SkyDrop

€270.00

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Full featured combined GPS vario

Color
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Orange
Battery
  • Double battery
Quantity
In Stock

SkyDrop vario is a full featured combined GPS vario. By the way, with its 80g it is the lightest vario with display! SkyDrop is a middle class instrument, dedicated for wide range of pilots. Instead of long listing all the features, which would take many mouse scrolls, we can introduce several use cases. If interested, please find function list in Specification tab:

  • Once pilot is autonomous in basic skills (take off or landing), she/he is thirsty for air time. SkyDrop will gratefully help with this mission. It doesn't need to sit on cockpit of cocoon harness, or even worse - at old school leg mount. Instead of that, a riser mount puts instrument right in front of pilot's eyes, where she/he can easily read all what is needed.
  • We recommend riser mount also for advanced pilots, due to safety reasons. When using riser mount, pilot can operates device with brake in her/his hand.
  • However small and lightweight SkyDrop is, we found some space for complete set of motion sensors. Their fusion with the best available baro sensor creates instant vario reaction.
  • Competition pilot at the front of leading gaggle needs reliable backup. SkyDrop generates FAI1 class IGC tracklogs and has waypoint navigation with route length optimization.
  • Tandem pilot has very limited space for instruments, but SkyDrop on passengers shoulder or helmet easily solves this situation.
  • Do you like hike&XC? SkyDrop with its 80 grams in combination with your mobile phone is all you need for these exciting adventures.
  • Leg mount is for camera, not for prehistoric instruments anymore! Riser mount is ideal for "always looking up" acro pilots, who also need some kind of instrument. SkyDrop can provide safety features like altitude alarms, or just G-force meter for fun. Maybe infinity tumble counter will come ;)

Physical parameters:

  • weight 86g
  • dimensions 98x57x19 mm
  • battery 2000 mAh, 25h fly time
  • memory 32 Gb

Features:

  • vario - analog/digital/average, acoustic signalization, graph history
  • instant vario response
  • flight logs - IGC/KML  accepted for FAI Category 1 competitions
  • GPS - ground speed, altitude, heading, glide ratio
  • bluetooth android connectivity/telemetry - XCTrack, FlyMe, XCSoar, LK8000, TopHat, Sky Land Tracker, Paragliding Dashboard
  • bluetooth iOS connectivity/telemetry - FlySkyHy
  • wind speed and direction
  • altimeters - 5 adjustable altimeters (relative, absolute, GPS or QNH mode)
  • height above ground level (AGL), preloaded worldwide terrain data
  • competition waypoint navigation with route length optimization
  • airspace violation warning
  • fully customizable - multiple screens with configurable layouts and widgets
  • G-meter
  • weak lift detection (pre-thermal sound)
  • flight book, fly time, real time clock
  • auto take off and landing detection
  • UART output (for E-readers connection)

Every future feature will be available for free in software update, check current version here.

Package contains:

  • SkyDrop variometer
  • raiser holder with adhesive hooks&loops
  • protective hard shell pocket
  • micro USB cable
  • user guide
  • sticker

Please read user manual and tutorial videos

 

AGL - altitude above ground

To display altitude above ground, you need to have terrain data loaded in your SkyDrop. We pre-load most flown areas during production. If you have an older device without pre-loaded terrain data, you can download this package here. If your area in not included, you can select and download terrain data and following how to guide. Red marked areas in map represent pre-loaded terrain data.

 

Airspaces

SkyDrop vario has airspace violation warning functions. You can download airspace data here.

 

Device update

Web based online configurator is a great support tool for the SkyDrop vario, which has two main functions. The first, you can update in your vario and get new functions. The second, you can customize screens and settings more comfortable way than directly on device. Even more, configurator allows you to set most advanced functions like custom sound, what is not accessible in vario menu.

SkyDrop v1 - firmware starting 5 (5xxx, e.g. 5305) - online configurator

SkyDrop v2 - firmware starting 8 (8xxx, e.g. 8079) - online configurator

NOTE - In any case don't cheat on your vario - Don't rename v2 firmware DROP2.FW to SKYDROP.FW (and vice versa), you will break your vario.

 

Bluetooth telemetry

If you decide to connect your SkyDrop with phone or tablet via Bluetooth, you can get very accurate barometric data in your flight computer app. We support XCTrack, XCSoar, FlyMe, LK8000, G_variometer and Paragliding Dashboard on Android devices. FlySkyHy, SkyLogger and SkyLoggerXXL are supported apps running on iOS. Please read user manual and watch tutorial videos if you want closer view to this topics.

If you find LCD screen of SkyDrop vario not working anymore or has some non-functional blocks (mostly whole rows), this is caused by mechanical damage of the screen. Even if there are no signs or cracks from outside, for sure there is broken part of LCD inside device. This damage can occur if too heavy force is applied to front side of vario. Please contact us via email to resolve this issue.

Very rarely pilots complain to non-functional GPS receiver. When vario was switched off for longer time or you traveled to another country, some time is needed to achieve 3D GPS fix. If vario still cannot catch it for more than 10 minutes, please go to menu>settings>GPS>status screen to see locked satellites. If there is 0/0 in upper right corner, vario has to be opened and repaired. Please contact us via email resolve this issue.

If you have issues with accelerometer or constant/crazy beeping it is possible that accelerometer is not properly calibrated. There are 2 possible solutions (We recommend the first option to get maximum from device): 1. Calibrate accelerometer, please follow instructions in the manual: Menu>settings>advanced>accelerometer or check out this instructional video. 2. Turn off motion sensors fusion with barometer: Uncheck Menu>Vario>Use accel checkbox

If there is something wrong with your SkyDrop, please leave us message at info@skybean.eu. Please don't send us vario for repair without previous consultation, because in many cases we can fix it by email, so don't waste your money and time if not necessary. If you anyway want send us broken vario without previous consultation, mark package value to 10€ if you are outside of EU.

FAQ page

In case you haven't found your topic here, there is frequently asked questions page here, please check it - skybean.eu/content/skydrop-faq

SkyDrop tutorial - 01 Getting started

Quick start video for the SkyDrop vario.

SkyDrop tutorial - 02 Firmware update

How to update firmware on your SkyDrop vario.

SkyDrop tutorial - 03.1 Bluetooth connection to XCTrack on Android

Tutorial how to setup bluetooth connection between SkyDrop and XCTrack

SkyDrop tutorial - 03.5 Bluetooth connection to FlySkyHy on iPhone

Tutorial how to setup bluetooth connection between SkyDrop and FlySkyHy

SkyDrop tutorial - 03.2 Bluetooth connection to XCSoar on Android

Tutorial how to setup bluetooth connection between SkyDrop and XCSoar

SkyDrop tutorial - 03.4 Bluetooth connection to FlyMe on Android

Tutorial how to setup bluetooth connection between SkyDrop and FlyMe

SkyDrop tutorial - 03.3 Bluetooth connection to LK8000 on Android

Tutorial how to setup bluetooth connection between SkyDrop and LK8000

SkyDrop tutorial - 03.6 Bluetooth connection to SkyLogger on iPhone

Tutorial how to setup bluetooth connection between SkyDrop and SkyLogger

SkyDrop vario improvement

We played with SkyDrop's source code and this is the result. Reaction of vario is now instant (can be disabled in settings). Firmware build 4240 brings better implementation of Kalman filter - fusion of barometer and motion sensors (IMU).

First ever paragliding flight in Trondheim harbor

Incredible launch and altitude gain in urban environment without any slope. Pilot Harald Wanvik proves that SkyDrop vario will take you up even at impossible places ;)

Rated 4.78 on the scale 1 - 5 based on 65 customer reviews
Verified purchase

It beeps ;)

As a beginner, this is my first vario. And it does excatly what it should do.<br /> Tells me when there is lift, and if I circle it tell me where the biggest gain was.<br /> <br /> Getting the GPX track is super easy, and slowly I start to use more features.<br /> I like it and already suggested it to other new pilots

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Verified purchase

Awesome Vario

This is a great little vario with a small screen that mounts on the risers so it's easy to see while flying. You can easily switch screens while flying. It detects when you are in a thermal and displays a handy little thermal assistant. When you stop circling, it will display the previous screen you had before it switched to the thermal assistant. And if you want more information, you can always connect a cell phone or tablet and then have a full competition setup with everything you could ever want. Awesome little unit! Love it!

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Outstanding!

Lightweight, beautiful, fast response of the variometer (really very fast), flexibly configurable and a very good price for such great functionality!

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An sich super. Wenn da nicht ein paar Kleinigkeiten wären

Zuerst ist es ein super gutes, kleines, leichtes Gerät. Mit dem Doppelakku kommt es dem SyrideNav sehr nahe. Auch wenn das Setting etwas fummelig ist, funktioniert alles. Online kann man mit dem Konfigurator sehr gut die Einstellungen machen-Leider nur englisch. Offline geht das auch aber dies ist dann ein Notbetrieb.<br /> Besonders gut ist die Bluetoothanbindung. Mit einer passenden App perfekt.<br /> <br /> Nun zu den etwas schwierigen Punkten.<br /> #Display- <br /> Klein ist super aber hier ist es für die Funktionen fast zu klein. Leider wird die zur Verfügung stehende Fläche nicht genutzt. Hier kann man schnell ohne hohen finanziellen Einsatz und ohne hohen Entwicklungsaufwand nachbessern.<br /> #Tasten-<br /> Auch die Tasten sind etwas fummelig. Mit Handschuhen(mittel bis dick) kann man das vergessen. Auch hier ein Pluspunkt da es eine "Funktionserkennung " gibt. So schaltet das Vario zwischen Start, Flug, Thermik und Landung selbst um. So merkt man dieses Manko praktisch nicht.<br /> <br /> Fazit<br /> Super Gerät das in seiner Preisklasse absolut unschlagbar ist. Einzig das etwas kleine Display müsste man überdenken.<br /> Ich hab´s und behalte es ;).

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Verified purchase

Very happy with it

I was used to fly with a small vario (sound only) and after a few hours with the sky drop I'm very satisfied with the change. <br /> <br /> Gonzalo

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