MGL Avionics Stratomaster Ultra “L” Owner’s manual
Page 29
The VSI indicator
The VSI (vertical speed indicator) shows your rate of sink or climb.
The Stratomaster Ultra has two such indicators, one digital, the
other analogue. The digital indicator is shown below the analogue
indicator. It has a range of +/- 9 990 ft/min (50.7 mps) with a 10
ft/min resolution. The analogue VSI is a logarithmic indicator. This
means it is very sensitive around the 0 ft/min area and will display a
climb or sink of as little as +/- 10 ft/min. The range of the analogue
VSI is +/- 2 000 ft/min (610 m). The VSI further has a climb/sink
indicator in the form of an arrow that points up or down when the
climb or sink rate exceeds 100 ft/min (0,5 mps). This is a useful
feature for the trainee pilot who is practicing straight and level flying.
Flying straight and level without the arrows appearing makes the
instructor happy!
The VSI can be set to read feet per minute or meters per second
(mps). This choice is made in the mode setup menu.
Note: All Stratomaster Ultra instruments have a Vario output. This is found at the rear of the
instrument. An optional Vario panel can be connected to this port. This will allow indication of
climb and sink by means of altering the pitch of a pilot tone. The human ear is very sensitive
to pitch changes. This feature is indented for use in gliders and motor gliders where it is
required to keep a view outside of the cockpit if many gliders are found circling in the same
thermal. The tone pitch will inform you on how your thermaling is doing without the need to
look at the instrument.
The Vario panel is an optional accessory available from MGL Avionics. The Vario panel has a
built in speaker, volume and pitch controls and the vario tone can be injected into a suitably
fitted out intercom or headset system if required.
Auxiliary flight information
The display on the right will be shown if you have a fuel
flow sender installed and it is selected as being
available in the mode setup menu. Should the fuel flow
sender be deselected, the fuel flow related items will
not be shown.
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for air
density. This relates to altitude and temperature. To
use this function you must install the included ambient
temperature probe so the instrument can measure the
correct ambient temperature.
Density altitude is an useful indicator for your aircraft’s
performance at altitude. The altitude given is the equivalent altitude that you should consider
your aircraft to be at currently, regardless of the actual altitude. This in turn will enable you to
correctly assess required take-off and landing distances as well as load carrying abilities.
Consult your aircraft’s handbook on relevant de-rating curves.
BAROMETER
The barometer shows your current ambient pressure. It is the basis of your altimeter.
