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12/25/2021 8:17 AM
 

1. Ability to hardwire an iLevil device to a navigator, then broadcast route (along with ADS-B, AHRS, and air data info) to the app for synced and auto-updated course.  This would turn the app into a true MFD and backup device.

2. An altitude sync button to grab the current gps altitude to align EFIS altitude display.

3. A toggle to deselect AHRS attitude information if bad or erroneous data is present (force revert to non-attitude display.

Hey, it's Christmas, might as well ask!

Very nice app, best wishes with the efb version.

 
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12/25/2021 9:21 AM
 

1)  I don't understand what you're asking for here, and wonder if some/all of what you're asking for can already be accomplished (though maybe without the hardwiring).  Could you elaborate?

2)  Not sure what you're asking for here that's different/better from how iFly currently operates.  When iFly is operating standalone, it uses the GPS position (which includes altitude) from the GPS receiver internal to the device running iFly.  If iFly is connected to an ADSB receiver, it will use either the GPS position (including altitude) from the GPS receiver attached or built-in to the ADSB receiver, or baromentric altitude if the ADSB device supports that.  I don't remember how iFly chooses whether to use GPS vs. Baro altitude when both are available; I think that selection option only appears when it detects both present, and I don't have such a device at home to test with.  Perhaps Brolin will be able to shed some light there.  At any rate, if you have an ADSB device that does not support baro altitude, then iFly will be using its GPS altitude, so there is no need to have a button to "sync to GPS altitude".  If it's using a baro altitude source, then there should be an option to select GPS altitude, and again there would be no need to have a "sync to GPS altitude" button.

3)  First off, if iFly is mishandling missing attitude data, it should be improved so it handles it properly and doesn't glitch the display because of it like you're apparently experiencing.  But as for being able to toggle off the attitude representation, I'm of two minds.  I suppose there can be some value to the EFIS-without-attitude display that folks might want to preserve that capability if the attitude source malfunctions.  However, presenting a constant level view could be misleading/confusing if a pilot didn't remember/realize the attitude source had been disconnected.  If this "feature" is implemented, I'd suggest it come with a persistent caution/warning box somewhere on the display that says "NO ATTITUDE INFO" or similar to alert the pilot to that condition.

 
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12/25/2021 10:22 AM
 

 

Wow, didn't expect such a quick reply, especially today.  Thank you.

First off, I think the iFly app is fantastic as I mentioned.

1.  I would like the course shown on iFly to always match the navigator course, including GPSS steering curved course changes, instantaneously with any changes to the navigator flight plan.  If this is already possible, then how is it set up?  If not, it would seem the best way to handle the route information would be through a common point, universal to all navigators, if the iLevil could do it.  The iLevil 3 AW is especially compelling with it's existing capabilities.

2.  If there is a baro setting in the app I haven't found yet, then disregard this one.  In the absence of corrected baro altitude, this would line up the highway in the sky on the EFIS display.  Am I missing something obvious?  I understand many ADS-B sources already supply corrected altitude.

3. In another thread, I mentioned how my Lynx NGT-9000 data is likely being mishandled by the app expecting AHRS attitude data when there is none, resulting in an unusable inverted EFIS display.  An option to turn off the attitude portion would at least make the EFIS usable and also provide an option for an uncluttered non-banking display of just synthetic vision (no instrumentation).

These ideas come from the perspective of a new user seeking possiblities to more fully implement the app with my panel.  I don't mean to be critical.  Thanks!

 

 
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12/26/2021 12:05 AM
 

Thanks for the extra information. 

1)  I think you're saying you want the GPS navigator (assuming you mean an in-panel GPS like a GNS430, GTN650, IFD440, etc?) and iFly to talk seamlessly to each other, using the iLevel as an intermediate device to provide the connectivity?  I think that's unlikely to happen, for a number of reasons;  Off the top of my head: 
a) the iLevel folks would have to get involved to create the interface between the iLevel and the in-panel navigator.  That alone is probably a non-starter.   At the least, it's out of Adventure Pilot's (iFly's) control.
b) iFly tries to work as consistently as possible with all ADSB devices.  iLevel is just one particular ADSB device; creating this linkage as a one-off capability with that one device would be kind of strange and not consistent with iFly's "works with lots of devices" strategy.
c) If I was right about the types of in-panel devices and you're thinking Garmin GNS430s and GTN650s and their cousins, that's probably a non-starter because Garmin doesn't play nice with others.  They're notorious for not supporting interoperability with other brands unless they've got a specific deal with them.  iFly's approached them before for other potential collaborations and they've been rebuffed.  That means there's not really any "common point universal to all navigators", via iLevel or anyone else.
d) Other brands, like Avidyne and Dynon, have more open interfaces designed to allow flight plan sharing with devices/software like iFly.  Avidyne has its own wi-fi that iFly could connect to, and they allow both flight plan and ADSB data to flow out to those secondary devices/software (but the ADSB solution would be one that works with the Avidyne box, and that's somewhat limited).  iLevel would not be part of that mix--iFly would either be connected to the Avidyne box, or the iLevel, but almost certainly not both.  (Adventure Pilot/iFly has said for years that they plan to support FP/ADSB sharing with Avidyne navigators, but that capability has not yet been developed.)

I also don't think you're going to see iFly draw the magenta line exactly like the in-panel navigators, because only the waypoints would ever be shared, not the detailed lines/curves drawn by the navigator.  iFly actually does its own "smoothing" of heading changes, and those pilots flying experimental planes who have dedicated iFly devices driving their autopilots will see their a/p's fly a smooth transition at heading changes based on the signals sent by iFly.  It just doesn't draw those smooth curves on the screen.  

2) Like I say, maybe Brolin can offer some more detail on this one. 

3) I remembered your Lynx issue and my response took that into account.  My point was that if AP/iFly was going to make a change to the code, it would be better to change the code to fix the bug instead of slapping a bandaid on the problem and make the user flip a switch to disregard bad attitude data.  It's possible that fixing the bug could be an easier/quicker solution to your problem than creating new menu options/user interface changes to implement an "on/off switch", and it would be more elegant also.  But of course that's just speculation (and personal preference) on my part.

 

 
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1/9/2022 10:04 AM
 
For #1, I believe MapMX data is fairly standard feed from gps navigators. True the app would have to be able to interpret this data for display, but if it could be done the result would be very powerful indeed.
 
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