Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #45291
From: Michael Newman <mnewman@dragonnorth.com>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: RE: [LML] Computing TAS from GPS tracks
Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:19:21 -0500
To: <lml@lancaironline.net>
The CSG on line calculator has a serious error. If your compass has any error the angles will not be exactly 90 degrees and the compass error will contribute to an error in the TAS and wind estimation.
 
The method I presented is more complex. Because you feed it the GPS tracks it does not care about your actual headings. It actually computes the compass heading allowing you to observe the compass error.


From: Taylor, David [mailto:dtaylor@crescentpark.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 4:47 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: RE: [LML] Computing TAS from GPS tracks

Mike – you have the right idea.  This website also does the calc:  http://www.csgnetwork.com/tasgpscalc.html

 

Or you can just find the wind direction and fly into the wind and then turn 180 and fly out of the wind and just average your groundspeeds.  This is also TAS.  But it’s tricky finding the wind direction.  You need to line up your heading and your track to find it.

 

My GRT in my Legacy was computing a TAS that is 5 knots too high for instance.  GRT lets you calibrate this so now its more accurate!

 

Dave T.

Legacy RG

 

From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Michael Newman
Sent: Fri, 12-07-2007 19:14
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Computing TAS from GPS tracks

 

I've been doing some homework on how to calibrate airspeed indications and get the TAS of a plane. Given 3 GPS tracks taken at the same airspeed you can compute a complete solution for the heading on each track and the TAS.

 

Folks might be interested in my spreadsheet which contains real data from my plane at low altitude. I will gather some more data over time.

 

You can find my spreadsheet via my Soaring and Flying page at: http://www.dragonnorth.com/soaring.html scroll down a bit there is discussion a link to a reference document and a link to the spreadsheet itself.

 

My true airspeed as computed from my airspeed indicator is about 14 knots faster that the measured result.

 


Michael Newman

Dragonnorth Group

319 Dean Rd.
Brookline, MA 02445

Cell: 617 821-4608
Home: 617 566-7975
Fax: 617 566-7975

www.dragonnorth.com

mnewman@dragonnorth.com

 

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