NB21 Logger

Brought to you by Unbe + B21.

This application creates secure IGC-format tracklog files from your flights inside Microsoft Flight Simulator. The IGC format is the internationally standardised logfile format for glider flights which works equally well for any aircraft. The IGC-format files can be displayed in the B21 Task Planner, or any other application that supports IGC files.

Features

  • Stores time / latitude / longitude / altitude just like every other logger.
  • Automatically records a tracklog from takeoff to landing, or when you quit the flight, or when the sim crashes, or when you close the logger
  • Uses the 'standard' IGC format as much as possible so the tracklog can loaded into any IGC-supporting analysis software.
  • The B21 Task Planner has been updated to display additional data available in the file (like flap setting, netto vario reading, engine status, slew)
  • Time is a complicated subject for logging data from a simulator where the sim time can be paused, sped up, slowed down, or moved forwards or backwards. Unlike any other logger, the NB21 Logger records both the real-world UTC time and the in-sim local date/time in the tracklog. This has a variety of benefits including fewer 'broken' tracklogs plus the ability to relate the flight to the simulated date/time which affects the weather. This issue particularly triggered the need for a new logger.
  • The logger creates 'validity' checksums so any changes in the tracklog or the loaded flight model can be noted. Some details of the weather are recorded in the tracklog also.
  • The usability of the NB21 Logger is particularly designed for our gliding use-case, i.e. the UI displays the in-game date and time (this is surprisingly useful) and it is absolutely clear when the logger is recording and when the tracklog is ready. Drag-and-drop is provided for the tracklog from the Logger to Discord or the B21 Task Planner, as well as each tracklog being stored in a folder of your choosing.

Installation

Unzip the download file, and drag-and-drop the NB21_logger folder anywhere convenient. E.g. you can test the logger even with the unzip in your Downloads folder. Note your Browser and Windows will give you numerous prompts "Do you really want to download / unzip / run this unknown program" but you should not see any warnings of actual threats.

Usage

Start NB21 Logger by double-clicking NB21_logger.exe. To pick up the aircraft and task info you should start the logger before starting your flight. First step is to click the wrench icon and enter the three simple settings of (1) Player name (anything you like), (2) Player ID (some SHORT id, preferably 3 letters, maybe 4) this will be used when your tracklog is displayed on a map perhaps with many others, and writing your full name out would clutter the map. (3) pick a folder to store your tracklogs in.

The UI is designed to be fairly minimalist in terms of options/settings/actions i.e. in the main it 'just works'.

Hopefully you will get used to what the NB21 Logger displays. When recording, the green 'recording light' will blink. The numbers in square brackets e.g. [13:04:27] are running-times, i.e. the length of the recording in hh:mm:ss - this gives you a healthy clue that the recording is what you think it is e.g. if you land and take off during a session the logger will store one tracklog and start another.

There's a lot of tech in the logger to record useful stuff and be robust with a variety of glitches coming from the sim (such as time going backwards, or the sim crashing, whatever) but my favorite tech feature is the yellow file icon displayed for the most recent tracklog is draggable straight into another app, e.g. Discord or the B21 Task Planner.