Stratomaster EXTREME 

Features and Functions:

LONG AWAITED…  IT HAS FINALLY ARRIVED

The New Stratomaster Extreme - Yardstick and Ruler
for Glass-Cockpit style primary flight and EMS systems for use in Sport aircraft.

Our Stratomaster EXTREME offers ALL the bells and whistles!  This new instrument is designed specifically for use in aircraft with open cockpits under low and high temperature extremes.  The EXTREME provides excellent viewing quality in poor light conditions.  It's the most complete and compact light sport aircraft instrumentation package available on the planet today.

Providing a multi-channel EMS as standard, the Extreme gives you the ability to keep a close watch on your engine, at the same time optimizing its performance. The EMS is highly configurable in true Stratomaster fashion, suitable for a large range of engines from small two-stokes to four cylinder four strokes. Rotax engines from the 447 to the 914 are of course usable, but the EMS is not limited to just Rotax.  Unlike other “engine specific” systems our Stratomaster allows connection to just about anything you like, be it VW, Jabiru or Lycoming, you’re covered! 

The Stratomaster Extreme with RDAC IV EMS system (Matchbox for size reference) 

Stratomaster Extreme - back view.  Showing connections for power supply (battery), external alarm lamp, ambient temperature probe, Airtalk link, audio alarm output, vario output and RDAC port.

   Stratomaster Extreme Features and Functions: 

·      Dimensions: 202x92 mm. Mounting depth 95mm (including connectors and wiring). Panel cutout 196x75 mm. Weight 575 grams plus RDAC IV EMS 275 grams. 

·      Altimeter: 0-40,000 ft certified by us, traceable to British national standards. 7.5 ft static resolution, 1 ft dynamic resolution. QNH and QNE settings. User calibration function. The static resolution applies in still air with the unit stationary at sea-level. The dynamic resolution is available with the aircraft moving. This resolution has been made possible by mathematically evaluating the turbulence created around the aircraft. The unit uses a micro machined silicon diaphragm sensor and an absolute vacuum reference of highest stability and accuracy. The altimeter is doubly temperature compensated and uses true ratio-metric signal acquisition circuitry. The altimeter can operate in increments of 1 ft or 1 meter. QNH setting is shown in mb(hp) or in/Hg. 

·      Airspeed: ASI or TAS (true airspeed) selectable. Range from 16 mph to 200 mph, user calibration possible to cater for pitot tube placement. 

·      Digital VSI: +/-9999 ft/min range, dead band +/- 20 ft/min resolution (1 ft/min internally). The VSI is altitude compensated. VSI is selectable to show in ft/min or meters/second. 

·      Analogue VSI: Range +/-2000 ft/min. Logarithmic display with excellent sensitivity around the 0 ft/min level. Additional "straight and level" indicator useful for training the novice pilot. Note: the VSI has a "vario" output for connection to an optional vario panel. This allows "Audio" from your VSI.

·      Glide slope ratio indicator: Range to 1/99. This display is shown when the instrument detects that you are gliding. Instantaneous calculation of your forward speed vs. vertical speed is provided. Uses true airspeed (TAS) for maximum accuracy.

·       Climb ratio indicator: Range to 0 to 1/99. Shows ratio of climb to forward movement. Useful to establish best rate of climb vs. best angle of climb performance of your aircraft.

·      Take-off length measurement: The unit includes a semi-automatic take-off length measurement mode. This establishes your aircrafts take-off length in meters to clearing the standard 50 ft obstacle. This is a very useful feature for aircraft designers but also for the owner who wants to optimize his aircrafts performance. This feature is also used to optimize climb performance if you have an adjustable propeller. In this case the unit is used to measure the forward air distance required to gain 50 ft of altitude.

·      Density altimeter: This secondary altimeter shows the density altitude at your current location taking pressure altitude and ambient temperature into account. This in turn can be used to calculate your aircrafts take-off run for your current local conditions.

·      Stop watch: A stop watch is provided that can be used as flight leg timer for competitions etc. Functions provided are start/stop and reset. Range to 99 hours, 59 minutes.

·      Air distance made good: This is a re-settable "trip counter" based on TAS and time. The instrument can be setup to reset the Air Distance counter automatically on the start of a flight.

·      Fuel level display: This uses a standard automotive float level sender at low cost. The instrument has a calibration procedure that recognizes the tank shape and fuel capacity. This results in direct, accurate readout of remaining fuel in liters, U.S. or Imperial gallons.

·      Fuel flow display: This uses a fuel flow sender (not included in basic cost). Resolution in decimals of a liter / hour. This sender can also be used to calculate fuel level if no fuel level sender has been installed. In this case it is possible to enter a current tank level in liters, US or Imp gallons and the instrument will calculate remaining fuel.

·      The two, probably, most useful displays if fuel flow and fuel level is available is Air distance range and Bingo fuel time estimates based on current performance. Air distance range gives calculated range based on current TAS speed, fuel flow and fuel remaining. The Bingo time estimate gives remaining engine running time on available fuel based on current fuel flow and fuel remaining.

·      Ambient temperature: An accurate semiconductor sender is included in the price.

·      Hobbs meter: The hobbs meter counts to 9999 hours, 59 minutes. The hobbs meter is pre-settable to current engine time.

·      Maintenance counter: This pre-settable counter counts engine time down. Can be used for maintenance tasks such as gear lube change or spark plug replacements, MPI etc.

·      Automatic flight detection: This starts recording of a flight. It is possible to set the instrument to record flights based on manual start/stop only.

·      Flight time: Duration of current flight from take-off or manual start-of-flight input.

·      Time of day: Displays current time in hours and minutes. Can be used to display UTC if desired.

·      Flight log: Every flight is stored in a log for later retrieval. The log contains up to 240 flights and each flight stores date and time of take-off, duration of flight, maximum speed and altitude reached.  When the Instructor/Lesson mode is selected a log entry stores a Lesson even if made up of multiple flights. Each lesson can be stored under a student number.

·      Voltmeter: Displays current system voltage. Useful to check for charging / over charging of batteries etc.

·      Barometer: A barometer has been included to show local atmospheric pressure in mb(hp) or in/Hg. This barometer is a precision instrument with a range of 200 mb to 1200 mb.

·      Instructor mode: The instrument can be setup to record "lessons" rather than individual flights. Lessons are subject to a number of criteria for accumulation of time. Please view the manual for details and options.

·      Power supply protection: The instrument contains a fast Tranzorb to prevent destruction by spikes caused by inductive loads. Further to this two independent watchdogs are used to detect software malfunction (crashes) to facilitate automatic recovery.

·      The unit can operate for about 12 hours on a 9V PP3 battery (alkaline) if the display backlight is off (Software selectable). The unit can operate down to about 7 V. Normally the unit will be connected to either 12V or 24/28V aircraft supplies but it is possible to use a 9V PP3 battery as emergency backup power for the instrument. This requires the installation of a simple two-diode decoupling bridge. Details on the required wiring are included in the manual.

·      The instrument can be setup for a wide range of options such as metric, imperial or U.S. readings. In addition most operational parameters are selectable by the user. Speed and distance readings can be shown in mph, knots ,km/h and miles, nm and km respectively.

·      Local area network: The instrument supports the unique Air-talk communications protocol to send and receive data to/from other instruments. It is also possible to connect a PC to the instrument via a special cable. A key-ring device can be used to download the log for later upload of the log to a PC. The Air-talk link is standard with every unit. Note: Download cable and key-ring interfaces are optional.

·      Alarms: The instrument can generate alarms based on certain triggers. These are: Fuel level - low, Air speed - low, Air speed too high, engine temperature exceeding safe parameters and Altitude ceiling threshold incursion. Alarms are indicated via EXTERNAL devices. The unit provides an uncommitted relay contact which closes/opens once a second during an active alarm. This can be used to switch a master caution light (idiot light) and/or buzzer.

·      Audio alarm output: This can directly drive a 4 or 8 ohm panel fitted speaker or in a low level mode, can inject alarm tones into a suitably fitted intercom system.

·      Vario output: This feature is intended for motor gliders. Using a suitable Vario panel it is possible to listen to your VSI. This allows you to keep your eyes focused outside the cockpit when several gliders are circling inside the same thermal - without loosing track on how you are doing vertically.

·      The unit contains a long life Lithium battery, which is used to maintain date and time settings of the real-time clock and other time related items.

·      High contrast, wide temperature range LCD display with backlight: Backlight can be operated (software selectable) in one of three modes - Always on, Always off and Automatic. In the later case the backlight will turn off if no engine revs or other activity has been noted for about 10 minutes.

·      The unit has been designed to be immune to strong RF interference from a VHF radio. In addition great care has been taken in its design and construction assuring the unit produce as little RF interference of its own as is possible.

·      Copper clad ABS housing: For maximum EMI performance yet still maintaining lightweight.

·      The unit provides both static and pressure (pilot tube) ports.

RDAC IV EMS features:

·      Self contained unit with own processor: Direct connection to Stratomaster Extreme, no additional power supply wiring required. RDAC EMS simply plugs into RDAC socket of Stratomaster Extreme. RDAC comes ready fitted with 10 ft of cable and connector.

·      Four channel precision thermocouple amplifier: For EGT and CHT probes. Can use K type and J type senders (NOT possible from other digital instrument manufacturers), grounded or isolated configurations. Fully cold junction compensated and includes bow voltage correction.

·      Two channel NTC input: Required for Rotax 912/914 CHT senders.

·      Water temperature sender input: (Optional extra at low cost supplied by us - only $10.00).

·      Oil temperature sender input: (Accepts Rotax 912 standard sender).

·      Oil pressure sender input: (Configurable from 50 to 1000 ohm senders - Rotax uses a 200 ohm sender).

·      Fuel level sender input: Accepts standard automotive fuel level senders. Comprehensive calibration features allow direct readout of fuel level in liters or gallons, compensating for odd tank shapes.

·      Fuel flow sender input: This provides the Extreme with required information for range and fuel bingo calculations. Also very useful for pre-flight checks. Fuel flow sender is optional at $145, if your budget can’t stretch to it right now this can be fitted at a later stage.

·      Rev counter input: high impedance, can be setup for a wide variety of engines - not just Rotax.

Typical display shown below is a layout used for Rotax 582 engines. Many different layouts are selectable, catering from 2 to 6 EGT / CHT channels, water or oil temperature, oil pressure and fuel level. If you have a specific requirement, tell us what you need to measure and we will send you a typical image of what the relevant layout would look like.

We recommend that you use at least the Fuel level sender if you have a suitable single fuel tank. You can fit the fuel flow sender at a later stage if you like. Both items are an invaluable safety aid for long cross-country flights.

Please note: If you fit only the fuel flow sender, fuel level can be calculated from fuel flow. This requires that you enter the current fuel level before you commence the flight. This method must be backed up by a second visual fuel level gauge such as a tank side sight tube. Malfunction of the flow sender caused by fuel contamination, debris, etc can lead to the sender under reading and therefore resulting in a fuel level reading that is higher than the actual fuel level.

We recommend that you use the optional fuel level sender as a source for the fuel level in cases where no direct visual check of the fuel tank level is possible. Please also note that the accuracy of the fuel flow sensor is subject to the quality of your installation, type of engine, fuel pump, viscosity of your fuel and finally the calibration factor entered into the Stratomaster Flight instrument (this is a user calibration).

MGL Avionics and Aerial Adventure cannot be held responsible for incidents or damage by whatever nature caused by incorrect fuel level indication. Installation and operation of the instrument and its related parts is outside our sphere of influence and control. We do not manufacture the fuel level sender nor the fuel flow sender and are not appointed agents of either.

Operation of the Stratomaster Extreme instrument is the responsibility of the pilot in command of the aircraft. The pilot in command has to make himself/herself familiar with the operation and limitations of the Stratomaster Extreme instrument before commencing ground or flight operations.

The Stratomaster Extreme instrument has not been submitted to CAA or FAA or any of its agencies for any form of certification. Operation and installation of this instrument is subject to the relevant rules and regulations of your country and flight authority.

If any of the above is not acceptable to the pilot in command he/she must refrain from operating the aircraft or remove the Stratomaster Extreme instrument from the aircraft before commencing aircraft operations.

PRICING AND KIT:
Stratomaster Instruments are exclusively available from us for North America.
The current U.S. Dollar price for orders direct from us is:

Stratomaster Extreme "X" $975 
(Includes RDAC IV EMS)

Please add cost of shipping and insurance as indicated below. In addition you may be charged taxes and/or duties by your customs. Please notify us of any special markings, import numbers or product descriptions for customs purposes that you may require.

Shipping charges from overseas apply, depending on your preferred method.  For USA overseas shipping we recommend insured and registered air-freight.  Of course we can offer the cheaper Air Mail posting but it is not possible to have your instrument order insured.  So if the customer accepts that he/she takes the risk if it is lost then we can ship Air Mail.  This may take 10-15 working days and the cost is approximately $35.

For those in a hurry or wishing to have their instrument insured, we can offer a courier service using UPS.  For example: USA is approximately $90 insured.  Our Courier services deliver to your door in approximately 3-5 working days (Subject to no customs delay).  Due to credit card fraud incidences we are currently unable to provide an online order link but we are working on it. Orders can be placed with a cheque made out to MGL Avionics.

To contact us via e-mail: info@aerialadventure.net

  Stratomaster Extreme "X" package as delivered:

1.   Stratomaster Extreme instrument.

2.   Stratomaster RDAC IV Engine Monitoring System (EMS)

3.   Remote temperature sensor (for ambient temperature).

4.   Ballast resistor for Ducati type ignition systems (rev counter).

5.   Calibration certificate.

6.   Printed Manual.

7.   Set of socket head mounting bolts and lock nuts.

  Optional parts excluded in the basic price:

1.   Fuel level sender. This can be obtained from your local car spares shop.

2.   Fuel flow sender. This can be obtained from us and the current cost of this British made sender is $145.

3.   Suitable alarm panel mount master caution light. Please call for types and pricing.

4.   Suitable alarm buzzer. This can be used with the panel mount master caution light. Please call for pricing.

5.   PC connect cable. $50.00. Includes PC log software. This cable is also required for the key ring download option.

6.   Key ring log download device including panel mount connector for aircraft. Price $95.

7.   Black box flight data recorder. Price to be advised - not available yet.

To place your order please send a cheque made out to MGL Avionics to the address below:

  2916-B Old Clarksville Pike · Hopkinsville · Kentucky 42240 · Tel. 270.881.1369

Senders for EMS available direct from our Stratomaster factory: 

1.   EGT senders for ROTAX Exhaust (bolt style). 316 Stainless Steel, suitable for two and four stroke engines. Bolt thread is M10x1.
Aerial Adventure/MGL price: $36.00 each. Add $4 for clamp kit.

2.   CHT senders for 14 mm spark plug base. Top quality.
Aerial Adventure/MGL price $26.00

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We have now moved to Lakewood, Ohio so please call on 216.255.7608
E-mail info@aerialadventure.net