Name: My Vario Lite
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)
Author: YannickD.

[GARMIN DISCLAIMER]
!!!! WARNING !!!!: This app is intended only as an in-flight aid and should NOT be used as a primary information source. This app contains a barometric altimeter, as such it will not function in a pressurized aircraft and should NOT be used in a pressurized aircraft.

DESCRIPTION:

This free and open-source application provides Variometer functions adapted to free flight activities. It is a light version of the "My Vario" application, with several non-essential features removed so it can run on Fenix 5, Fenix 6, Forerunner 935, and Forerunner 645. It is based on the excellent open-source Garmin IQ GliderSK application by Cedric Dufour (licensed under GPL v3.0, just like My Vario is), dropping a lot of features for a simpler/leaner experience, while adding many improvements for free flight activities.

My Vario is a BACKUP source of information and should ALWAYS be paired with specialized variometer equipment! Watch sensors are simply not precise enough and THIS APP SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A PRIMARY FLIGHT INSTRUMENT!

Please read the manual: https://github.com/ydutertre/myvariolite/blob/main/USAGE

1. Dashboards

Multiple views/dashboards are available.

- a Global view, displaying all flight data in a single pane: altitude, ground and vertical speeds, finesse, heading, wind direction and speed estimate, if available (wind direction and speed are computed on the fly based on groundspeeds when circling)

- a Variometer view, where the vertical speed can be visually seen

- a Varioplot/thermal assistant view, allowing to keep track of your ascent/descent rate along your flight path

An option to auto-switch to and from the varioplot/thermal assistant view automatically (based on circling auto-detection) is available.

2. Tone and vibration curves

The application makes use of the watch beeps and vibrations (if available).

- Variable-frequency tones to "sound" your ascent rate, as well as vibration-based "tones" to fly in silence. These tones follow closely some popular variometer tone curves (sound frequency/pitch, tone to tone or vibration to vibration pause time, tone/vibration length - all depending on vertical speed)

- a minimum climb rate setting is available, under which sounds or vibrations won't be triggered

- a sink rate threshold setting is available, for warning of strong sink

3. Under the hood

- The application uses a Kalman filter for fast and accurate filtering of altitude and vertical speed (compared to the SMA filter used by GliderSK originally)

- The smoothing (and latency) applied by the Kalman filter can be changed in the settings

- The default settings are optimized for a comfortable experience out of the box

USAGE:

You really, really want to go through the Manual before first use, and test the application at home! See below USAGE manual.

https://github.com/ydutertre/myvariolite/blob/main/USAGE

NOTES:

I have tested this app extensively in flight to test all of the features. However, please remember that this app is intended only as an in-flight aid and should NOT be used as a primary information source. And should NOT be used in a pressurized aircraft.

As paragliding / parapente / paraglider are extreme sports, apps for that purpose are not allowed by Garmin. Please do not attempt to use this app for this purpose.