WTB: (USA) Mech Vario 57mm(2-1/4) Knots

[Curtl33]

WTB: (USA) Mech Vario 57mm(2-1/4) Knots
In good-excellent condition.

Please send pic if available.

Curt Lewis - 95

[Herbert Kilian]

Curt,
Consider an electric audio vario like the Westerboer 911 vs. any
mechanical instrument (incl. Sage, way overrated).
- The Westerboer has pressure transducers so it doen't need a flask.
- Mine is just as sensitive as my Cambridge 302, they move in perfect
sychronism.
- You only connect 12V and your TE tube to the instrument.
- The tone is very pleasant, nicer than the Cambridge and of course
you can turn it down
- When the going gets tough, I switch to the Westerboer, better in
really weak lift
- You should have two batteries anyway, no need to carry a steam gauge
for fear of running out of electrons. I've been flying all electric
for over 5 years, no problems.
- The price is about the same as a good mechanical instrument
- Tim Mara used to carry these, I bought two from him over the years,
there might be something on the used market.
I'll e-mail you direct a picture of my panel!

Herb, J7

(Curtl33) wrote in message >...
> WTB: (USA) Mech Vario 57mm(2-1/4) Knots
> In good-excellent condition.
>
> Please send pic if available.
>
> Curt Lewis - 95
>

[Eric Greenwell]

Herbert Kilian wrote:

> Curt,
> Consider an electric audio vario like the Westerboer 911 vs. any
> mechanical instrument (incl. Sage, way overrated).
> - The Westerboer has pressure transducers so it doen't need a flask.
> - Mine is just as sensitive as my Cambridge 302, they move in perfect
> sychronism.
> - You only connect 12V and your TE tube to the instrument.
> - The tone is very pleasant, nicer than the Cambridge and of course
> you can turn it down
> - When the going gets tough, I switch to the Westerboer, better in
> really weak lift

I agree with Herb that a mechanical vario is pointless unless you don't
have any batteries at all. Even a battery to weak to operate a radio
still has enough power for a vario.

So, Herb: what features of the Westerboer make you like it better in
weak lift?

--
-----
change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

[Steve]

(Herbert Kilian) wrote in message
> Curt,
> Consider an electric audio vario like the Westerboer 911 vs. any
> mechanical instrument (incl. Sage, way overrated).
> Herb, J7

So Steve says:

"For any of you that share Herb and Eric's opinions regarding the use
of mechanical variometers, please feel free to remove them from your
panel/closet (especially the way overrated Sage variety) and mail them
directly to:

Steve Leonard
11117 Westlawn St
Wichita, KS 67212."

I am sure I can find a good home for them! ;-)

(Not a 501C3, so don't ask for a receipt!)

[c1rrus]

Maybe I'm strange but I really like having the Winter mechanical vario
there on the panel. It is better compensated than the Westerboer WV5 I
have and I know it will not die if the battery does.
Possibly the difference is that both my varios are rather old
technology, but the mechanical is more accurate, and easier to read.
The Westerboer audio vario is for when I really need to keep my eyes out
of the cockpit - and not look down at all.
I tend to turn it down, or off a lot of the time because it has speed to
fly compensaion, and I have yet to calibrate that perfectly for the task
I am doing.

When it is really weak, or turbulent you can set the averaging period to
it's maximum, and as long as the tone is "UP" you are ahead. In these
conditions it is difficult to mentally average the mechanical varios swings.

Now if I could just get better at the flying bit I'd have a lot more
consistent readings on that vario in the first place...


Eric Greenwell wrote:
> Herbert Kilian wrote:
>
>> Curt,
>> Consider an electric audio vario like the Westerboer 911 vs. any
>> mechanical instrument (incl. Sage, way overrated).
>> - The Westerboer has pressure transducers so it doen't need a flask. -
>> Mine is just as sensitive as my Cambridge 302, they move in perfect
>> sychronism.
>> - You only connect 12V and your TE tube to the instrument. - The tone
>> is very pleasant, nicer than the Cambridge and of course
>> you can turn it down
>> - When the going gets tough, I switch to the Westerboer, better in
>> really weak lift
>
>
> I agree with Herb that a mechanical vario is pointless unless you don't
> have any batteries at all. Even a battery to weak to operate a radio
> still has enough power for a vario.
>
> So, Herb: what features of the Westerboer make you like it better in
> weak lift?
>

[Herbert Kilian]

Eric,
My Westerboer seems to have a higher sensitivity around Zero than
further up. It's hard to describe the tone it makes which is very
pleasant to the ear, in German we call it a Dreiklang. It all combines
to flying comfortably in weak lift at 500-700 ft while looking for a
landing spot, watching airspeed and attitude. I wouldn't want to do
that with a (silent) mechanical vario.
The vario is so sensitive, when you open the canopy to which the panel
is attached, it sings it's 'up' song.
Herb, J7


Eric Greenwell > wrote in message >...
> Herbert Kilian wrote:
>
> > Curt,
> > Consider an electric audio vario like the Westerboer 911 vs. any
> > mechanical instrument (incl. Sage, way overrated).
> > - The Westerboer has pressure transducers so it doen't need a flask.
> > - Mine is just as sensitive as my Cambridge 302, they move in perfect
> > sychronism.
> > - You only connect 12V and your TE tube to the instrument.
> > - The tone is very pleasant, nicer than the Cambridge and of course
> > you can turn it down
> > - When the going gets tough, I switch to the Westerboer, better in
> > really weak lift
>
> I agree with Herb that a mechanical vario is pointless unless you don't
> have any batteries at all. Even a battery to weak to operate a radio
> still has enough power for a vario.
>
> So, Herb: what features of the Westerboer make you like it better in
> weak lift?

[Chris OCallaghan]

The biggest challenge we face on weak days is being lured into
unnecessary searching turns. If the best you are seeing is 1-2 knots
achieved and the top of lift is low, you are probably being
conservative, chasing a fast vario more than is advisable. Having a
fast audio and a slower "averaging" needle lets you more accurately
judge whether it's worthwhile to turn. The slow needle lets you
extrapolate core size (is it wide enough to climb in) and the fast
audio helps to guide your centering.

(Getting used to pushing on at very low altitudes is another thing
altogether.)

This can be a valuable edge in competition. It's unlikely you will
outclimb anyone by a factor of more than 1.25 on a strong, consistent
day. But on a weak, low, blue day, a patient pilot can easily outclimb
others by a factor of 2 or 3 (achieved) by avoiding fruitless searches
for lift.

[F1y1n]

> A better weak lift vario?

Your ass ? No other instrument works better on weak days.