diff --git a/test_suite/FGTestApi/CMakeLists.txt b/test_suite/FGTestApi/CMakeLists.txt
index 34cb89f51..83074ce66 100644
--- a/test_suite/FGTestApi/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test_suite/FGTestApi/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ set(TESTSUITE_SOURCES
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/scene_graph.cxx
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/TestPilot.cxx
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/NasalUnitTesting_TestSuite.cxx
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/TestDataLogger.cxx
     PARENT_SCOPE
 )
 
@@ -17,5 +18,6 @@ set(TESTSUITE_HEADERS
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/PrivateAccessorFDM.hxx
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/scene_graph.hxx
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/TestPilot.hxx
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/TestDataLogger.hxx
     PARENT_SCOPE
 )
diff --git a/test_suite/FGTestApi/TestDataLogger.cxx b/test_suite/FGTestApi/TestDataLogger.cxx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a349bb131
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_suite/FGTestApi/TestDataLogger.cxx
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2020 James Turner
+ *
+ * This file is part of the program FlightGear.
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include "TestDataLogger.hxx"
+
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <cmath>
+#include <limits>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <simgear/io/iostreams/sgstream.hxx>
+
+#include "Main/globals.hxx"
+
+namespace FGTestApi {
+
+using DoubleVec = std::vector<double>;
+
+static std::unique_ptr<DataLogger> static_instance;
+
+class DataLogger::DataLoggerPrivate
+{
+public:
+    sg_ofstream _stream;
+
+    struct SampleInfo {
+        int column;
+        std::string name;
+        // range / units info, later
+        SGPropertyNode_ptr property;
+    };
+
+    double _currentTimeBase;
+    std::vector<SampleInfo> _samples;
+    DoubleVec _openRow;
+    bool _didHeader = false;
+
+    void writeCurrentRow()
+    {
+        if (!_didHeader) {
+            writeHeader();
+            _didHeader = true;
+        }
+
+        // capture property values into the open row data
+        std::for_each(_samples.begin(), _samples.end(), [this](const SampleInfo& info) {
+            if (info.property) {
+                _openRow[info.column] = info.property->getDoubleValue();
+            }
+        });
+
+        // write time base
+        _stream << globals->get_sim_time_sec() << ",";
+
+        for (const auto v : _openRow) {
+            if (std::isnan(v)) {
+                _stream << ","; // skip this data point
+            } else {
+                _stream << v << ",";
+            }
+        }
+
+        _stream << "\n";
+
+        std::fill(_openRow.begin(), _openRow.end(), std::numeric_limits<double>::quiet_NaN());
+    }
+
+    void writeHeader()
+    {
+        _stream << "sim-time, ";
+        std::for_each(_samples.begin(), _samples.end(), [this](const SampleInfo& info) {
+            _stream << info.name << ", ";
+        });
+
+        _stream << "\n";
+    }
+};
+
+DataLogger::DataLogger()
+{
+    d.reset(new DataLoggerPrivate);
+}
+
+DataLogger::~DataLogger()
+{
+    d->_stream.close();
+}
+
+bool DataLogger::isActive()
+{
+    return static_instance != nullptr;
+}
+
+DataLogger* DataLogger::instance()
+{
+    if (!static_instance) {
+        static_instance.reset(new DataLogger);
+    }
+
+    return static_instance.get();
+}
+
+void DataLogger::initTest(const std::string& testName)
+{
+    d->_stream = sg_ofstream(testName + "_trace.csv");
+}
+
+void DataLogger::tearDown()
+{
+    if (static_instance) {
+        static_instance.reset();
+    }
+}
+
+void DataLogger::writeRecord()
+{
+    d->writeCurrentRow();
+}
+
+void DataLogger::recordProperty(const std::string& name, SGPropertyNode_ptr prop)
+{
+    int index = static_cast<int>(d->_samples.size());
+    DataLoggerPrivate::SampleInfo info{index, name, prop};
+    d->_samples.push_back(info);
+
+    if (d->_openRow.size() <= index) {
+        d->_openRow.resize(index + 1, std::numeric_limits<double>::quiet_NaN());
+    }
+}
+
+void DataLogger::recordSamplePoint(const std::string& name, double value)
+{
+    auto it = std::find_if(d->_samples.begin(), d->_samples.end(), [&name](const DataLoggerPrivate::SampleInfo& sample) {
+        return name == sample.name;
+    });
+
+    int index = 0;
+    if (it == d->_samples.end()) {
+        index = static_cast<int>(d->_samples.size());
+        DataLoggerPrivate::SampleInfo info{index, name};
+        d->_samples.push_back(info);
+    } else {
+        index = it->column;
+    }
+
+    // grow _openRow as required
+    if (d->_openRow.size() <= index) {
+        d->_openRow.resize(index + 1, std::numeric_limits<double>::quiet_NaN());
+    }
+
+    d->_openRow[index] = value;
+}
+
+} // namespace FGTestApi
diff --git a/test_suite/FGTestApi/TestDataLogger.hxx b/test_suite/FGTestApi/TestDataLogger.hxx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..86a18515e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_suite/FGTestApi/TestDataLogger.hxx
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2020 James Turner
+ *
+ * This file is part of the program FlightGear.
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+
+#include <simgear/props/props.hxx>
+
+namespace FGTestApi {
+
+class DataLogger
+{
+public:
+    ~DataLogger();
+
+    static DataLogger* instance();
+    static bool isActive();
+
+    void initTest(const std::string& testName);
+
+    void recordProperty(const std::string& name, SGPropertyNode_ptr prop);
+
+    void setUp();
+
+    void tearDown();
+
+    void recordSamplePoint(const std::string& name, double value);
+
+    void writeRecord();
+
+private:
+    DataLogger();
+
+    class DataLoggerPrivate;
+    std::unique_ptr<DataLoggerPrivate> d;
+};
+
+
+} // namespace FGTestApi
diff --git a/test_suite/FGTestApi/testGlobals.cxx b/test_suite/FGTestApi/testGlobals.cxx
index 4286cd28e..8238cb923 100644
--- a/test_suite/FGTestApi/testGlobals.cxx
+++ b/test_suite/FGTestApi/testGlobals.cxx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "test_suite/dataStore.hxx"
 
+#include "TestDataLogger.hxx"
 #include "testGlobals.hxx"
 
 #include <simgear/io/iostreams/sgstream.hxx>
@@ -254,15 +255,30 @@ void setPositionAndStabilise(const SGGeod& g)
 
 void runForTime(double t)
 {
-    int ticks = t * 120.0;
+    const int tickHz = 30;
+    const double tickDuration = 1.0 / tickHz;
+
+    int ticks = static_cast<int>(t * tickHz);
     assert(ticks > 0);
-    const double dt = 1 / 120.0;
-    
+
+    const int logInterval = 0.5 * tickHz;
+    int nextLog = 0;
+
     for (int t = 0; t < ticks; ++t) {
-        globals->inc_sim_time_sec(dt);
-        globals->get_subsystem_mgr()->update(dt);
-        if (global_loggingToKML) {
-            logCoordinate(globals->get_aircraft_position());
+        globals->inc_sim_time_sec(tickDuration);
+        globals->get_subsystem_mgr()->update(tickDuration);
+
+        if (nextLog == 0) {
+            if (global_loggingToKML) {
+                logCoordinate(globals->get_aircraft_position());
+            }
+
+            if (DataLogger::isActive()) {
+                DataLogger::instance()->writeRecord();
+            }
+            nextLog = logInterval;
+        } else {
+            nextLog--;
         }
     }
 }
@@ -274,22 +290,26 @@ bool runForTimeWithCheck(double t, RunCheck check)
 
     int ticks = static_cast<int>(t * tickHz);
     assert(ticks > 0);
-    const int logInterval = 2 * tickHz; // every two seconds
+    const int logInterval = 0.5 * tickHz;
     int nextLog = 0;
     
     for (int t = 0; t < ticks; ++t) {
         globals->inc_sim_time_sec(tickDuration);
         globals->get_subsystem_mgr()->update(tickDuration);
-        
-        if (global_loggingToKML) {
-            if (nextLog == 0) {
+
+        if (nextLog == 0) {
+            if (global_loggingToKML) {
                 logCoordinate(globals->get_aircraft_position());
-                nextLog = logInterval;
-            } else {
-                nextLog--;
             }
+
+            if (DataLogger::isActive()) {
+                DataLogger::instance()->writeRecord();
+            }
+            nextLog = logInterval;
+        } else {
+            nextLog--;
         }
-        
+
         bool done = check();
         if (done) {
             if (global_loggingToKML) {