I use a Logitech Radio Panel for various radio and non-radio functions across most of my aircraft. I have one of the displays configured to show the PLANE ALT ABOVE GROUND variable through SpadNext. Since SU14 I have noticed that it is reporting incorrectly; the numbers bear no relation either to the altitude above ground or reflect the rate of change of that number.
I’ve tried it with a blank community folder except for the aircraft currently chosen (in the latest case JF Hawk), SpadNext running and Sonicviz’s Aircraft Manager and it makes no difference. This has worked flawlessly for over a year until SU14.
I’ve used that function to give me a radar altimeter before, but not for a while. I will have a play tonight, and let you know how I get on.
To be fair, I have seen similar things in planes that have an analogue gauge for this in the virtual cockpit. I’m cruising along, and out the corner of my eye I see the needle flick all the way round to show perhaps 100-200ft. And I’m at least 5000ft above the terrain below. I’ve never capture it on video before, but I am kind of curious what it is picking up. It’s almost like there is a single pixels worth of very high terrain that you fly over, but when you look back you see nothing.
I’m assuming its a bug of some kind until I see evidence to the contrary.
I’ve seen it in several planes, and pre-SU14, so I don’t think it is SPAD or SU14 related.
That said, when I was playing with the SPAD homebrew radar altimeter, I didn’t use it long enough to actually see it happen, but in plane with an actual gauge I have seen it many times over the last few years. In fact I think I saw it in the A2A Comanche a few days ago.
Definitely worth testing again, probably over rough terrain. The perfect place for me would be to take off from LOWI, and head South.