SkyDude

How many of you keep accurate flight logs? What's your preferred method? I used to write down flights in the back of the manual, but once I filled it up with over 80 flights, I stopped tracking.

I guess an Excel file would be simple enough to keep track of things. I was noting the following:

Date
Model
Engine
Fuel Type
Flight Duration (estimate)
Fuel Consumed (estimate)
Comments (like "that d@#*%& strut broke off the Cub again")

What do you guys use and what other things do you track? Anyone go so far as to make a database?

Just curious. I'd like to be able to tell how many flights I have, but the paper records don't seem to cut it.

Thanks!

Azcat59

Yep, I keep a log book. Just a cheap 5x7 (prox) notebook. Front section logs in total flights:

Date Airplane # flights Cumulative Flights

This logs the flights for that day, and the total RC flights I have made since starting RC some 27 years ago.

Second section of the book--a page for each airplane. Shows in the heading:

Name of plane Engine Used
Date started (building) Date finished
Weight RTF, and any lead included
Any data re: battery, receiver

Then:

Date Any comments of importance #flights (that day) # cumulative flights


Under comments, I only log in anything unusual or of lasting importance. I will also log in any major changes I may have had to make to get the airplane trimmed out correctly. I will also include a note suggesting the dual rate settings normally used, such as "Lo Elevator, Lo Aileron, Hi Rudder, go to all Hi rates for spins" etc. I have a large fleet, and it may have been two years since I have flown the airplane, so it is helpful to see where to set the rates when I get it back out to fly.

Hope this helps. It will gag the record-keeping challenged I know, but takes all of 2-3 minutes to fill in after coming home from the field

Clair
AMA 15654

FHHuber

If I keep a log... I get "jinxed" and all the entries will look like:

6/6/76 | Andrews H Ray | Test flight | Takeoff 10:02 | Impact 10:03 | Total loss


I went through a LOT of airplanes with just that type log entries. ( and nothing else... ) I quit logging my flights and suddenly quit breaking as many airplanes.

3DFanatic

My Feedback: (5)

My log pages look like:

When: 1/25/04
Where: RAMS
WX: Overcast, windy, high of 45ish
Plane Flights
Sukhoi 1

Notes:
Glitching problem solved.

Azcat59

FHH.....you probably got jinxed because you're one of these guys that doesn't take a picture of the plane before the first flight

Clair

Geistware

My Feedback: (16)

I keep mine online.
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/my_page.htm

3DFanatic

My Feedback: (5)

showoff

RDMoore

I am creating a r/c aircraft log program. If you are interested, I will give you a copy when I am done.

Later.

FHHuber

That don't work for me either... any plane I have had a pic taken of within one week of its first flight... has had a MAJOR crash within the week after the photo. Usually its totalled.
(That includes the Tripe... which I managed to rebuild. See the thread on trimming a Dr1 elsewhere... that stall characteristic dead-stick is killer.)

I don't let people take pics of me and the new plane any more till its been flying a month.

Azcat59

Haw! The old superstitious themes arise! The other side of the coin is that if you don't take a picture of the plane before the first flight, it will crash and you won't even have the picture....this is the one I subscribe to!

Even worse, I think I have totalled three different planes on their 37th flight.... I am about ready to take off, circle once and land, and call it the 37th henceforth!


Clair

Goinstraightup

My Feedback: (26)

Yes, I've been keeping a log since '96. It's real fun to look back and see all the action.

Mine is

Date Planes Location Weather Guests Comments


I wish I had started right away when I started flying...

bruzer

RDMoore
I would be interested in seeing what your program looks like.

I haven't started my log book yet and I think I will start. Its a good idea so you can look back and see where you have been and also a good reference when someone asks you how much flight time do you have..... and the size of the gap between #of landings and # of takoffs.

3DFanatic

My Feedback: (5)

manufacturers need to install logs in transmitters

ZAGNUT

My Feedback: (1)

flight log?? for what?? i just scratch an X on my flight box for every plane i total


dave

paladin

My Feedback: (9)

I keep one and it is quite extencive and in lotus 123( 0.4meg) or word(1.4Meg). I don't see a way to attach it here so E-mail me for a copy. Please pay attention to the size of the files because if you have phone access you will not be able to get the XLS file.

Joe Felice