Flight logbook?

[Tarasdad]

Does anyone know if there's a good flight log program available? I'd like to keep track of my launches and be able to create a database that I can use as a reference.

[kjohnson]

I normally use an Apogee Flight Log sheet. I did have a spreadsheet somewhere that I was entering the informaiton into but stopped doing it along the way.

kj

[blackbrandt]

What about a link?

[Neuport]

If you don't find anything better, this is what I'm doing. I installed a free spreadsheet program for my phone and enter flight/test summaries in there. I have the following columns and a formula to sum the Impulse column. It's easy to maintain, transfers easily between phone and computer, and free. Detailed notes, drawings, performance graphs, etc. go in my paper lab notebook.

Date Event Rocket Motor Impulse Altitude Velocity Acceleration Notes

[cwbullet]

I am willing to develop one. What would you want in a log book?

[blackbrandt]

I am willing to develop one. What would you want in a log book?

I would probably want
(Date) (Rocket) (Motors) (Stages) (Impulse) (Altitude) (Type of deployment) (#of pieces recovered in) (Notes)

[cwbullet]

Anybody have a problem with a runnable filemaker database?

[blackbrandt]

What is that? Couldn't you just do a PDF file? I would print it off and write it. Reason I can't do it myself is i am pitiful with charts and tables.

[Orion14ed]

I could write something in C# that logs it in a .txt file. But it might be a bit tricky to manage.

[jadebox]

Does anyone know if there's a good flight log program available? I'd like to keep track of my launches and be able to create a database that I can use as a reference.

RocketReviews.com offers an on-line Flight Log. It allows you to record your flights and, if you wish, share the info with others. You can upload photos of the flight and associate YouTube videos with your flights. RocketReviews.com displays Flight Statistics based on the flights you've recorded. You can export your Flight Log to an Excel spreadsheet.

If you use Facebook, you can enable "Facebook Integration" so that flights you add to RocketReviews.com are automatically posted to Facebook.

You can also create "widgets" based on your flight logs that you can use in forum posts on in your own web pages.

My Flight Log Widget:

My Flight Stats Widget:

The widgets automatically update when you add new flights.

RocketReviews.com also creates an RSS news feed of your flights - here's mine.

And ... if you prefer printed logs, RocketReviews.com will create a PDF file which you can print with summaries of the flights you've entered into the site and spaces to record new flights.

-- Roger

[cwbullet]

What is that? Couldn't you just do a PDF file? I would print it off and write it. Reason I can't do it myself is i am pitiful with charts and tables.

Filemaker is a database software that you can run on an iPad, iPhone, pc, and mac. pretty easy to use.

[blackbrandt]

RocketReviews.com offers an on-line Flight Log. It allows you to record your flights and, if you wish, share the info with others. You can upload photos of the flight and associate YouTube videos with your flights. RocketReviews.com displays Flight Statistics based on the flights you've recorded. You can export your Flight Log to an Excel spreadsheet.

If you use Facebook, you can enable "Facebook Integration" so that flights you add to RocketReviews.com are automatically posted to Facebook.

You can also create "widgets" based on your flight logs that you can use in forum posts on in your own web pages.

My Flight Log Widget:

My Flight Stats Widget:

The widgets automatically update when you add new flights.

RocketReviews.com also creates an RSS news feed of your flights - here's mine.

And ... if you prefer printed logs, RocketReviews.com will create a PDF file which you can print with summaries of the flights you've entered into the site and spaces to record new flights.

-- Roger

I like the RocketReviews one.

[jadebox]

I like the RocketReviews one.

Your reply was a lot more succinct than mine. :-)

-- Roger

[cwbullet]

Roger,

I really like the flight log. Have you thought about about adding an avionic cell? Can one download the data?

[chadrog]

There's this one too:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rocket-Datab...ht_2811wt_1270
I bought it several years ago, but never installed or used it. It's better for me to not keep track of what I invest in building/flying rockets...

[Disaster_Guy]

I just created a table on webpage for each rocket that I occasionally update (mostly worried only about HPR flights). With that said, luckily the club that I normally fly with keeps all flight cards and inputs them into a database that is accessible on their website.

[chuck5395]

I like the RocketReviews one.

+1 for RocketReviews.com

[cwbullet]

I think it really shows promise. I agree. I would like to see some items added and the ability to look up a club / launch in order to print out a list of rockets for a club. It would also be nice to add your avionics (mentioned above). You can add them to the comments, but it is easier to search by them if they have died own field or cell.

[Sparkytfl]

I've been keeping a text file of launches. I may have to switch to the openoffice version of excel or something before it becomes unmanageable. Other important pieces of info I keep track of are location and weather conditions, plus launch pad details if using a new pad or controller.

[Sully]

I have a basic spreadsheet on my tablet that syncs to my phone: nothing fancy, and half the time I forget to update it. It's in Numbers, the Apple equivalent to Excel. It's basically a text table, and could be stored in an email or anywhere text can be kept. Using Numbers, which I had anyway, allows automatic syncing among devices, so I can use my phone at the range and then the tablet or desktop at home to enter or review the data. I don't get too elaborate beyond that, and frankly am not sure how I'll ever use the information. But any flight log is still better than a flying log:

[jadebox]

I think it really shows promise. I agree. I would like to see some items added and the ability to look up a club / launch in order to print out a list of rockets for a club. It would also be nice to add your avionics (mentioned above). You can add them to the comments, but it is easier to search by them if they have died own field or cell.

I have a lot of ideas about how to improve the Flight Logs feature. I just have to find the time to do it. :-)

Adding additional fields is easy, so I'll look at doing that sooner rather than later. And, it's bugged me for a while that the Launch Site field isn't connected to the Rocketry Club index. As you can probably tell by visiting RocketReviews.com, I like making sure that there are connections between related things.

BTW ... almost everything I add to the site or update is the result of suggestions from people using the site. I'm much better at implementing ideas than I am at coming up with them.

-- Roger

[cwbullet]

Awesome. I will start using it. I have been watching but not using.

[blackbrandt]

I have a basic spreadsheet on my tablet that syncs to my phone: nothing fancy, and half the time I forget to update it. It's in Numbers, the Apple equivalent to Excel. It's basically a text table, and could be stored in an email or anywhere text can be kept. Using Numbers, which I had anyway, allows automatic syncing among devices, so I can use my phone at the range and then the tablet or desktop at home to enter or review the data. I don't get too elaborate beyond that, and frankly am not sure how I'll ever use the information. But any flight log is still better than a flying log:

Please don't tell me you took that photo...

[hcmbanjo]

+1 for RocketReviews.com

+2 for the Flight Log on RocketReviews.com

It's surprising when you look back on your flights by model, total impulses and flights per year.
After the data is entered, you can go back and load photos, videos, even Rocksim files.

After checking my flight log on Rocketreviews I realize there's a certain rocket I haven't flown for a while.
That one will get picked and fly at the next group launch.

I used to keep a spiral book and enter all my flights.
Now I enter the flights online and all the stats are compiled for me.
It's well worth the short time it takes to learn how to input the data. If I can do it, anybody can.

[blackbrandt]

Can you upload data from a Raven3?

[Tarasdad]

What I'd like is something I can put on my iPad to use at the launch site. There's good cell coverage but a distinct lack of wifi there - can you imagine such a terrible thing?

[Sully]

Please don't tell me you took that photo...

Nope, it's one of those viral photos, possibly fake, that I saw a while ago that came to mind when I read "flight log" and I couldn't resist sharing.

What I'd like is something I can put on my iPad to use at the launch site. There's good cell coverage but a distinct lack of wifi there - can you imagine such a terrible thing?

As I mentioned in my post, I use a spreadsheet in Numbers, an iOS spreadsheet program. I have it synced to my ipad (which i sometimes bring to launches) and my phone (which i always have). There are a number of spreadsheet and simple note-taking apps that you could use, then transfer to the Rocketreviews system later.

[cwbullet]

As I mentioned in my post, I use a spreadsheet in Numbers, an iOS spreadsheet program. I have it synced to my ipad (which i sometimes bring to launches) and my phone (which i always have). There are a number of spreadsheet and simple note-taking apps that you could use, then transfer to the Rocketreviews system later.

That is what filemaker is.

[MarkII]

I use the Flight Log in rocketreviews. It has features that make it easy to enter individual and multiple flights, plus you can attach photos and videos to each flight. It's always accessible from any computer and it safely stores my data. On the plus side: it automatically calculates various stats for my launching history. On the minus side: it automatically calculates stats for my launching history. I am sure that it will also make it easy to share information, if I ever decide to do so.

[JPVegh]

Dang! I just have a spiral notebook and a Dixon Ticonderoga no.2 .