kirk.stant
December 11th 10, 09:37 PM
For Santa Dave, here is my SN10 Xmas wishlist:
1. Ability to save and recall multiple tasks (2 or 3 at least).
Since the US allows retasking in the air with the emphasis on
previously set backup tasks, this would be a huge safety enhancement.
Anyone who has tried to setup a new AAT task in his SN10 while
airborne in a weak prestart gaggle will appreciate this. Show the
task in use at the top center of the Task Page (top of the final glide
column) and allow that field (single digit) to be highlighted and used
to change the task being used. Also allow task to be selected on the
AAT Task page.
2. Add US cylinder start altitude functions. Add a definable start
altitude (on the Task Rules page), track the time (elapsed or
countdown from 2 minutes) below that altitude if glider exceeds it
prior to a declared start and has to drop below it to start, and allow
automatic start out the top of the cylinder, as is currently done out
the side. Prior to the start, use the “Rem” field on the Task Page to
show the time below start altitude: something like “TTS” (Time To
Start) – possibly as a flashing field counting down the time until a
start can be made. On the Timer Page, replace the STI field (not used
in US anymore) with Time To Start. (time below start altitude, 2
minute countdown).
3. Treat all tasks as AATs, with the exception that when no task time
is specified (time set to zero), all turnpoints default to 1 mile and
the task is labeled an “AST”. Auto select next turnpoint (with
acknowledge) when enter turnpoint, but score from actual distance
achieved in the turnpoint. This would better match how ASTs are
actually flown. For MATs, zero the time (sets all turnpoints to 1
mile) then add the task time. For AAT, change the turnpoint radius as
required.
4. Remove requirement to select SETUP to enter an AAT task by
combining the functions of the Timer Page, the Task Rules Page, and
the AAT Task Setup Page. For example, move the Task Rules page to
SETUP (since these settings usually remain the same during a contest),
move the AAT Task Setup to the FLIGHT list, and make the AAT in the
title a selectable field (AST – MAT – AAT – AST). Again, it task time
is zeroed on Timer Page, automatically select AST, if a time is
selected, select MAT with 1 mile turnpoints, etc.
5. Add a finish altitude to the Task Rules page, and an option to
compute ETF and final glide to the closest point on the finish circle/
line at the finish altitude, plus reserve height. Still show glide to
finish airport on Alternates page as a backup.
6. Provide a simpler way to adjust AAT turnpoints. Be able to move
the AAT turnpoint via one selection to Maximum, Minimum or Recenter.
Should be able to do it from the Map page or the AAT Task Setup page
(when in AAT mode). Maximum selection moves the AAT steerpoint to the
furthest possible point in the circle based on the task, Minimum to
the shortest, and Recenter moves the AAT turnpoint back to the area
center. Instead of being able to move the AAT turnpoint on the map
with up/down or left/right, just allow moving the AAT turnpoint in/out
in range (and time) along the axis from the minimum to maximum AAT
turnpoints based on the task, not glider location. This would make it
a lot easier to do “what-ifs” on how far to fly into each AAT area.
7. Finally, as these changes are US-centric, I would support paying
for them, within reason, of course.
Cheers!
Kirk
66
1. Ability to save and recall multiple tasks (2 or 3 at least).
Since the US allows retasking in the air with the emphasis on
previously set backup tasks, this would be a huge safety enhancement.
Anyone who has tried to setup a new AAT task in his SN10 while
airborne in a weak prestart gaggle will appreciate this. Show the
task in use at the top center of the Task Page (top of the final glide
column) and allow that field (single digit) to be highlighted and used
to change the task being used. Also allow task to be selected on the
AAT Task page.
2. Add US cylinder start altitude functions. Add a definable start
altitude (on the Task Rules page), track the time (elapsed or
countdown from 2 minutes) below that altitude if glider exceeds it
prior to a declared start and has to drop below it to start, and allow
automatic start out the top of the cylinder, as is currently done out
the side. Prior to the start, use the “Rem” field on the Task Page to
show the time below start altitude: something like “TTS” (Time To
Start) – possibly as a flashing field counting down the time until a
start can be made. On the Timer Page, replace the STI field (not used
in US anymore) with Time To Start. (time below start altitude, 2
minute countdown).
3. Treat all tasks as AATs, with the exception that when no task time
is specified (time set to zero), all turnpoints default to 1 mile and
the task is labeled an “AST”. Auto select next turnpoint (with
acknowledge) when enter turnpoint, but score from actual distance
achieved in the turnpoint. This would better match how ASTs are
actually flown. For MATs, zero the time (sets all turnpoints to 1
mile) then add the task time. For AAT, change the turnpoint radius as
required.
4. Remove requirement to select SETUP to enter an AAT task by
combining the functions of the Timer Page, the Task Rules Page, and
the AAT Task Setup Page. For example, move the Task Rules page to
SETUP (since these settings usually remain the same during a contest),
move the AAT Task Setup to the FLIGHT list, and make the AAT in the
title a selectable field (AST – MAT – AAT – AST). Again, it task time
is zeroed on Timer Page, automatically select AST, if a time is
selected, select MAT with 1 mile turnpoints, etc.
5. Add a finish altitude to the Task Rules page, and an option to
compute ETF and final glide to the closest point on the finish circle/
line at the finish altitude, plus reserve height. Still show glide to
finish airport on Alternates page as a backup.
6. Provide a simpler way to adjust AAT turnpoints. Be able to move
the AAT turnpoint via one selection to Maximum, Minimum or Recenter.
Should be able to do it from the Map page or the AAT Task Setup page
(when in AAT mode). Maximum selection moves the AAT steerpoint to the
furthest possible point in the circle based on the task, Minimum to
the shortest, and Recenter moves the AAT turnpoint back to the area
center. Instead of being able to move the AAT turnpoint on the map
with up/down or left/right, just allow moving the AAT turnpoint in/out
in range (and time) along the axis from the minimum to maximum AAT
turnpoints based on the task, not glider location. This would make it
a lot easier to do “what-ifs” on how far to fly into each AAT area.
7. Finally, as these changes are US-centric, I would support paying
for them, within reason, of course.
Cheers!
Kirk
66