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Variometer Comparison

This page includes an overview of variometers and a comparison table.  There are no example systems on this page because basic variometers are not connected to other devices.  There are advanced varios with speed-to-fly, final glide and flight recorder capabilities included on this page.  Example systems for flight records can be found on the GPS Flight Recorder Comparison page. Example systems for complete flight computer systems can be found on the Flight Computer Comparison page.

Overview
There are many types of variometers available.  Different pilots will be interested in different variometers.  My goal is to help you find the right vario for your needs by providing product overviews and comparison tables.

Links
Borgelt | Cambridge Aero Instruments | ILEC | LX Navigation | Tasman | Winter

Related Pages

Averagers
If you
have never flown with a vario that offers a 20 or 30 second averager, you will love it the first time you try it.  The averager gives you a more accurate read of how strong the thermal is and is especially useful when deciding when it is time to leave a weak thermal.  Often new glider pilots estimate thermal strength based on the peaks they see on the variometer needle.  Once you fly with an averager you will see that the averager reads only about half as much lift as seen in the short peaks.  That is important to know when using MacCready theory to set your speed to fly between thermals.

Please Buy from Me
I work very hard to provide detailed product comparisons for soaring pilots.  I hope you will find this web site useful.  I also offer excellent support to customers who buy from me.  The best way to thank me for the services I offer is to help support my business by buying from me - and telling your friends about my company.

Variometers
Manufacturer
Click on link to see details
Description

Photos
Click on image to see details

Logo

Butterfly Butterfly Vario
Cambridge Aero Instruments

302 - Speed-to-fly Vario with GPS Flight Recorder

ClearNav Instruments

ClearNav Variometer

ILEC

SN-10 - Flight Computer & Vario
SC-7 - Club vario with averager
SB-9 - vario with built-in back-up battery

LXNAV

 - V7 Speed-to-fly variometer with g-meter and FLARM display
 - LX8000 Flight Computer
 - LX8080 Flight Computer
 - LX9000 Flight Computer

   
Tasman

V2000 Variometer with Audio and Averager

Winter

Mechanical variometers with optional custom speed-to-fly rings


Comparison Table
For detailed info. on the varios listed in the table click on the variometer name in the left hand column.  Certainly the table below is not perfect or complete.  I have done my best to make it as complete and accurate as possible but some of the data is difficult to find.  If you see an errors or have any suggestions, please send me an e-mail.

Variometer Comparison Table
Mechanical Variometers
Photo
(click on image to view larger version)
         
Product Sage
(I don't sell these - but I hear they are very nice.)
Winter          
Price $600 to $1500 $572 to $637          
Type Mechanical taut band and brass bellows Mechanical Vane          
Response Time
(seconds)
1, 1.8 or 2.2 1.8 or 3          
Audio No No          
Averager
(seconds)
25 (CVA model only)            
Speed-to-Fly Director No Yes with optional MacCready Ring          
G- Meter No No          
MacCready Ring Option No MC          
2-Seat Repeater Option No No          
Speaker No No          
Temp. Probe No No          
Capacity Required Capacity Capacity          
Size 57 mm or 80 mm 57 mm or 80 mm          
Power
(mA)
0 0          
Unique Features Fast and friction free, unique design allows for precise needle movements but with large range (±20 kts), unique 25 s mechanical averager on CVA model. Rugged, extremely popular, reliable, low cost          
Electrical Vario with Audio - no averager
Photo
(click on image to view larger version)
           
Product ILEC SB-9            
Price $795            
Type Thermal flow measurement with thermistors at const. temp.            
Response Time
(seconds)
1 or 3            
Audio Audio            
Averager
(seconds)
No            
Speed-to-Fly Director No            
G- Meter No            
MacCready Ring Option No            
2-Seat Repeater Option No            
Speaker Internal            
Temp. Probe No            
Capacity Required Capacity (very small)            
Size 57 mm            
Power
(mA)
10 to 30            
Unique Features Built-in back-up battery makes it a great back-up in case of loss of power - just like a mechanical vario - except that it has an audio output while in backup mode.            
Electrical Vario with Audio and Averager
Photo
(click on image to view larger version)
         
Product ILEC SC-7 Tasman V2000          
Overview
Video
 
Video
         
Price $795 $655          
Type Thermal flow measurement with thermistors at const. temp. Pressure transducer          
Response Time
(seconds)
1 or 3 Adjustable from 1 to 4.5 sec          
Audio Audio Audio          
Averager
(seconds)
25? 20          
Speed-to-Fly Director Yes with optional MacCready Ring No          
G- Meter No No          
MacCready Ring Option MC No          
2-Seat Repeater Option Repeater Repeater          
Speaker Internal or External Internal (standard)
or external
         
Temp. Probe Remote No          
Capacity Required No No          
Size 80 mm 57 mm          
Power
(mA)
             
Unique Features The only electric vario with audio and averager that also allows the use of a MacCready ring, digital average display, voltage and temp. display Small (57 mm) vario with audio and averager. No moving parts, voltage indicator, Optional Flight Pack turns it into a speed-to-fly variometer when used with a PDA with soaring flight software.          
Electrical Vario with Audio, Averager and Speed-to-Fly Director
Photo
(click on image to view larger version)
           
Product ClearNav Variometer            
Price $800 to $2400?
Price coming soon
           
Type Pressure transducer            
Response Time
(seconds)
             
Audio              
Averager
(seconds)
             
Speed-to-Fly Director STF            
G-Meter G-meter            
MacCready Ring Option Not Applicable            
2-Seat Repeater Option Repeater            
Speaker External            
Temp. Probe Remote            
Capacity Required No            
Size Fits in small 57 mm (2 1/4")
instrument hole
           
Power
(mA)
             
Unique Features Specifics are not available yet.  It is known that it will work great with a ClearNav flight computer - communicating with it over the high-speed CANbus.  It also has 1 serial port and 1 USB master port.  It will be able to work with a USB Flash drive.  It will probably work with a PDA over the USB port.  It has a built-in GPS and may eventually be an IGC Approved flight recorder.            
Electrical Vario with Audio, Averager, Speed-to-Fly Director and Glide Computer
Photo
(click on image to view larger version)

Product Butterfly Vario Cambridge 302 ILEC SN10

LXNAV V7

LXNAV LX8000 LXNAV LX8080 LXNAV LX9000
Price $3299 $2425
$2835 with 303 LCD Nav. Display
$3655 $1595 $4695 $4595 $4895
Overview
Video
         
LXNAV LX 9000 Overview Video on YouTube
Type Pressure Transducer and Inertial Measurement Unit Pressure Transducer Flow Pressure Transducer Pressure Transducer Pressure Transducer Pressure Transducer
Response Time
(seconds)
    1 or 3        
Audio Audio Audio Audio Audio Audio Audio Audio
Averager
(seconds)
  30 20 20 20 20 20
Speed-to-Fly Director STF STF STF STF STF STF STF
G-Meter G-meter G-meter G-meter G-meter      
MacCready Ring Option Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable
2-Seat Repeater Option Repeater Repeater Repeater Repeater Repeater Repeater Repeater
Speaker Up to 2 speakers Internal (standard)
External (for motorglider)
Internal External External External External
Temp. Probe   Remote Remote Remote Remote Remote Remote
Capacity Required No No capacity flask inside unit No No No No
Size fits in 57 mm instrument hole 57 mm 57 mm vario readout
80 mm flight computer display
61mm x 61mm x 95mm
(2.4 x 2.4 x 3.75 inches)
57 mm vario readout
3.5" diagonal flight computer display
98 x 88 x 80 mm (display unit)
57 mm vario readout
3.5" diagonal flight computer display
98 x 88 x 80 mm (display unit)
57 mm vario readout
3.5" diagonal flight computer display
98 x 88 x 80 mm (display unit)
Power
(mA)
100 300 to 360 100 to 150

180

550

550

550

Unique Features Powerful set of sensors, accurate wind calculation while cruising, artificial horizon, simple navigation, simple final glide, FLARM display Only 1 small hole required, GPS flight recorder, 5V power output for Pocket PC, IGC Approved GPS flight recorder.  Sends air data to a Pocket PC along with the GPS data. See Air Data Transfer for more info. Custom user screen is very well liked because you can select which parameters you prefer to view.  Thermal Height Band Graph, Optional additional vario readout.  No Pocket PC required. Awesome color display.  Speed-to-fly variometer with built-in g-meter, FLARM display, and digital logbook.  Simple final glide computer - navigates to take-off location.  5V power output for Pocket PC.  12V power output for GPS.  Sends air data to a Pocket PC along with the GPS data. See Air Data Transfer for more info. Color graphical display, IGC approved flight recorder.  No Pocket PC required.  Integrated FLARM.  Supports 2nd seat display and up to a total of 4 different "analog style" meters.  Sends air data to a Pocket PC along with the GPS data. See Air Data Transfer for more info. Small, color graphical display, IGC approved flight recorder.  No Pocket PC required.  Integrated FLARM.  Supports 2nd seat display and up to a total of 4 different "analog style" meters.  Sends air data to a Pocket PC along with the GPS data. See Air Data Transfer for more info. Large color graphical display, IGC approved flight recorder.  No Pocket PC required.  Integrated FLARM.  Supports 2nd seat display and up to a total of 4 different "analog style" meters.  Sends air data to a Pocket PC along with the GPS data. See Air Data Transfer for more info.

Air Data Transfer
Several soaring instrument systems are able to send air data (airspeed, vario, etc.) to a Pocket PC in the data stream with the NMEA GPS data.  Software packages such as WinPilot Pro, pocket*StrePla, SeeYou Mobile and Glide Navigator II can take advantage of the data.   For example, SeeYou Mobile and WinPilot Pro offer climb maximizers and other nice features when connected to an instrument which sends airspeed and vario data. 

 


Paul E. Remde

8661 Connelly Place
Savage, Minnesota 55378
USA


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