Set up your aircraft.

Add an aircraft

1. Go to the Aircraft tab and tap Set Up My Aircraft. If you already have one, tap Add an Aircraft at the end of the list, then Create a New Aircraft.
2. Enter the registration, then tap Type and search for your model, maker, or ICAO code, like M20J, Skyhawk, or SR22. Types marked Ready fill in typical fuel, burn, and stall speed. Types marked Full System also fill in every tank, selector, and pump.
3. Check the stall speed (V_S0) against your POH. SkyTimer uses it to tell when you’ve taken off and landed.
4. Go through each step: fuel, fuel burn, reminders, and meters. Change anything that doesn’t match your airplane.
5. Check the summary on the Review step, then tap Save.

Not ready to set yours up? Tap Try a Sample to fly the guided test flight in a sample aircraft first.

Your airplane isn’t in the list? See over 150 ready-made aircraft, or build it yourself.

What TYPICAL means

When you choose a type, the values SkyTimer fills in are marked TYPICAL. They’re common values for that type, not your airplane’s. Check each one against your POH, its supplements, and your fuel placards. Change one and the TYPICAL mark goes away, because it’s now your number.

Taxi and Takeoff & Climb fuel burn are marked ESTIMATE until you change them.

Change a value later

In the Aircraft tab, tap the aircraft to edit it.

Once an aircraft has flights with fuel logged, you can’t add or remove tanks or selectors. You can still change tank sizes, fuel burn, and reminders. For a different tank layout, add a new aircraft.

Hobbs and Tach

Choose which meters the aircraft has: Tach, Hobbs, Both, or None. SkyTimer adds each flight’s time to them, and you can check the readings before and after each trip.

If a meter was replaced or the reading is off, edit the aircraft and enter the current reading under Engine Time. Future trips count up from the new reading. Past trips keep the readings they recorded.

Build a custom fuel system

For aircraft that aren’t in the list, or that have been modified, set up the fuel system step by step:

• Tanks: up to seven, up to three on each wing plus a center tank.
• Engines: one or two, on the wings or front and rear.
• Selectors: Left, Right, and Both; Left and Right; On and Off; or selectors with three or four tanks, crossfeed, and fuel return.
• Crossfeed: for twins where each tank can feed the other engine.
• Transfer pumps: pumps or valves that move fuel from one tank to another, like aux or tip tanks into the mains.
• Fuel return: for injected engines that send excess fuel back to a different tank.

Read the aux and tip tank guide or the twins guide for examples.

Reminders

The Reminders step sets up the aircraft’s fuel management plan: Switch Tanks on a Timer, Smart Balance, or No Reminders. You can add more later. See How SkyTimer reminders work.