Home > Variometers

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

• GPS Flight Recorder Comparison
• Flight Computer Comparison

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.