UK VRPs were missing; all should now be included

Plan
----
The map context menu now has a link directly to Google Maps
The GPX exported routes have been improved; many devices would not import the data previously exported
Double-clicking a .flightplan file will now open SkyAngel with that route loaded

InFlight
----
After panning the chart when in "follow" mode, the chart returns to following after 10 seconds
When a route is loaded the map jumps to the start point
GPS settings have been dramatically improved to aid diagnostics
Insert in Route option added to the waypoint context menu

Tim

Hi Tim,

Talking of hardware, it would be great if InFlight could be compiled to run on plain old Windows too so people could run it on Tablet PCs.

Quite a few people use tablets so I'm sure the effort would be appreciated and PocketFMS (I guess one of your main competitors) supports this.

Fantastic
 

Tim,
As a geriatric, non computer literate pilot the simplicity of the old flight manager programme was my constant companion. Now long out of date it is retained merely since no subsequent offering has come close to providing a simple, clear, authoritive and comprehensive level of info and detail. Now along comes your offering, it is fantastic. If I can find my way to use it anyone can. You have clearly spent much time and effort in producing Skyangel and also in taking on board pilots suggestions that enable rough edges to be smoothed out.
I think I can speak for many in wishing you every success when you launch commercially, I for one will be rushing to buy. An excellent aid, thank you.
TSF

Tim, great piece of software. But I have a query. When planning a route, say Daventry VOR to West Wales. You will pass over/through Wellesbourne, but the flight plan will not pick up the frequency for Wellesbourne. At first I thought it was because I had planned to fly over Wellesbourne at 3000', but if I reduce this to 1500', the frequency is not picked up even though the planned route takes me through their airspace. This appears to happen on some planned routes but not others.

Fixed, thanks. It was because it was an AFIS service.

Tim, how do I get the route plan to accept MY aircraft with speeds and fuel burn please? It does seem to default to the demo aircraft whch I have already changed but still get the wrong figures in the route plan.

many thanks

What figures are you talking about? If you just select your aircraft from the dropdown on the main toolbar, all relevant parameters (fuel, weight and balance) should propagate themselves into your plan.

If this is not happening, please give some more detail about exactly what aircraft you have defined, what route you have defined, what values you're expecting to see where and what values you actually DO see where. Thanks!

Tim -
Planned a flight from Thruxton skirting around the Southampton Zone: Andover - Chilbolton - Romsey VRP - Totton VRP - Beaulieu Disused - Cowes - Ryde - Hayling Island - Popham - Thruxton.
Observations: 1. Solent Radar frequency not included in FP Log ie 120.225 - 2. Cowes not on Map - 3 Ryde not on coast - 4 Portsmouth shown in the middle of Southampton Water.
I would like to add the private airfield I fly from to the map but can only indicate this as a waypoint; it would nice to add private airfields with their techinical details eg freq r/w phone no etc...
Hope you don't mind these minor points just trying to test the programme.
PS Wouldn't it be more appropriate to add these comments to the SkyAngel website? But how?.

Thanks jxk. Solent Radar seems to have gone away; not sure where but it's not listed as a service anywhere in the AIP that I can find, therefore it's not in SkyAngel. I had thought they offered a LARS but perhaps I'm wrong about that.

Your points about towns being slightly misplaced are of course valid but not fixable by me right now; they're the data that I have. This will of course improve in the future. This week you'll get lakes, railways, roads and urban areas on the map but some town waypoints will still be slightly awry.

There is a facility to add custom data in SkyAngel; see the URL below for more information. Hopefully this week I'll manage to get a forum online on the SkyAngel site specifically for such discussions.
SkyAngel Custom Data Information

Has SkyAngel website temporarily gone down ?
My browser keep coming up unobtainable.
Perhaps the whole site is under reconstruction or ?
Mike Hallam

Well Solent were still there yesterday; I spoke to them on two separate occasions and received a basic service.

Mike, there's been no scheduled maintenance to the site and it seems to be working at the moment.
JW: I know, me too!

Woodley?
 

I hope you dont mind another question - I flight planned from Shoreham to Turweston via Woodley NDB - the flight plan generated a NDB frequency etc for Blackbushe as its close to the track, but not Woodley which is a waypoint - a minor issue I know but thought you should be aware. Thanks for this PLOG programme its saving me hours!:ok:

Thanks Cessna; some effort has been spent on making the PLOG frequency selction more clever this week and I can confirm that Woodley is now included in that route.

Its still not on the one that I did again this morning. Do I need to download a later version, mine is a few weeks old? Thanks again.

Apologies for being unclear; SkyAngel builds are released on Thursdays and this week's is not yet released.

Hi Tim
Installed & working well on HTC Touch HD :)
A couple of corrections - the Glide Path angles for Runways 21 & 31 @ Prestwick should be 3.5 Deg. Keep up the great work please! :ok: :D

Thanks Eric. We don't actually have any data for glidepath angles, so we just made a default of 3.0 and allow the user to change it easily.

SkyAngel 0.9.7 Released!
 

Hi guys,

There's a new version of SkyAngel available. The most significant changes this week are data improvements, but there are some usability improvements too. Here's the breakdown:

Data
----
Lakes, roads, railways and urban areas are now mapped
Obstruction data is now available for the USA
We now have initial data support for Sweden
Airways in the UK are now pulled from our own data
Flightnav data is now included, bringing many smaller airfields and farm strips in the UK

Plan
----
Exporting directly from Plan to Garmin devices is now supported
NOTAMs can now be copied and pasted in from websites for any FIR
It is now possible to hide airfields whose longest runway is shorter than a specified value
Selection of frequencies for display on the PLOG has been improved

InFlight
--------
Zoom buttons are now displayed as primary instruments onscreen
Position report feature gives an at-a-glance "9 nm N of Waypoint" position report
It is now possible to visually plot circular routes
Drawing of the coastline can now be disabled, leading to better performance for inland flights
Clicking on the ETA instrument changes the display to ETE (and back again)

Mr Dawson,

Well done on such a great piece of software. :D:D

Do you have a desktop icon you could post so that it looks as good on the desktop as it is inside the programme?

Also is there a way to add the route features box to the printable plog?

C-R