App Profile: AircraftPower S

AircraftPower S is the iPhone version of my iPad app, AircraftPower. It is is an Aircraft Engine Performance App which uses a standard reciprocating engine performance model to calculate and display the sea level and altitude performance of 74 normally-aspirated Continental® engine models and 107 normally-aspirated Lycoming® engine models.

A graphic display shows the engine performance chart and illustrates the manual construction method for determining altitude performance that we learned in ground school (and promptly forgot). As the user changes the input values for manifold pressure (or % rated power), rpm, pressure altitude (or indicated altitude & altimeter setting) and and outside air temperature, the power output and percent power (or manifold pressure required) are displayed, and dotted lines and colored dots in the graphic display follow the manual construction method. While the graphics aren't really necessary, they are instructive (and interesting) to watch.

The user may choose english or metric units for altitude, temperature, manifold pressure, altimeter setting and power output (however, the graphic always uses english units), and may select default values for the inputs and the engine. The user can also choose to input the indicated altitude instead of the pressure altitude (the default), and choose to input the % rated power instead of the manifold pressure.