Introducing the 300 Series of Flight
Instruments
Please Note:
The IGC has
approved the 302. To view the complete approval document
in the Adobe Acrobat pdf format please click here.
Cambridge Aero Instruments is
pleased to introduce the 300 Series, a completely new
variometer and sensor platform for soaring. The products
are based on our 20 years of experience designing and
building instruments for soaring. Advanced technology,
including a 32 bit microprocessor and Flash memory, makes
the system versatile and easily upgradeable by the pilot.
No more returning the instrument to the factory or
Service Dealer for firmware upgrades. At the same time,
300 Series products integrate smoothly with existing
Cambridge products. The new 300 Series offers multiple
display options, compact size, and a new standard of
variometer performance.
We now have the User's Manual and
the Operators Card available. You can download both
documents from the Manuals page. The Operators Card describes the
basic operation of the instrument and has been written to
be carried in the glider for quick reference.
08/02/01
302 Dataport User's Guide
Available
Early in the development of the 300
Series we decided to follow the open architecture
software concept. We have written and are making
available the 302 Dataport User's Guide as part of this
plan. This document describes the input and output
formats and protocols for the 302 dataport. User’s
are free to utilize the dataport functions for their own
purposes. Cambridge Aero does not provide technical
support for this document. Cambridge Aero reserves the
right to make changes to this document and the 302
dataport at any time without warning. The document is in
the Adobe Acrobat .pdf format and may be downloaded by
clicking below.
302 Dataport User's Guide Version
2.0
302 and the Winpilot
Pro
The Cambridge 302 vario/flight
recorder is now completely compatible with WinPilot PRO.
All WP PRO functions are enabled.
The following additional
functionality is also supported in WP PRO with the 302:
The other 302 functions such as
transferring log files, configuring units etc. are
available through the 302 utility program.
The following platforms are
supported: Compaq iPAQ (all models) and Compaq AERO
(1520/1530/1550/21xx).
Many thanks to Jerry Plaszowiecki
and Sierra SkyWare, Inc. For further information please
see the Winpilot website.
The 300 Series is comprised of
the following instruments:
Model 302: Secure GPS flight Recording, Altimeter,
Vario, Averager, Audio, Accelerometer
The 302 includes an internal GPS receiver.
The 302 is a complete FAI-approved Flight Recorder
including barograph and engine run detection functions.
An optional external backup battery will be available
that will provide more than one hour of operation,
including flight recording, if the glider battery fails.
A pilot may start out with the 301 vario and then at a
later date return it to the factory or a Service Dealer
for conversion to a 302. The 302 will output NMEA 0183
including the GPS altitude sentence. This will allow the
connection of Pocket-PCs running third party nav computer
software.
Model 302A CFR: Secure GPS flight Recording
The 302 includes an internal GPS receiver.
The 302A CFR is an FAI-approved secure Flight
Recorder. An optional external backup battery
provides more than one hour of operation, including
flight recording, if the glider battery fails. The
302A CFR outputs NMEA 0183 including the GPS altitude
sentence. This allows the connection of Pocket-PCs
running third party nav computer software.
Model 303: Basic Navigation and Final Glide LCD Display
The 303 is based on the navigation display
of the Cambridge GPS-NAV Secure Flight Recorder. With a
simple upgrade to the display, any GPS-NAV Display can be
converted into the 303. The 303 can now access up to 2000
waypoints, announce entry into the FAI photo-sectors,
display final glide information, and allow front panel
editing of pilot configuration data. The editing feature
will allow clubs and syndicates to store data on multiple
members in the instrument making it possible for each
pilot to record their own flight logs.
Model PDA: Complete Graphic Display System and
Final Glide
The PDA Graphic Display System consists of
the software, a Compaq 1500-series Pocket-PC, a universal
instrument panel mount, and a compact flash card. The PDA
adds the ability to transfer flight logs and flight data
files via the Compact Flash card. Click here for details on the 1500 Series
Mount.
Model 306: Vario Repeater
The 306 is the vario repeater (slave) for
the 302. It will only display the basic navigation data
found on the 302. You will not be able to change the
configuration of the master instrument from the 306.
The new 300 Series differs from
competing glider instrument systems in four important
ways:
1. The 300 Series variometer is fast,
accurate, and insensitive to gusts.
The 300 Series derives the variometer signal
from an altimeter sensor using digital differentiation
and smart filtering exclusive to this product. The vario
is up to 6 times faster than competing systems using
analog differentiation. Prototypes have been flown since
1999 with impressive results. The fast audio matches the
"feel-of-the-air". This is what experienced
pilots call flying by the "seat-of-the-pants".
Now, you can "hear" the lift you
"feel" without time delay. The lift indicated
by the 300 Series is almost exactly where you are now,
not where you were 1.5 seconds ago. The result is a
uniquely satisfying variometer.
Horizontal gusts in the variometer signal
make lift easier to find and optimize. Since Wil
Schuemann's research in the early 1970s, varios have used
1.2 to 1.5 second averaging of all signals to obtain a
"quiet vario needle". Instead of averaging all
signals (2 knot thermal + 12 knot gust + 2 knot thermal =
5.33 knot indicated lift), the 300 Series vario software
analyses every digital sample and rejects gusts (2 knot
thermal + 12 knot gust + 2 knot thermal = 2 knot
indicated lift). Digital gust filtering makes a fast
vario useable.
2.
The 300 Series is compatible with existing CAI
instruments.
The 300 Series starts with the 302
Variometer/Flight Recorder. The existing GPS-NAV
LCD can be turned into the Model 303 with a low cost
firmware upgrade. You can convert a Pocket-NAV into the
PDA with a software upgrade. The 300 Series has
flexibility and upgradeability designed in for the
future.
The 302 combined with the PDA
display is the cost effective system of choice. The PDA Graphic Display System not
only provides final glide computations, it allows the
uploading and downloading of data via the compact flash
card. Simply remove the card and submit it to the scoring
desk. No more removing the Flight Recorder.
If you add the following to the 302, you
get:
®
CAMBRIDGE
Aero Instruments
