Having fun but this is not just a toy

[787Geoff]

My PicoCalc is not just a toy, but a powerful aviation tool!

I’ve modified it by adding an RTC (real-time clock) chip so it has an accurate built-in clock. Eventually, I also plan to configure a miniature serial printer and add GPS capability.

To start with, however, I’m planning to market a version in the near future for pilots and aviation enthusiasts with the RTC installed. The PicoCalc itself has to be assembled from a kit, the RTC chip is purchased separately and hard-wired into the unit, and the original Pico 1H processor has to be replaced with a Pico 2H, as the Pico 1H does not have enough memory to run the complete program.

I have configured the PicoCalc to boot directly into something I call the Master Flight Tool, written in the MMBasic programming language:

https://mmbasic.com/

The main program, AV.BAS, is now about 12,000 lines of code. It covers standard aviation calculations as well as a number of more advanced functions that are not normally found on handheld aviation calculators.

Many of the routines are based on calculations and techniques I have found useful during approximately 45 years in aviation. For many of those years my handheld computers were the HP-41C, HP-41CX and, eventually, the HP-41CL.

The accompanying Master Flight Tool Manual is now 165 pages. Getting it comprehensively edited and brought to what I consider production quality has been quite a project.

Although it is primarily an operating manual for using the PicoCalc as the Master Flight Tool, it also works as a standalone, formula-based reference book covering a wide range of aviation mathematics and calculations encountered in everyday flying.

There is also a much smaller QRG — Quick Reference Guide, approximately the same physical size as the PicoCalc. It provides a condensed reference to all of the routines available on the computer.

I’m currently waiting for the ISBN from the Government of Canada before publishing the manual.

The complete package is planned to include:

• PicoCalc
• Installed RTC
• Upgrade to the Pico 2H
• Printed Master Flight Tool Manual
• Quick Reference Guide
• Master Flight Tool Windows Companion
• SD card containing all of the software and supporting files required to operate both the PicoCalc and the Windows Companion application

I’ve included 43 screenshots as a preview, including the table of contents and examples of some of the routines described in the manual. In the manual screenshots, the green and blue boxes reproduce the appearance of the PicoCalc display.

The intended audience is assumed to have a reasonable knowledge of aviation, but aviation knowledge certainly isn’t required to comment on the project!

Have a look through the photos and let me know what you think. Posting photos in series of 10 images per post..

[Drogon]

Nice. I did the PPL thing almost 40years ago now and I’m sure anything like a programmable calculator was frowned upon then - now I see iPads, etc. being used. Sadly I had to give it up due to (ironically) travel for work that was supporting my hobbys and changed directions back then. Still have my Pooleys CRP-1, somewhere…

-Gordon

[amenjet]

Hi Geoff,

That’s brilliant. A lot have work has gone into it. Is it based on your other flight packages? Do you have a common application that you port to various platforms?

Have you seen the DevTerm that ClockworkPi made prior to the PicoCalc? It had a small thermal printer that plugged in to the back of the machine. I used it to print labels. One problem is that I want to print some more labels and can’t find the printer. I unplugged it and put it somewhere…

Are the maps in the handbook viewable on the PicoCalc? I’m not sure the screen is quite up to it, but it is colour…

[787Geoff]

this is a standalone aviation manual as well as a picocalc manual.

there are splash screens which can be turned on or off but no the graphs and images are not part of the picocalc.

The green and blue screens mimic the input and output screens of the picocalc.

So to get this to run perfect perfectly you need the RTC chip, pico 2H. Future projects will include a IO GPS and cereal printer for plugging into the ports.

The Windows companion accepts the SD card and everything can be printed from that application which I created.

Some of these were ported from my HP 41 CX after converting the language. But the entire program is over 15,000 lines of code in MM basic!

I’ve never done anything of this comprehensive.

Cheers

[Gert]

Großartiges Projekt, leider kann ich nur mitfliegen.

[787Geoff]

Vielen Dank. Das Buch wird auch für sich allein interessant sein, wenn Sie sich für die Luftfahrt interessieren – ganz unabhängig vom PicoCalc.

[tabemann]

I have to say this is a cool practical project making use of the PicoCalc – in contrast to my own use of the PicoCalc, which is essentially as a toy (albeit a very nice one) for playing around with Forth.

[787Geoff]

thanks for that,

There are a few aviation training centers near here including at the university. Also my airline that I just retired from.

Will be setting up a demo at these places to see what kind of demand there would be.

One would get the clockwork picocalc with an RTC added, an SD card with manual, quick reference guide which is a little 36 page booklet the size of the picocalc.

The manual itself could be used as a learning tool even without picocalc.

cheers

That would involve talking with the creators of the picocalc to see what kind of supply I could eventually get.