Altitude

[rainman687]

Been flying my guinea pig for the last few months and love the thing, have been able to carry up to 2.5 lbs cargo. Living in Utah there are plenty of empty spaces to drop things with and without (more fun) parachutes. Last time I dropped something it got me wondering how high up I was as it left a crater about 3” into the really hard packed dirt and took a couple of seconds of free fall to impact. Does anyone have cheep and or easy ways to measure your altitude?

 

[PsyBorg]

Stop watch, caculator n some fancy physics maths

 

[FDS]

You can buy sensors for some telemetry receivers to measure altitude, you can transfer them between planes. Some systems like Flysky/Turnigy have them for under $10.

 

[kdobson83]

Here's a turnigy altimeter that works with telemetry for the turnigy/flysky i6. Don't know what transmitter you have tho.
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/attitud...pOB9dWAGuwYRSSUndDfsEzVXJZhC4d_caAmEPEALw_wcB

And here's one people use in rockets. Basically it stores your highest altitude. But it would work fine if right after you drop your payload you land and check it. Much simpler
https://bellevillehobby.com/product...YsnQ08V5uW0co_3-Oe2VEh1xgp61uzZkaAgWtEALw_wcB

You could probably find one that works with your TX specifically if you googled it.

 

[L Edge]

"Eagletreesystems" has an altimeter that you plug into a receiver channel or a small battery and is accurate within a foot and is very reliable. The cost is $38 and since you have good thermals in Utah, you can use it with a glider.

How it works is- plug in RX, launch the glider and when you land just read the 1 LED as it blinks. If you cut power and forgot the numbers, turn it back on and it will read. When you launch, it resets to zero. Have had it over 8 years and has not failed.
Here is a video when I first got it using my Radian and where I put a cheap camera rubber band under the wing, climbed to 1797 ft, back down and measured. Go to end to hear the numbers being called out. Notice how quick the Radian gets to that height. Fantastic glider.

 

[sprzout]

Try this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EDLUBC/?tag=lstir-20

It's an altitude tracker for rockets, allows you to find the height. You have to step back a certain distance, but it's basically already got the math calculated for you in the way the tool works.

 

[L Edge]

If he is flying the plane, how does he measure if he is doing it alone?

 

[sprzout]

If he is flying the plane, how does he measure if he is doing it alone?

Get the plane in level flight and check it on a pass. it's a quick sighting, just like you'd take your eyes off the plane to check the telemetry on the radio...

 

[rainman687]

Here's a turnigy altimeter that works with telemetry for the turnigy/flysky i6. Don't know what transmitter you have tho.
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/attitud...pOB9dWAGuwYRSSUndDfsEzVXJZhC4d_caAmEPEALw_wcB

And here's one people use in rockets. Basically it stores your highest altitude. But it would work fine if right after you drop your payload you land and check it. Much simpler
https://bellevillehobby.com/product...YsnQ08V5uW0co_3-Oe2VEh1xgp61uzZkaAgWtEALw_wcB

You could probably find one that works with your TX specifically if you googled it.

Your the Bomb.com! I have the fsi6. I just researched this and the voltage adapter and wonder if you know if they would work stock or if I would need to do the firmware upgrade?

 

[FDS]

FSi6 is already set up for telemetry, which includes the $8 altitude sensor.

 

[Tonero311]

Do the Flysky altitude sensors work with the i6X?

 

[quorneng]

rainman687
Do check the terms of the air regulations where you fly.
In the UK intentionally dropping anything from civilian planes is prohibited except in special designated areas other than sand, water or persons in the case of an emergency.
If you have 3rd party insurance check the terms of that as well.
You are intentionally dropping a potentially lethal object. A difficult position to justify if you ever had to.
Just saying.