Weather | Traffic | WAAS GPS | Attitude | Altitude |
If you’re a pilot, chances are good that you’ve heard about ADS-B. You probably know that an ADS-B receiver can make flying safer and more efficient by providing real-time weather, traffic, TFRs, and other flight data to your Apple or Android tablet. You probably also know that most of the ADS-B receivers on the market are quite expensive. FlightBox is different.
Value Leader FlightBox is built from off-the-shelf hardware and open software, making it much less expensive than proprietary ADS-B receivers. It provides all the safety-enhancing features of systems costing much more.
FlightBox ADS-B
The base model FlightBox ADS-B system offers in-flight weather, traffic, and GPS information to your favorite EFB application. You can select an internal or remote-mount GPS receiver.
FlightBox Plus
FlightBox Plus adds attitude (AHRS) and barometric altitude sensors which drive attitude, PFD and synthetic vision features in many EFB applications.
FlightBox receives ADS-B and GPS, attitude, and altitude information from a set of receivers and sensors. It forwards that information over a wireless link to EFB applications running on tablets or smartphones.
Key Features
- Subscription-Free In-Flight Weather
- ADS-B Traffic
- WAAS GPS
- Attitude (AHRS) *
- Barometric Altimeter *
- Works with most aviation apps
- Expandable / upgradeable
ADS-B Weather Features
- NEXRAD radar (regional and CONUS)
- METARs
- TAFs
- Winds / Temps Aloft
- AIRMETs
- SIGMETs
- PIREPs
Additional FIS-B Products
- TFRs
- NOTAMs
- SUA (Special Use Airspace) activity
Traffic System Features
- Receives direct ADS-B and uplink ADS-R / TIS-B targets
- Receives on both UAT and 1090-ES bands (with dual-band option)
Traffic Target Information
- Location (latitude / longitude / altitude)
- Heading
- Ground speed
- Vertical speed
- Identity (ICAO, Registration)
GPS Features
- Own-Ship location (latitude / longitude / altitude)
- Ground speed
- Ground track
- Vertical speed
- Vertical and horizontal accuracy
Attitude (AHRS) Features *
- Pitch
- Roll
- G-force
- Slip / skid
Altimeter Features *
- Pressure altitude
- MSL altitude (requires offset by application)
- Vertical speed
Requirements
To use FlightBox, you will need a tablet or smartphone and an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) application that can display ADS-B traffic and weather information. Please see the "Apps" tab for a list of EFB applications and the FlightBox features they support.
We highly recommend using a recent-generation tablet or smartphone. Many older devices do not have the processing power to support all the features available in today's EFB applications.
* This feature is included in the FlightBox Plus model.
icon | EFB | ADS-B Traffic & Weather |
GPS | AHRS |
Aerovie | √ | √ | √ | |
Avare | √ | √ | ||
AvNav | √ | √ | ||
AvPlan EFB | √ | √ | ||
Droid EFB | √ | √ | √ | |
FltPlan Go | √ | √ | ||
FlyQ EFB | √ | √ | √ | |
ForeFlight* | √ | √ | √ | |
iFly GPS | √ | √ | √ | |
Naviator | √ | √ | √ | |
Oz Runways | √ | √ | ||
SkyDemon | √ | √ | ||
True Flight | √ | √ | ||
WingX Pro | √ | √ | √ | |
Xavion | √ | √ |
* Falken Avionics is not affiliated with or endorsed by this application vendor. Interoperability has been independently confirmed by third party users of the software.
- 978 MHz - UAT
- 1090 MHz - 1090-ES
- USB (5v @ 2 amps)
- Micro USB power input
- 3' USB power cable
- Dual-port 4.8 amp USB adapter
- Built-in web status / configuration app
- iOS and Android configuration apps
- 2 USB 2.0 slots
- 40-pin expansion header
- 5.25" x 2.5" x 1.25" (with standard top)
- 5.25" x 2.5" x 1.7" (with expanded AHRS top)
- Made from Boltaron aviation-grade plastic
- 0.5 pounds (base model)
- 0.7 pounds (with optional AHRS)
- SMA female
- 40mm x 40mm x 10mm 5v DC fan
- Wifi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) - 2.4 GHz
- RS-232 Serial (optional)
- 10 / 100 mbps Ethernet (special order)
- GDL-90 over UDP and/or Serial
- JSON over WebSocket
- HTTP / REST configuration API
- Dual-Band FlightBox ADS-B Receiver
- High Gain ADS-B Antennas
- Dual-port USB power adapter
- 3' (1 meter) USB power cable
- Quick-start user guide
- 1 year warranty
FlightBox Plus adds attitude (pitch / roll), slip/skid, a g-meter, and barometric (pressure) altitude to your system. The AHRS option drives the attitude and synthetic vision features in many EFB applications.
Remote ADS-B Antenna Mount
Locate your FlightBox someplace cool and out of the way with our remote antenna mount kit. It features five foot extension cables and a suction cup mount.
Glare Shield Friction Mount
Keep your FlightBox stable on the glare shield with our friction mount. Built from the same aircraft-grade plastic as the FlightBox, this mount can handle the heat.
A) In the United States (and southern Canada to some degree) there are two ADS-B systems in use: the 1090-ES system and the UAT system. All FlightBox systems are dual ban.
Q) Does the FlightBox system include a GPS?
A) Yes. Every FlightBox system includes a WAAS GPS receiver. Users can select either an internal receiver (ideal for portable systems) or a wired "remote" receiver (perfect for mounting the system someplace cool and out of the way).
Q) Where should I mount the FlightBox in my aircraft?
A) Many pilots mount the FlightBox on the glare shield either using velcro or our Friction Mount. Others prefer to mount it out of the sun and use our Remote ADS-B Antenna Mount (and optionally our Remote USB GPS or Powered GPS Antenna) to place the antennas where they receive adequate signal.
Q) Does FlightBox have a built-in battery?
A) No. Internal batteries have significant drawbacks. FlightBox systems ship with a USB cigarette lighter adapter. An external battery is available as an option.
Q) How do I power FlightBox?
A) FlightBox uses USB power. Most users prefer to connect FlightBox to their aircraft's accessory power connector (aka cigarette lighter port) using a USB adapter. The other option is a USB battery pack. Falken Avionics offers both options. If you purchase a power source from another supplier, be certain it provides at least 2 amps per USB port.
Q) Can FlightBox be permanently installed in a certified aircraft?
A) No. FlightBox is considered a portable electronic device (PED) by the FAA and is not approved for permanent installation. Our FlightBox Pro system is FAA approved and can be permanently installed. Please see the FlightBox Pro page for details.
For a complete set of FAQs, please see the Support FAQ page.