The GliderKeeper Pro builds on the proven reliability of the GliderKeeper devices — the same barometer, the same accelerometer, the same wireless connectivity and the same memory — and adds the one thing it was missing: a colour TFT display built into the body of the unit.

No accessory, no extra lead, no display to plug in after landing. One single piece that shows you the flight the moment you touch down.

The GliderKeeper Pro runs firmware 5.41 or higher, so its communication is multi-protocol Wi-Fi/Bluetooth from day one: it connects either over Wi-Fi or over Bluetooth to the Desktop App and to the Android and iPhone (iOS) apps. Bluetooth is BLE and needs no previous pairing and no passwords, and the Wi-Fi connection you already know keeps working exactly the same.

A display you can read in full sunlight

Small displays tend to give up exactly when you need them most: at midday, in the middle of the field, with the sun in your face. The GliderKeeper Pro's 180×60 full-colour TFT is chosen for precisely that moment — high brightness, good contrast and wide viewing angles — and the interface matches it: F5J height and flight time are shown in large, heavy figures, readable at arm's length without crouching over the fuselage or shading the screen with your hand.

An elegant optional dark mode

Out of the box, the GliderKeeper Pro works on a light background: under direct light it holds the most apparent contrast, just like printed paper. It is the midday mode, and the one you will see the moment you switch it on.

If you prefer it, one tap turns on dark mode: black background, luminous figures. It is the mode for the first flights at dawn, the last ones at dusk, and the workshop — easy on the eyes, no glare, and let's say it: it looks gorgeous.

Pick the one you want from the wireless configuration menu, or fix it in the firmware. The preference is kept between flights and between power cycles.

World's first altimeter with a flight duration option

Besides a latest-technology barometer capsule, the GliderKeeper features an accelerometer. Flight time is started upon throttle movement during launch — the same event used for motor timing in the F5J rules. Landing is captured by measuring the fuselage vibration on the model's touchdown.

Check your flight results on the display or on your mobile

With the GliderKeeper Pro you get both routes. A glance at the display gives you height and time straight away; and if you want more, the multi-protocol Wi-Fi/Bluetooth wireless communication takes you to the full flight plot on your phone, to the list of stored flights and to data export so you can go over them calmly at home.

Change your device configuration at the field, with no removals

In communication mode, over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, you can access the configuration that the loaded firmware allows, perform any housekeeping in the unit and eventually update the firmware or the user interface pages. No need to remove anything from the airplane — no more wear on the JR connectors that have been giving us problems in the past.

Pico Programmer: USB compatible

By using a Pico Programmer you can hardwire directly to your Windows PC and perform major updates and downloads to your device without the setbacks of a wireless connection. It requires our Desktop App in its Windows version.

No more papers, fewer people involved in a competition

A totally paperless contest can be handled with the GliderKeeper devices and the new mobile app. GliderKeeper leaves an imprint with its serial number and the exact date and time of the flight to maintain data integrity. No need for exchanging papers, pencils or chronometers.

Specifications

• Display: built-in 180×60 full-colour TFT, daylight visible, with an optional dark mode
• Dimensions: 32.6 × 15.2 × 5.8 mm
• Weight (including cable): 7.5 g (of which the cable is 4.2 g)
• Power supply: 4.5 V (min.) / 17 V (max.) / recommended < 5.0 V on Wi-Fi AP
• Current consumption: flight mode < 70 mA / Wi-Fi STA 85 mA / Wi-Fi AP 150 mA (500 mA peak)
• Barometric pressure sensor: 300–1250 hPa, 8 Pa relative accuracy (0.6 m)
• Accelerometer: 12 bit, ±8 g range
• Memory storage: 255 flights or 5 flight hours (circular buffer, 255 flights max)
• Wireless communication: multi-protocol Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n WPA/2 and Bluetooth (BLE), no pairing and no passwords
• Firmware: 5.41 or higher