Altimeters on a cellphone? watch? - Page 3

Trip · 01-07-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle Man

so before I board a plane again I'll make sure to ask the pilot if he/she is aware of that

they are trying to find it, they multiplied by -1 somewhere in the app.

Particle Man · 01-07-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

Hmm, this looks cool....

sure, until the guy is paste at the bottom.

All that will be left is a mangled frame and a watch.

Amorok · 01-07-2009, 02:54 PM

I'm a former GCS technician for the Air Force and I can tell you that gps is pretty accurate, and a static air system can be more accurate. However, for your purposes a gps unit will be much more practical. While a pitot/static pressure system is the most accurate you can get for reading altitude, airspeed and vertical movement, the lines, probes and sensors in the plane that makes the reading of barometric inputs possible can't be duplicated in any small, handheld unit with the same level of accuracy. Thus, unless you want to get a plane and use its instruments, you're better off with a decent gps. Your iPhone will be ok for gee-whiz, but in desperate times realize it will be a few feet to a few hundred feet off, and you'll have no way to figure the error.

Particle Man · 01-07-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amorok

Your iPhone will be ok for gee-whiz, but in desperate times realize it will be a few feet to a few hundred feet off, and you'll have no way to figure the error.

sure you will... if you go splat, it was off...

Amorok · 01-07-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle Man

sure you will... if you go splat, it was off...

True, but some of us would prefer to know ahead of time. We don't all have floaty stuff around our heads as a cushion.

Particle Man · 01-07-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amorok

True, but some of us would prefer to know ahead of time. We don't all have floaty stuff around our heads as a cushion.

it's a gift.

01-07-2009, 02:54 PM	#23
Amorok Issukangitok Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Biloxi, MS Moto: '06 Suzuki Boulevard C50T Posts: 2,225	I'm a former GCS technician for the Air Force and I can tell you that gps is pretty accurate, and a static air system can be more accurate. However, for your purposes a gps unit will be much more practical. While a pitot/static pressure system is the most accurate you can get for reading altitude, airspeed and vertical movement, the lines, probes and sensors in the plane that makes the reading of barometric inputs possible can't be duplicated in any small, handheld unit with the same level of accuracy. Thus, unless you want to get a plane and use its instruments, you're better off with a decent gps. Your iPhone will be ok for gee-whiz, but in desperate times realize it will be a few feet to a few hundred feet off, and you'll have no way to figure the error. __________________ What goes around comes around. Sometimes you get what's coming around, and sometimes you are what's coming around. You see what I mean?