Start/Stop Button
During your preparation for each flight, press the Start button, which will turn into the red stop button. This is your indication to Flyskyhy that you want to go flying, and puts it into flight mode. This will take a number of preparatory measures to get the app ready for flight, such as:
Pressing the Start button does not start the flight log
After pressing the Start button, the flight log is started when a take-off is detected, and will continue in the background even if you switch off the screen or open another app. A take-off is detected when the ground speed is larger than 3 m/s (11 km/h, 6.7 mph) for more than 10 seconds. The log will include the 30 seconds before that as well.
During flight the start/stop button will be red and show the flight duration in hours and minutes.
To stop recording a flight, press that red stop button. If you accidentally press the stop button while you are still moving, you will get a warning.
When the app is logging in the background, the log is automatically stopped if there has been zero speed for more than 5 minutes. This prevents large battery drain and long log files when you forget to press the stop button.
The “Auto start flight” option in the Settings is only a backup when you forget to press the Start button. When enabled, flight mode will be started automatically when a take-off is detected, even when the Start button has not been pressed. But this will only happen when the app is running in the foreground. Note that relying on this can lead to awkard situations, such as the iPhone screen locked in the wrong orientation.
When the “Auto stop flight” option is enabled, the flight is automatically terminated when moving slower than 1 m/s (3.6 km/h, 2.2 mph) for 30 seconds. After the end of a flight, you need to press the Start button again before the next flight.
- Lock the screen orientation in place
- Switch the vario sound on (when configured as “During flight”)
- Make sure you have a working connection to your Bluetooth vario device
- Start live tracking
- Make sure the app remains active when switched to the background, or when the screen is switched off
- Recalculate the optimal waypoint route starting from your current location
- Start monitoring your speed to detect a take-off
Pressing the Start button does not start the flight log
After pressing the Start button, the flight log is started when a take-off is detected, and will continue in the background even if you switch off the screen or open another app. A take-off is detected when the ground speed is larger than 3 m/s (11 km/h, 6.7 mph) for more than 10 seconds. The log will include the 30 seconds before that as well.
During flight the start/stop button will be red and show the flight duration in hours and minutes.
To stop recording a flight, press that red stop button. If you accidentally press the stop button while you are still moving, you will get a warning.
When the app is logging in the background, the log is automatically stopped if there has been zero speed for more than 5 minutes. This prevents large battery drain and long log files when you forget to press the stop button.
The “Auto start flight” option in the Settings is only a backup when you forget to press the Start button. When enabled, flight mode will be started automatically when a take-off is detected, even when the Start button has not been pressed. But this will only happen when the app is running in the foreground. Note that relying on this can lead to awkard situations, such as the iPhone screen locked in the wrong orientation.
When the “Auto stop flight” option is enabled, the flight is automatically terminated when moving slower than 1 m/s (3.6 km/h, 2.2 mph) for 30 seconds. After the end of a flight, you need to press the Start button again before the next flight.
The Map
The map depicts the area where you are flying, showing your location and flight direction at the black arrow. It scrolls automatically, showing about 2/3 in front of you and 1/3 behind you. You can zoom in by double-tapping and zoom-out by single tapping.
During flight, the map shows colored spots where you have gone up or down. The spots range from green for weak lift through yellow to red where you have had strong lift. Blue spots show where you have gone down excessively. Based on the wind direction, the spots are moved to show where you will likely have that same lift/descent at your current altitude.
The trail of your flight is shown in the same colors.
A variety of other information is shown on the map, such as the wind direction, known landing and launch sites, the flying location of friends, waypoints and their route (with the waypoints extension), and restricted airspaces (with the airspaces extension).
Please explore the map settings as well, to choose the type of map to show (roadmap, satellite, or terrain), and whether it rotates with your (compass) heading, rotates with your flight direction, or stays oriented North up. You can also select the available zoom resolutions, and which information to show.
During flight, the map shows colored spots where you have gone up or down. The spots range from green for weak lift through yellow to red where you have had strong lift. Blue spots show where you have gone down excessively. Based on the wind direction, the spots are moved to show where you will likely have that same lift/descent at your current altitude.
The trail of your flight is shown in the same colors.
A variety of other information is shown on the map, such as the wind direction, known landing and launch sites, the flying location of friends, waypoints and their route (with the waypoints extension), and restricted airspaces (with the airspaces extension).
Please explore the map settings as well, to choose the type of map to show (roadmap, satellite, or terrain), and whether it rotates with your (compass) heading, rotates with your flight direction, or stays oriented North up. You can also select the available zoom resolutions, and which information to show.
Photo button
Pressing the photo button allows you to take a picture during flight with the built-in camera. The photos will be stored on your Camera Roll in the Apple Photos app. Make sure you give Flyskyhy permission to use the camera and to store the photos in the Photos app. It will ask for permissions when you take your first photo, but if you missed that, you can also give permissions in the Settings app.
Nice to have a reminder of that great flight!
Nice to have a reminder of that great flight!
Vario status
If you connect with an external vario device, the Vario Status instrument shows the status of the connection with the device, and the battery level of the device, if available. The instrument can have 4 colours: grey, red, orange, and green. Grey indicates that you have not specified an external vario in the Settings, while green indicates a proper, working connection to the vario. Red and orange both mean you don't have a connection, but with orange the app is still in the process of establishing the connection. You simply may need to switch on the vario, for example.
Battery status
The battery status is shown in both percentage and in a graphical way. The icon is green when fully charged, orange when some charge has been used, and red when you should really attach an external battery. The icon also shows when an external power source has been attached.
Note that, just like for all other instruments, you can resize it to just get the icon, or just the digits.
Note that, just like for all other instruments, you can resize it to just get the icon, or just the digits.