The P1 is a smartvario that is super easy to use, has anything an ambitious intermediate pilot would want, and many features that make even top competition and record-chasing pilots very happy.
Easy to use
Glove-friendly hardware
Display is readable in bright sunlight
Precise, fast and “nice” vario
Built to last
GPS + GLONASS
WiFi
The P1 comes with:
Quickstart guide
USB micro cable for connecting it to a computer
Wall charger
Softcase
Velcro patch for cockpit mount
Built-in tether
4 GB micro SD card (enough memory to record thousands of hours of airtime)
The Volirium P1 is a smartvario, combining the most sensitive pressure sensors in the market with a state-of-the-art flight computer in a compact, purpose-built package. Its software is newly designed and developed, focusing on ease-of-use and manual-free operation.
Easy to use
Pilots should enjoy their flights, and not have to worry about technology. This thought is at the core of the Volirium P1’s development: We built a vario that is very powerful, yet very easy to use. Both on the ground and in the air, we use technology to make your life truly easier. Here are just a few examples:
A modern user interface that uses the concepts found on other mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets. This way you will feel immediately at home and know how to operate the P1.
Automatic updates over WiFi: Connect your vario to any WiFi, and you’ll be immediately notified if we have released new software for it. In the near future, we’ll be using this mechanism also for airspaces, flight data and more.
After each flight, the flight’s track is stored in an IGC file, the standard format for uploading flights to online contests, competitions and flight logs. But for a quick peek, the flight is also available as a Google Earth file, you can take a look at your track right away.
Beeping varios at launch are a nuisance. The P1 only beeps once you fly, when you actually need it to.
Glove-friendly hardware
The Volirium P1 is operated with three large, domed hardware buttons that are easy to feel even with thick gloves on. Additional input can be given through the touch display, which also works with any kind of gloves.
Display is readable in bright sunlight
We use a special kind of display (a so-called “transflective” LCD), which ensures that you can read the information even in the brightest sunlight. Actually, the brighter the light, the better.
Precise, fast and “nice” vario
We use our own sensor electronics, and a calibration process that we developed over the last 30+ years, to achieve an unmatched sensor resolution: The P1 can reliably detect altitude changes of 2 cm, based on the pressure change alone! This gives us an incredibly fast and precise vario. A vario that always beeps when you’re going up, no matter how slowly. But also a vario that only beeps when you’re going up, but remains silent otherwise, regardless of any other movement.
The vario sound can be altered to match your taste, so that you enjoy listening to it and remain calm even in very strong conditions.
Built to last
The P1’s casing has been custom-built to keep its sensitive insides save, regardless of botched launches and hard landings. And even if things do break after all, they can easily be replaced by our service centers.
The P1 is operated by a powerful battery that lasts for “a good weekend in Fiesch”, about 20 hours of airtime.
Navigation
The P1’s positioning system was designed by our friends at Advanced Sport Instrument, the experts in satellite-based positioning and sports tracking. It uses both the data from GPS and GLONASS, giving us a very quick first fix as well as a very high accuracy.
The positioning information is then used to draw a moving map that indicates your position, airspaces in your vicinity and waypoints.
The P1 works with all the usual waypoint file formats, and gives you the option to either pick one point as your goal (“Goto”), or combine multiple points to a route.
When flying along a route, you get up-to-date information about remaining distance and required glide to the next turnpoint and to goal.
When setting a route as race route, the P1 will guide you through the launch and start procedure, help you fly the shortest way around the course, and give you your race time as soon as you fly into goal.
Find more about the P1’s capabilities on the software page.
Connectivity
WiFi: The P1 exchanges information with our servers over the Internet, using WiFi: Software updates and error reports, in the future also airspace and flight data.
Bluetooth LE: Under development: Connect your P1 with any of the numerous free-flight mobile apps, to feed them with accurate climb, altitude and positioning data.
FlyLink: Under development: Connect additional, autonomous sensors to your P1.
USB: When connecting your P1 to a computer via USB, it appears as a mass storage device (like a USB drive), giving you direct access to your flight tracks, and allowing you to upload waypoint and airspace files.
The P1 user manual is still work in progress. Right now we provide an online version, but we are working on a version you can download and read offline as well.
The Volirium P1’s software is newly designed and developed, focusing on ease-of-use and manual-free operation. Its user user interface makes use of the concepts found on other mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets. This way you will feel immediately at home and know how to operate the P1.
Development is still ongoing, we continue adding features to the P1, and making it even easier to operate. Check out the Technical details tab for a list of planned enhancements.
Automatic updates
To get the latest software version for your Volirium P1, simply connect your vario to the Internet:
From the main screen: “Wi-Fi” – “Enable Wi-Fi” – Select your network and enter its password, if required
If a newer software version is available, the information icon (i) appears in the status bar at the top of the screen
Click on the status bar to open the information screen and see information about the latest version: “A software update is available”
Click on this message to open the update screen, where you then start the update process.
WiFi connections are more stable on hotspots created by the latest breed of mobile phones.
Improved method to detect a USB connection. A few devices were no longer able to create a working USB connection, or got stuck in USB mode once a connection was established. With this improvement, all devices will once again be able to connect with and disconnect from a computer as expected.
GPS status indicated again in status bar.
Vario sound active again in flight.
What we are working on right now
Airspace: automatic updates, show details when clicking on airspace in map
Bluetooth LE: Implement Flytec Sensbox protocol for data transmission to mobile apps
FLARM beacon
Usability improvements
Next steps
Maps: flight trail, auto zoom, geographic features
Thermalling coach
Join the team
The P1 software development is driven to a large extent by a team of volunteer developers and translators, in the following areas:
Translations: add new languages to the P1, using a professional translation tool and our PC simulator
Sensorics: Realtime software development: C on an ARM Cortex M0+
Application development: C++ with Qt running on Linux, development possible under Windows and Linux
Web development: various web-based projects, technology tbd
Contact us to find out more about any of these topics.
Automatic switch to next turnpoint after start time, given correct crossing (enter or exit)
Distance and required glide to goal along optimized route
Analysis
Automatic launch and landing detection
Export flight as IGC file, including C records when route was active at launch
Export flight as KML file for Google Earth
Flight log with key values for each flight, and statistics over all flights
Flight replay
WiFi
Support for WEP and WPA2
Automatic software updates
Transmission of analysis data in the case of software problems
USB
Charge battery
Data exchange with any computer
Future enhancements
This following items are given as an indication of planned future enhancements. This list will change over time, due to pilot feedback and our own assessments. We prioritize the items based on pilot feedback and our own plans. Check out the software page to find out what we are currently working on.
General
Flight page indicator for time of day
Flight page indicator for battery level
Further languages
Variometer
User-editable profiles
Speed
Airspeed from external sensor
Airspeed from built-in Pitot sensor
Polars
Speed-to-fly
Wind indicator
Graphical wind indication
Thermal assistant
Graphical support for optimal use of thermals
Navigation
Air spaces: detail information, warnings and alerts, automatic update of airspace data
Obstacles warnings
Display all waypoints on map
Points of interest on map
Geographical features on map
Cross country flights
Distance from/to launch
Current points in selected online contest
FAI triangle assistant
Automatic upload of flight track to select online contest
Race flights
Electronic task board: Transfer of waypoints, airspace data and task
Automatic upload of flight track to score keeper
WiFi
Support for further WiFi authentication mechanisms
Updates of airspace and obstacle data
Electronic taskboard
Automatic upload of flight tracks
USB
P1 appears as an external USB drive on any computer
Transfer track files directly to the PC
Copy waypoint and air space files from the PC to the P1
Malware protection: Read-only mode
Bluetooth Low Energy
Data transfer to external displays: Tablet, smart phone, smart watch, smart glasses
FlyLink
Data transfer from external sensors
FLARM
Collision prevention beacon
Live tracking
Swarm flying (aka buddy flying)
Pilots from North America, please visit flytec.com to buy our products. Dismiss