FlightScale has seen a good amount of attention lately. It just got the “Email Report” feature and has already received an update to enhance that further. It’ll get more improvements down the line too, but for the most part people seem to be happy with it so far.

Another large issue I have been needing to address is the ability for helicopter pilots to define “Lateral Envelopes”. I believe this will be coming soon; I’ve started taking steps to prepare for this feature.

Before I tackle lateral envelopes, I decided to redesign how I handle limits in the software. While the interface to the user will remain very much the same, “under the hood” things are changing significantly. The end result will make it much easier for me to change and enhance limit related functionality.

Also, you’ll be getting more limit points available to you too (which will make some of you happy).

After the lateral envelope feature, I want to enhance the “Non-linear Fuel” feature further. Specifically, I’d like to make it so every fuel entry can have its own non-linear fuel table specified.

So, that is what is on my plate right now for FlightScale. Thank you to all of the users that provide feedback, and to those of you showing off the software to your friends and colleagues. Your support is appreciated and helps insure continued developement.

I have just cut builds of both FlightScale and FlightPlanHD (containing the new FlightScale) and submitted them to Apple for approval! I expect these should be approved within the week!

This first implementation of the Email Report will provide basic data, such as the summary of the resulting weights / CGs and the plot, and allows you to type in extra data if you wish. All of this will be shipped off (via email) to you, your employer, or whomever you send it to!

I’m looking forward to feedback to hear what other data people would like in their reports. I expect to be expanding on the options of this reporting feature quite a bit in the coming months, so send me your feedback!

Here are a couple screenshots to show you what it looks like! (Please note that the data in the following screenshots is not guaranteed to accurately represent a Piper Seneca. Values may have been changed during testing and may not reflect a real aircraft).

FlightScale (and FlightPlanHD) will finally be getting the ability to send an email report of your Weight and Balance. This feature has been in my “to do” list for quite some time and I’m happy to say it is finally coming soon!

The report will contain the CG Plot Graph with your Ramp, Takeoff, Landing, and Zero fuel points in your envelope, as well as the text values of the points.

I know a lot of people have been waiting for this feature for some time now and I sincerely appreciate your patience.

I do not have an exact ETA of when to expect the update, but likely in a few weeks it should be out. Watch either this DevBlog or @WarbredStudios on twitter for updates on when to expect this feature to go out.

FlightLogHD has just been released!

FlightLogHD brings the log management and analysis tools of FlightPlan to the iPad, and utilizes the larger screen to make it easier than ever to manage flight time.

Check it out on iTunes here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flightloghd/id466199184?ls=1&mt=8

If you are an existing user be sure to back up your existing flight time using the Dropbox backup/recovery feature built in to FlightLog. If you do not already have your free Dropbox account, use this link to create it and get an extra 250mb of free storage! http://db.tt/XfNTSbj

From the original version of FlightLog simply log in to the Backup/Recover feature and tap “Backup to Dropbox”. Then, from FlightLogHD on your iPad log in to the Backup/Recover feature and tap “Recover from Dropbox”. Simple as that!

Thank you everyone that has provided feedback and requests. This knocks a large item off my “To Do” list. Now on to the next…

As many of you know I’ve been working on preparing an iPad native version of FlightLog. This version will be designed to take advantage the beautiful screen of our iPads!

I’m getting closer to completing the initial version of this project and I thought I would post a couple pictures of what screens may look like. Please note that these screen may not represent what the final released version will look like, but are presented to demonstrate how the larger screen will be utilized to aid in entering / displaying data.

Enjoy!

The update for FlightScale I have been working on is almost ready to go and I will be submitting it very soon. I wanted to mention that I have improved how FlightScale handles Landing Weight.

Now, instead of adding an entry to the weight / arm table to specify the landing weight, you’ll be able to specify a “Ramp Burn” and a “Trip Burn” on each fuel entry. I believe this is a much easier approach and less confusing for the user. Plus, who wants to have to pre-calculate the landing weight anyway? You’re entering data in to a computer...it should do that for you...right? :)

So, this update currently will bring the following improvements:

1. Ability to specify a utility / acrobatic envelope (for visual purposes).
2. Improvements to landing weight entry.
3. Ability to provide Ramp Burn and Trip Burn values.
4. Ability to specify Max Ramp Weight, and Max Zero Fuel Weight

Here are a couple screens showing the new Ramp & Trip Burn

As some of the followers know I have been working on adding the Utility/Acrobatic envelope definition to FlightScale and am almost done with it. While I’m knee deep in the code I’ve decided to try to get even more features integrated for the next release.

You can look forward to being able to define a “Ramp Burn” for fuel. This is the amount of fuel you burn during your taxi and run-up.

Also, you can now define a Max Ramp Weight as well as a Max Zero Fuel Weight along with the Max Takeoff and Max Landing weight already provided.

If you provide a “Ramp Burn” value you will see up to 4 dots on your plot now. An “R”, “T”, “L”, and “Z” (for Ramp, Takeoff, Landing, and Zero Fuel).

It is all still in the works, but I hope to have this update wrapped up and submitted to Apple very soon. Stay tuned!

I have been working hard to integrate more functionality in to FlightScale and FlightPlanHD. I’ve had requests to allow a utility/acrobatic envelope definition to be added to the plot alongside the normal plot. I’m happy to say it is coming along nicely!

The interface for entering the new envelope will be familiar to current users. On the top of the limits list there is now a selection control where you can switch over to define the utility category.

It is important to note that the utility envelope is passive in that it won’t automatically check if you are in or outside of it. It is a visual aid that will plot in your graph so that you can visually do the checks yourself if you want to.

Even though the feature isn’t complete yet I want to give you a sneak peak at what it may look like. Please note that the interfaces may change before release and that this is a sample only and does not represent actual Cessna 152 Utility Envelope data.

FlightLog 3.4 has been submitted to Apple! This update brings the new “Legacy Time” entry screen that will allow bulk entry of previously obtained hours.

I was hesitant to add this feature because it presents a limitation that I discuss in the User Guide for FlightLog:

http://warbredstudios.com/flightlog/flightlog_user_guide.html

I did receive a lot of requests for this feature, however, so I decided to make the option available to users if they want to use it.

I welcome feedback from users if they have ideas on how to improve the functionality of this and other features.

Thank you all for writing me with your feedback about my software, and your patience while I do my best to get your requests completed.

I've been trying to find the best avenues that gets news to you guys about what I'm working on and when to expect new features. Currently I have the Community Forums, the News screen in FlightPlan, and the DevBlog.

I realize that checking websites and subscribing to RSS feeds is very 2005. People like their news/updates quick and delivered to them instantly. For this reason I created a Twitter account just for you!

Follow WarbredStudios on Twitter and you'll receive my tweets about my current development and when to expect new features.

Thank you to all of the dedicated users out there, especially those providing useful feedback on my apps. More great updates coming soon!

It is finally here!

FlightPlanHD is the iPad version of the aviation super-tool, FlightPlan - Pilot's Toolbox. FlightPlanHD isn't just a port of FlightPlan's iPhone functionality, it has some special tools built in specifically designed for the larger screen format.

FlightScale is built in! FlightScale is a powerful and evolving weight and balance app for the iPad. Rather than just bring over the iPhone's weight and balance tools (that are a bit more limited because of the smaller screen) I integrated the full version of FlightScale right in to FlightPlanHD! For a full list of FlightScale's features please read about it on the website.

The Navigation Log Calculator is a new FlightPlanHD feature that doesn't yet exist in the iPhone version. This screen makes quick work of calculating your VFR navigation log reports.

All of the tools available for the iPhone version have been brought over too, and the larger screen makes these functions more useful than ever! Here are a few screenshots below!

Spring is coming, enjoy the skies!

The passed couple months I worked heavily on FlightLog to get the new backup/recovery system in place. That feature has been a big success with users and I’m glad to finally get this frequently requested feature integrated.

I now want to get some updates available for my other apps, and the next up is FlightScale! I have just submitted the first of a couple updates I plan to get done over the next few weeks. This update, 1.5, will allow you to expand your plots to full screen so you can get a good look!

Also, you can define a max forward and aft center of gravity in all of your templates!

I’m anticipating this update will hit your iPads sometime around the first weekend in March.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Keep it coming and I’ll do what I can to get it integrated.

I want to let everyone know that the number one requested feature will indeed see the light of day, and sooner than later! A smaller patch should hit your phones in the next couple of days, but as soon as that clears I’m ready to submit the “big ‘un”.

How does manual data backup from FlightLog sound? How about backup to the cloud? Even better? Wait ‘till you hear this next part-How about online data backup to the cloud and it being absolutely free? How about being able to import your data on other devices running FlightLog, such as your iPad? How is that for a free update?

I know it has taken me a lot of time to get backup functionality out to you but I needed to make sure it was done right. Free and low maintenance were requirements and it is ready to go. I’m sure I’ll receive a lot of feedback once it hits people’s devices and it will continue to improve from there.

I also want to say thank you to everyone for your continued support and enthusiasm about FlightLog. Your feedback is shaping it to be the best logging app for flight time, and it will only get better.