MGL Avionics Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual
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MGL Avionics Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual

Primary flight instrument
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Introduction
The Blaze FLIGHT-3 is a compact, multifunction complete primary flight system intended as a main flight instrument on
smaller aircraft or as a backup / secondary flight instrument in larger aircraft. This 3 1/8" (80mm) instrument provides
many functions from an altimeter, airspeed indicator, VSI indicator, fuel level, fuel flow, RPM, volts, current display and
many more. The FLIGHT-3's light weight, small size and high level of functionality makes it an excellent choice for many
applications.
The FLIGHT-3 makes an ideal companion to the Blaze EMS-2 universal engine monitor for a compact, low cost yet highly
functional and complete cockpit solution.
The FLIGHT-3 has the following features:
Altimeter
The altimeter contains an internal high accuracy 24 bit digital altitude sensor which calculates altitude from -1500 ft up to
a maximum of +35000 ft. The FLIGHT-3 outputs various formatted RS232 serial data protocols compatible with serial in-
put transponders such as that from Garmin, Magellan, Northstar, Trimble, Microair etc. The altimeter can display altitude
in feet or meters and local pressure can be set in millibars or inches of mercury. The FLIGHT-3 also provides a parallel
Gillham code interface when used in conjunction with the MGL Avionics CNV-ALT.
ASI (Airspeed Indicator)
Airspeed can be indicated in statute miles per hour (mph), kilometers per hour (km/h) or nautical miles per hour (kts). The
FLIGHT-3 also provides a programmable Vs and Vne airspeed alarm output. ASI sensitivity can be calibrated by the user
to cater for errors caused by pitot tube placement.
The FLIGHT-3 can measure airspeed from 20mph to 250mph and the FLIGHT-3HS (High Speed version) can measure
airspeed from 20mph to 320mph. Both are well suited to slower aircraft due to very good sensitivity and linearity at low air
speeds.
VSI (Vertical speed indicator)
The VSI indicator can be displayed in either feet/minute (ft/min) or meters/second (m/s). The VSI can be calibrated by the
user once the instrument has been installed in the aircraft.
Blaze FLIGHT-3
Blaze FLIGHT-3HS
Primary Flight Instrument
Operating Manual – English 1.01

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Summary of Contents for MGL Avionics Blaze FLIGHT-3

  • Page 1 Operating Manual – English 1.01 Introduction The Blaze FLIGHT-3 is a compact, multifunction complete primary flight system intended as a main flight instrument on smaller aircraft or as a backup / secondary flight instrument in larger aircraft. This 3 1/8” (80mm) instrument provides many functions from an altimeter, airspeed indicator, VSI indicator, fuel level, fuel flow, RPM, volts, current display and many more.
  • Page 2 K-factor of the sender can be entered into the system for simple calibration. Fuel flow can be displayed in l/Hr or in G/hr. MGL Avionics supplies a lightweight dual range fuel flow sender that is ideally suited for the FLIGHT-3. Fuel flow senders from other manufactures are equally suitable.
  • Page 3 • Contains a programmable low/high voltage alarm to automatically detect alternator failures and bad bat- teries • Uses the MGL Avionics Magnetic Closed Loop Current Sensor to measure the aircrafts current load. • *Contains a charge status indicator • OAT can be shown in degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit •...
  • Page 4 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 4 2 Layout Ambient light sensor 3 1/8” (80mm) enclosure. Sunlight readable color graphic display: Can be front or rear mounted The backlight can automatically adjust to the ambient light or it can be manually...

  • Page 5: Main Display

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 5 3 Main Display The bottom left of the main display is arranged in three auxiliary flight information displays. Airspeed Altimeter Supply Voltage / Current Local pressure setting will alternate if current (QNH) measurement is enabled...

  • Page 6: Auxiliary Display

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 6 3.1 Auxiliary display 1 This page displays all the fuel related information. Fuel level, flow, range and endurance is shown. FL: (Fuel Level) Fuel level is displayed numerically and as a bargraph. The fuel level can be from a physical fuel level sender mounted in a fuel tank or by calculation as a virtual fuel tank.
  • Page 7 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 7 3.2 Auxiliary display 2 This page displays all the time related information. Local time, Flight time, Hobbs and Maintenance timer is shown. LCL: (Real Time Clock) Local time normally includes an offset from UTC time. The time offset can be setup in the “TIMERS SETUP” menu. Time of day is often displayed as UTC or Greenwich time as it required by ATC.
  • Page 8 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 8 3.3 Auxiliary display 3 This page displays auxiliary related information. Barometer, TAS, Density altitude and OAT is shown. BAR: (Barometer) Ambient pressure can be displayed in either millibar or Inches of Mercury (Inch/Hg). TAS: (True Airspeed) What is TAS and how is it calculated ? TAS is indicated airspeed (ASI) compensated for altitude and temperature.

  • Page 9: Exiting The Menu System

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 9 4 Menu System Press the rotary control button during the normal display mode to enter the menu system. Use the rotary control to navi- gate through the menu system. 4.1 Exiting the menu system Press the F1/Up button to exit the menu system when the “EXIT”...

  • Page 10: Flight Timer

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 10 4.2 Flight Timer View Flight Log: Use the rotary control to view the next flight log entry. Erase Flight Log: Use this function to erase the flight log stored in the FLIGHT-3. FLIGHT: Select whether you want the FLIGHT-3 to automatically detect a flight or whether the pilot must press the F1/Up button to start/stop a flight.
  • Page 11 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 11 4.3 ALT Setup (Altitude Setup) Altitude Unit: Select if you want the altitude displayed in ft (feet) or m (meters). Pressure Unit: Select if you want the local pressure displayed in mb (millibars) or “Hg (inches of mercury).
  • Page 12 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 12 Cal Gain: Once you are satisfied that the low level altitude “CAL FACTOR” is correct, apply a static pressure that will result in an al- titude between 20000 and 30000 ft. Adjust the “CAL GAIN” until the altitude readout in the top right hand corner of the dis- play agrees with your pitot static test set NOTE: Adjusting the “CAL GAIN”...
  • Page 13 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 13 4.4 VSI Setup (Vertical Speed Indicator Setup) VSI Unit: Select if you want the VSI to be displayed in "ft/min" (feet/minute) or "m/s" (meters/second). Scale: Select the VSI scale most suited for your aircraft.
  • Page 14 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 14 4.5 ASI Setup (Airspeed Setup) Zero ASI Sensor: This setup allows your instrument to measure the zero airspeed reading of the airspeed sensor and set a calibration value internally for this. This is equivalent to some mechanical airspeed indicators that have an adjustment to set the needle to zero when the aircraft is not moving.
  • Page 15 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 15 Vne Speed: (Max Exceed Speed) Enter you maximum speed you aircraft should not exceed. Vno Speed: (Max Maneuvering Speed) Enter your maximum maneuvering speed. Vfe Speed: (Max Flap Speed) Enter the maximum speed that is permissible with the flaps extended.

  • Page 16: High Alarm

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 16 4.6 RPM Setup Display: Select if you want the RPM to be displayed in “RPM”, “PERCENT” or “OFF” to disable it. RPM 100%: Select the maximum value that you want the RPM to correlate to 100%. This is only shown if “Percent” is selected for dis- play.
  • Page 17 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 17 Pulses/Rev: Enter the number of pulses per RPM. For engines with an uneven number of cylinders like three cylinder four stroke en- gines you can enter values containing fractions (usually 1.5 in this example). Most four stroke engines would generate one pulse for every two revolutions per cylinder.

  • Page 18: Fuel Setup

    The K-Factor is the number of pulses generated by the fuel flow sender for one Litre of fuel. The dual range fuel flow sender supplied by MGL Avionics has a K-Factor of 7000 in the low flow mode (jet installed) and 1330 for the high flow mode (no jet installed).

  • Page 19: Low Alarm

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 19 RDAC Address: Select the CAN address of the external RDAC unit. 4.7.1 Fuel Tank Setup menu Tank: Select if the fuel tank has a physical fuel level sender connected to it or if the FLIGHT-3 must use a calculation based vir- tual fuel tank.
  • Page 20 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 20 4.7.2 Calibrating the fuel level sender The fuel level sender needs to be calibrated before it can be used with this system. The calibration allows the system to learn the shape of your tank as well as any errors your fuel level sender or installation has.
  • Page 21 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 21 Adjusting calibration points manually You may want to set individual calibration points manually. For example you may find that your fuel level is over reading at a specific fuel level. Correcting the tank level reading for this area can be simply done by adjusting the calibration point.
  • Page 22 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 22 4.8 Volts Setup High Alarm: This enables or disables the volts high alarm. High Alarm: Enter the voltage threshold for when the high alarm must be activated. Any voltage above this value will activate the alarm.
  • Page 23 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 23 4.9 Current Setup (MGL Avionics Magnetic Closed Loop current Sen- sor required) Current Disp: Select to enable or disable the current display. High Alarm: This enables or disables the current high alarm. High Alarm: Enter the current threshold for when the high alarm must be activated.

  • Page 24: Zero Sensor

    Zero Sensor: Select this function to indicate to the FLIGHT-3 that zero current is flowing through the MGL Avionics Closed Loop Current sensor. This is best done with the MGL Closed Loop Current sensor disconnected from the main current supplying conductor.
  • Page 25 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 25 4.10 OAT (Outside Air Temperature) Setup OAT Display: Select to enable or disable the OAT display. Temp Unit: Select whether you want the OAT to be displayed in degrees Celsius (ºC) or in degrees Fahrenheit (ºF).

  • Page 26: Timers Setup

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 26 4.11 Timers Setup Set UTC Time: This function is used to set the internal real time clock. The time to be entered must be UTC in order for the system to operate correctly. Do not enter local time (unless it is the same as UTC).
  • Page 27 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 27 HOBBS CODE: This menu option allows you to change the Hobbs access code. You will first be prompted to enter the current code fol - lowed by entering in a new code followed by re-entering the new code. If the new code and the re-entered code is the same, then the Hobbs access code will be changed.

  • Page 28: Unit Address

    Select the protocol of the serial RS232 output message. The protocol can be selected between GARMIN AT, Magellan, Northstar / Garmin, Trimble / Garmin, MGL Avionics and Microair UAV. Please note that the baud rate is automatically ad- justed according to which protocol is selected. The output format is as follows. The message contains the current pres- sure altitude with a fixed reference to 1013.25mB (29.92 inches mercury).
  • Page 29 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 29 Garmin zero padded, carriage return GTX327, GTX328, GTX330 (Set on Icarus) MGL Avionics 9600 ALT, +/-, five altitude digits right justified ALT+02372C+02372L1013+0000XCA[ zero padded ,1013.25mB (29.92”Hg) refer- enced, C, +/-, five altitude digits right justi-...
  • Page 30 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 30 Checksum: unsigned char (8bit), XOR of all bytes starting from the unit address to the end of the data payload. The checksum is seeded with 0xa5. (does not include the STX or ETX) ETX: End of text (0x03)

  • Page 31: Security Setup

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 31 4.13 MISC Setup (Miscellaneous Setup) Backlight: Select manual or automatic backlight control. Use the rotary control in manual mode to adjust the backlight brightness. Allow 3 seconds for the display to adjust to the ambient lighting conditions when using the automatic backlight mode.

  • Page 32: Loading Factory Default Settings

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 32 Information: This menu option displays information about the unit. Default Settings: Select this menu option to reset all the settings to factory defaults. 4.14 ADC Values This menu displays the ADC value that have been read from the pressure sensor.

  • Page 33: Error Messages

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 33 6 Error Messages Unit settings CRC error. Load default settings to restore to factory defaults. If the error message still persists then it could possibly be a non-volatile memory failure in which case the instrument will then have to be returned to the factory.
  • Page 34 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 34 The red cross over the displays means that the FLIGHT-3 has lost communications with the external RDAC unit. Check the wiring between the FLIGHT-3 instrument and the RDAC unit. This error message is only shown when the external RDAC is selected as...

  • Page 35: Specifications

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 35 7 Specifications Operating Temperature Range -10ºC to +55ºC (14ºF to 131ºF) Storage Temperature Range -20ºC to 80ºC (-4ºF to 176ºF) Humidity <85% non-condensing Power Supply 10 to 30Vdc Approx. 150mA @ 12V (backlight highest setting), 65mA @12V (backlight...

  • Page 36: Firmware Upgrading

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 36 Current Sensor Current Sensors MGL Avionics Closed Loop Current Sensor Volts Voltage measurement range Up to 32Vdc Voltage resolution 0.1V OAT Probe OAT Temperature Sender type Semiconductor LM335 (ON Semiconductor) Internal battery type CR2032 Sensor Output Voltage +5Vdc.

  • Page 37: Installation

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 37 10 Installation 10.1 Altimeter installation Connect the static port to a suitable static air pressure line. If you have a slow aircraft or an aircraft where the internal cabin pressure does not change during flight and is equivalent to the outside air pressure you may find that it is not re - quired to connect a static port.
  • Page 38 Using other Flow Senders It is quite possible to use flow senders other than the MGL Avionics fuel flow sender. In this case ensure that the sender outputs a 5V TTL square wave or a similar signal. The FLIGHT-3 interface electronics will adapt to a variety of different voltages and pulse shapes as it contains a Schmitt-trigger input stage.
  • Page 39 It is your responsibility to ensure that the flow sender used is compatible with the fuels you intend using. We have found the MGL Avionics fuel flow sender to be very compatible with au- tomotive fuels used in South Africa, many of which contain methanol. 100LL AVGAS also ap- pears not to harm the sender in any way.
  • Page 40 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 40 10.5 Fuel level sender installation The FLIGHT-3 permits the connection of one or two standard automotive fuel level senders. These senders can be ob- tained at automotive spares outlets at reasonable cost. When you choose a float level sender, ensure that you select a model that is sturdy and promises reliable and long lifetime.
  • Page 41 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 41 10.6 RPM installation The RPM input is quite universal. The RPM input can be used with signals from about 5Vpp to as much as 100Vpp. The input is also AC coupled for easy installation. A noise filter is included that results in the input ignoring any high frequency noise signals as long as this is below the detection threshold of about 2.5Vpp (Please see dipswitch settings below)
  • Page 42 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 42 10.7 Engine RPM connection guide Engine Connection / Sensor Pulses per 220 Ohm Ballast revolution resistor Rotax 447 Connect the grey wire from the engine to the Certain installations, RPM input see note below...
  • Page 43 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 43 10.8 Connecting the FLIGHT-3 to automotive engines Conventional contact breaker ignition system Connect rev counter input of FLIGHT-3 to this line. Ensure Use the tacho line you have a connection from if your system has...

  • Page 44: Hall-Effect Sensor

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 44 10.9 Various other pickup / sensor installation possibilities 10.9.1 Hall-effect sensor Typical hall effect sensor installation detects the passing of a magnet suitably fixed to prop flanges or shafts. 10.9.2 Gear tooth sensor The gear tooth sensor is a popular pickup used on the pre-rotation gear of a gyro plane (rotor speed indication).

  • Page 45: Connection Diagram

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 45 10.10 Connection Diagram The use of an external 1A fuse is recommended. Connect the supply terminals to your aircrafts power supply. The FLIGHT-3 can be used on both 12V and 24V without the use of any pre-regulators. Ensure that the supply voltage will not drop below 8V during operation as this may result in incorrect readings.

  • Page 46: Oat Probe

    10.13 Closed Loop Current Sensor The MGL Avionics magnetic closed loop current sensor provides a 0.5V to 4.5Vdc output voltage which is proportional to a 50A bi-directional input current. Advantages of closed loop current sensors over conventional current measurements techniques is that they provide the highest accuracy, are ideal for noisy electrical environments and they provide complete electrical isolation from the cur- rent carrying conductor.

  • Page 47: Dip Switch Settings

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 47 10.14 Dipswitch settings Dipswitch 1 (OAT Input) MUST be On Dipswitch 2 (Fuel Level) Some fuel level senders require a supply voltage. In those case the fuel level pull up resistor dipswitch must be in the “OFF” position.

  • Page 48: Cable Connections

    Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 48 10.16 Cable connections Main connector (D15HD connector: Unit Female, Cable Male) D15HD Pin Color Function 8-30Vdc power via power switch / circuit breaker and fuse. Black Ground. Connect the ground to the engine block, and the engine block to the battery negative.
  • Page 49 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 49 11 Dimensions...

  • Page 50: Warranty

    IMPORTANT NOTICE: You must make your own determination if the products sold by MGL Avionics are safe and effective for your intended ap- plications. MGL Avionics makes no representations or warranties as to either the suitability of any of the products we sell as to your particular application or the compatibility of any of the products we sell with other products you may buy from us or anywhere else, and we disclaim any warranties or representations that may otherwise arise by law.
  • Page 51 Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual Page 51 Other instruments in the Stratomaster Blaze series AHRS-2 Artificial Horizon and Magnetic Compass Indicator AHRS-4 Self contained Artificial Horizon and Magnetic Compass Indicator ALT-6 Altimeter and Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) ALT-7 Altimeter and Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) with a transponder compatible RS232 &...

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