KAC iPhone ballistic app 'BulletFlight'

[rsilvers]

KAC has introduced a new application for the iPhone and iPod Touch . BulletFlight is now available in the Apple iTunes App Store.

It requires that you update to version 2.2 firmware.

Support site: http://www.knightarmco.com/bulletflight/

BulletFlight Direct Link to iTunes Store

Knight's Armament BulletFlight is a ballistic computer that provides quick solutions in the field. Unlike other apps, BulletFlight does not output information in table format. What it does do is dynamically give you the solution you need now to make that shot. Current weather conditions can be input, as well as angles to the target as measured by the built-in accelerometer provides highly detailed solutions out to 2000 meters. Your weapon profile includes your scope MOA per click, and hence when you provide a range to the target, the app will simply say how many clicks you need to change the scope by for that range and wind speed.

Environmental calculations are based on the Sierra Bullets(tm) model as detailed in their external ballistics literature. Up to five ballistic coefficients with corresponding velocity thresholds may be used for each profile. The built-in help page includes live links to online resources for BC values.

Three built-in profiles for the Army's M110 semi-automatic precision rifle, the 14.5 inch SR16 rifle, and the KAC PDW allow you to get started quickly. You may alter these profiles, or add new ones.

 

[taliv]

AWESOME! that's right up there with surefire's shot timer!

i know you can modify to suit, but it would be nice if they had the SR-25 in there

 

[rsilvers]

The M110 is an SR25.

 

[Funderb]

mm, hope the shock doesn't get to the phone much!

 

[taliv]

The M110 is an SR25.

of course. I meant the version commonly available which has a longer barrel than the MK11 mod 0 or M110.


btw, where can you get the iphone attachment for the rail?? i didn't find that on their site

 

[Deepskyy]

thats... pretty bitchin

 

[Gunnerpalace]

It's 11.99.

 

[gvnwst]

Okay, i am not sure if this is a joke....some of the comments have befuddled me... Could a iphone even stand the shock of being attached to a SR-25?

 

[maskedman504]

iPhones are solid state electronics- they don't really have any moving parts...

 

[Prince Yamato]

Could a iphone even stand the shock of being attached to a SR-25?

Sure. It gets banged around more in your pocket. It's made to be jostled. Many apps deal with the accelerometer which is the fancy name for the "gyroscope" in the iPhone that rotates the screen or affects input based on how the phone is jostled.

 

[Kind of Blued]

*insert grumpy old man anti-technology statement here*

 

[gbran]

Fantastic, now all you need is a scope that holds its zero.

 

[MD1775]

Oh that is so sweet. If only they had that for the Blackberry Curve.

 

[Still Too Many Choices!?]

I am soooooo getting this now!!! Brb...

Still 2 Many Choices!?

 

[Still Too Many Choices!?]

Uh-oh...$12.00, and no reviews yet? Aww well u only live once.

Still 2 Many Choices!?

 

[Coronach]

I imagine that the Ipod mount is sort of a joke, guys.

Mike

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Just one more thing to bolt on your AR

 

[taliv]

it may be a joke, but it doesn't matter it is cool

what that app needs in the next release is to take video as well, set up a rolling capture somehow and then save the 5 seconds before and after the acceleromter feels the recoil.

the acceleromter could also measure recoil to test muzzle brakes (there are several other apps where it measures forces)

all kinds of cool things you could do with it...

 

[Coronach]

Is the accelerometer that sensitive/precise?

Mike

 

[taliv]

sensitive yes, precise? dunno.

this app http://www.nextautos.com/iphone-app-puts-a-dyno-in-your-pocket?gid=10237&nid=26810
claims it measures up to 100 times/sec and can show the following
* 0-60 MPH
* Other Speed Tests (0-10 MPH through 0-100 MPH in 10MPH increments)
* Quarter Mile Elapsed Time
* Quarter Mile Trap Speed
* Elapsed Time and Trap Speed for standard intervals (60', 330', 1/8 Mi, 1000')
* Lateral G's (current and peak)
* Braking G's (current and peak)
* Wheel Horsepower
* Estimated Engine Horsepower

there are several similar ones

 

[Kind of Blued]

When are they coming out with the gun mount that aims and pulls the trigger for you?

 

[LemmyCaution]

Early review:

Program is very simple in its interface.
Easy to develop profile for my M1a.
Has inputs for changing BC as the bullet loses velocity down range.
Once a profile has been set up, one presses the 'calculate' button. Screen has prompts for range and environmental conditions. Entering data is simple, maybe not battlefield simple, but uh........
All data is available in American and S.I. units, at the same time, which is nice for me, as my brain has not gone fully Metric, yet.
As one enters new data, the calculations update in approximately 500ms.
Has inputs for altitude, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, wind speed (but not vector), elevation.
Elevation can be manually entered, which is nice, because I got it to read from the accelerometer once, then it froze up and would not read again.
The calculations it gave were in agreement with data given by GNU Ballistics.

The bad:

As mentioned, software had trouble reading from the accelerometer.
The program has a "Calculate Simple" function, which omits all environmental inputs. This function returned different values from the full calculation version, even with the full version zeroed to remove all inputs except range. Then the software crashed.
No input for wind vector, so you'll have to calculate this yourself, which shouldn't be too hard. The software tells you how many clicks to adjust your sight from Zero (the profile has prompts for how many MOA one click equals on your sight, with inputs for both azimuth and elevation), so to calculate a quarter value wind, you'd divide the click indication by 4. Not sure why the software doesn't have an input for this, given the other bells and whistles.
Conclusion:

A good piece of ballistics software for this PDA.
Has a few wrinkles, that should be easy to work out for the next release.
Worth $12?
Absolutely.
Should updates be free?
Yes.

 

[taliv]

can it do MILs?

 

[Oleg Volk]

I got some photos of it at SHOT. It is real and the software was developed by a friend.

 

[marktx]

I got some photos of it at SHOT. It is real and the software was developed by a friend.

How difficult is the software development? I imagine you could mount it on top of the gun like a giant Holosight (using the camera to "see") and have a cross hair displayed. Dial in the distance, wind and it would adjust accordingly. Not really practical but it would be an amusing excercise....