Announcing RC Flyer App!

I decided to create an App to help keep track of how often I’m flying, the planes I fly the most, the batteries I use etc.

Let me explain

I first started logging my flights when I purchased an F3A plane (picture below). This was mainly because I wanted to see if I flew the same plane and schedule regularly, would my “flying skills” improve. FYI they definitely did in 2020.

BJ Craft Elementary — Flight Log in Notes App

This then made me think about creating an App and what features could I add to the App. I therefore decided to geek it out and create a mind map, showing all the ideas/features.

With the idea now created my main challenge was finding the time to create the App. To add to this I can code and have created iOS (Apple) apps before but never created anything on Android (Google). I therefore had a steep learning curve ahead, all while not having much time.

I created a very basic prototype in iOS and then got extremely busy and never touched it or finished it.

This year (2023) I decided to pick it back up and continue where I had left off. However the App no longer compiled or run and I had to start from scratch… which I decided not to.

I then discovered there are now “low code” and “no code” development solutions. Which basically means you can create Apps, a lot quicker without writing any code, or by writing less code!

RC Flyer was back on the table… several weeks of learning the platforms I managed to release the first prototype (beta) version on Apple and Android!

The Latest Release – 2.0.31

The latest release now has the following functionality and over 100 users.

Hanger

Allows you to add your models to your Hangar
Log a flight against one of your models
Log a maintenance item against one of your models
View how many times you have flown the model, with average flight time
Quick Check In to the flying site you’re at (also notifies others)
Mark a model as Sold
Mark a model as dead (it does happen to the best of us)

Graveyard

Shows models that RC Flyer users have dug graves for
Like and comment on peoples losses

Leaders

Flights – A fun way of seeing who has logged the most flights
Check Ins – Who has checked in the most
Loyalty – Who has been updating the app the most

Sites

Allows you to add your own flying site to the App
Look up all the added flying sites in your area
Add a flying site as a favourite
See what disciplines are allowed at the flying site
Get directions to the flying site
See who has checked in at the flying site

Menu

Batts – Add Batteries which you can then use when logging a flight (more battery data coming soon)
Flights – A view of all the flights you have logged across all models
Maintenance – A view of all Maintenance items logged across all models
Props and Blades – Add a propeller or rotor blades which you can then add to a model, also used when logging a flight
Model Database – View the other models on RC Flyer that users have kindly shared
Profile – Update your user profile
Subscription – Subscribing to RC Flyer allows you to add more than three models (I’ve had to try and cover my costs)

Supported Platforms

The App is supported on Android and iOS, tablet support will be coming very soon.

I’m also currently working on a web version of the App, the Beta version was released yesterday and can be found at https://rcflyer.matttakharrc.uk.

All three versions have exactly the same functionality, although the web and tablet versions will show additional information as they have a bigger screen. For example, the Hangar page on the web and tablet version shows your open maintenance items as well as your models.

Feature Requests

I’ve already added a few new features that have been requested from RC Flyer users. Like the ability to track battery usage and the ability to upload a document against a model.

If you would like a new feature added please contact me via the Support page in the app.