Flight Recorder

Flight Recorder User Manual

Version 2.0.7.1 — Canuck Air Simulations Est. 2020

1. Introduction

Welcome to the Flight Recorder, an advanced flight data analysis tool designed for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024. This application captures real-time flight data via SimConnect and provides comprehensive analysis to help you improve your flying skills.

1.1. Key Features

• Real-Time Data: View live flight data including altitude, airspeed, pitch, bank, engine parameters, and fuel flow.
• Flight Recording: One-click recording automatically saves data in CSV format.
• Playback Viewer: Replay recorded flights step-by-step for detailed review.
• Flight Analysis Report: Generate detailed reports with performance metrics and recommendations.
• PDF Report Export: Save analysis reports as PDFs for sharing.

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2. System Requirements

• Simulator: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024.
• Operating System: Windows 10 or later.
• Processor: 2.0 GHz or higher.
• Memory: 4 GB RAM.
• Graphics: DirectX 11 compatible.
• Disk Space: 100 MB.

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3. Installation & Setup

1. Download the latest release from SimMarket.
2. Extract the contents of the zip file to a folder of your choice.
3. Launch the MSFSFlightRecorder.exe file.
4. Important: Run the application as an administrator to ensure proper SimConnect communication.

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4. Main Recorder Window

This is the primary interface for connecting to the simulator and recording flights.

4.1. Top Status Bar

• ● Disconnected/Connected: Indicates the status of the SimConnect connection.
• Aircraft: Displays the detected aircraft title from the simulator.
• ○ Not Recording/● RECORDING: Shows the current recording status.

4.2. Button Controls

• Connect to MSFS: Establishes a connection to Microsoft Flight Simulator.
• Start Recording: Begins recording flight data.
• Stop Recording: Stops the recording session and saves the data to the Flights folder.
• Playback Viewer: Opens a separate window to load and replay saved flight files (CSV).

4.3. Flight Data Display

The main window organizes data into three logical columns:

4.4. Engine Section

Displays data for up to four engines: N1 (%), Thr (Throttle %), and PPH (Fuel flow per engine).

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5. Playback Viewer

1. Load CSV: Browse and select a CSV flight file from the Flights folder.
2. Play/Pause/Stop: Control playback of the recorded flight.
3. Time Slider: Drag to manually scrub through the flight timeline.
4. Data Grid: The bottom panel displays a detailed list of all data points.
5. Analyze: Generate a comprehensive analysis report based on the loaded flight data.

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6. Flight Analysis & Reports

6.1. Performance Metrics

Automatically calculates: Flight Duration, Max Altitude/Airspeed/Ground Speed, Max Pitch/Bank Angles, Max Climb/Descent Rates.

6.2. Flight Phase Analysis

• Takeoff: Rotation speed (Vr), liftoff speed (V2), and takeoff roll duration.
• Approach: Stability tracking for speed and descent rate.
• Landing: Vertical speed at touchdown to identify hard, firm, normal, or smooth landings.

6.3. Analysis & Recommendations

Highlights anomalies (e.g., unstable approach, hard landing) and provides actionable recommendations for improvement.

6.4. Exporting Reports

PDF Export: Click the "Export PDF Report" button. Reports are saved to the PDF-Reports folder.

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7. File Locations

• Flight Recordings (CSV): \MSFSFlightRecorder\Flights\
• Analysis Reports (PDF): \MSFSFlightRecorder\PDF-Reports\

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8. Supported Aircraft & Fuel Flow Logic

Fuel flow values are as reported by the simulator's SimConnect variables.

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9. Version History

• v2.0.7.1 (Current):
  • Corrected Per-Engine Fuel Flow logic for Boeing 777F.
  • Updated UI layout to fix missing labels (Altitude, Latitude, Flaps).
  • Fixed heading display stability (0/360 degree flicker).
  • Updated "Warnings System" header.
• v2.0.7:
  • Removed APU and Autopilot displays.
  • Removed AOA Vane display.
  • Initial release with core functionality.

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10. Troubleshooting & Support

• "Failed to connect" error: Run the application as an administrator. Ensure MSFS is running.
• No data updating: Check that you are connected to MSFS and the aircraft is powered on.
• Playback shows no data: Verify the CSV file is not corrupted and has valid data.

For further support, visit our community forums or contact Canuck Air Simulations.

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