Episode #11 of The Thermal is now available. http://pdcn.co/e/traffic.libsyn.com/thethermalpodcast/The_Thermal_-_Episode_11.mp3 In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from Contest Manager Richard Owen on how his team of volunteers managed to keep this year’s Senior’s Contest in...

What clubs are still flying? I’d like to get a feel for what’s really happening out there in the “actual� not simulated soaring scene. Us at central alabama soaring are still in the air albit with limited and heavy precautionary activities. Just solo flying. I towed a few on friday and...

US Contest Pilots, The SSA Contest Committee has issued guidance to contest organizers with regard to COVID-19. It is available to all interested parties on SSA.org at the following link: https://www.ssa.org/files/member/Guidance%20to%202020%20SSA%20Contest%20Organizers.pdf These are...

Looking at winds, forecasts, satellite photos, it looks like it could have been a very good run east from Minden, Nevada or someplace near there. SSA Sailplane Tracker doesn't want to work for me right now, so I can't see if anyone is up anywhere. Ah, well. Light winds, 4-5K AGL cu near Wichita,...

Hey Guys, We're off to New Zealand tonight! https://soaringeconomist.com/2020/04/02/oh-my-omarama/ NOTE: Download the latest free patch to Condor: http://www.condorsoaring.com/downloads-2/ You won't be able to join the race if your Condor is not up to date. All the best, Daniel

Does an English version of the Polar XML file exist for the Butterfly Vario? I have the German version from page 43 of the manual that I can muddle through but it would certainly be easier in English. More specifically, I want to load the JS3-18m polar into the Butterfly, so if someone has...

What do you do when the executor of an estate is willing but unable to provide the maintenance logs for a glider that you are trying to buy? Any other tips on buying a glider from an estate?

Hi, we're doubling our group flights: Mon (9pm ET), Wed (8pm ET), Fri (9pm ET), Sat (5pm ET). See calendar on www.teamxc.us for the upcoming landscapes. We do a lot of OLC-type flying. We're not about racing, but are doing some multi-turnpoint tasks that can be flown together in...

Read the article regarding the diminishment of guys pursuing badges and a commonly held misconception that it takes greater than 30/1 to do xc, another thought came to mind. Namely, is there a stigma attached to landing out within the modern soaring community? Could this be a reason why guys are...

To lift a title from The Bard and, since there's not much else going on these days, and to give homage to Roseanne Roseannadana... What's all this nonsense I keep hearing about CG hooks? My first glider had a nose hook and it was easy to control on launch and tow.Â* All the rest had CG hooks...

This instructions for this AD refer to a Feb 2020 Maintenance Manual amendment, in case an access hole has to be cut. Has anyone had sight of this amendment yet?

Link to the German DG website: https://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/dg-flugzeugbau-news/dg-flugzeugbau-service/60268

Practice Day First, I would like to say sorry for the delay of the practice day results. As any of my fellow contest managers can attest to, the first day of the contest is hectic. However, if you saw the smiles of the pilots returning from their flights, it was worth it. Trailers had been...

Thinking about glider projects other than flying... If I add 2 instruments to the tail: 1) a 3d accelerometer 2) strain gages on the shank of the te probe to measure horizontal and vertical deflection Then will the difference between these two be an indication of the left-right and up-down wind...

Notice from Gavin Wills: "Please note that all Glide Omarama services will be suspended from 15 April 2020. After 20 years of flying from the Omarama Airfield without a Trial Flight incident the Civil Aviation Authority of NZ requires GlideOmarama to re-certify its operations from being a...

Hey Guys, I have updated the Monday Night Soaring tasks for the next two Mondays. March 30th will still be in Slovenia (default scenery). April 6th will be in AA2 (Alps!) MNS is probably the longest lasting competition in Condor. It's been running continuously since late 2005. This is one of...

Hi all, I've put together some light entertainment in the form of SkySight tutorials to pass the time through your inevitable COVID-19 quarantines, or heaven forbid, preparation for the soaring season. You can find the playlist of videos...

I read the recent article in Soaring and it has got me fired up. I have been a member of a small club in Washington State for the last 2 years, learning to fly. The club has a 2-33 and a Lark and a Pawnee. That's it. Badge flying has not been an emphasis, even though one qualifies for at...

Does anyone have experience flying the Apis MC motorglider? What are its performance and handling like? Any problems to watch out for? Thanks, Key

I am looking for someone to do a Conditional Inspection on my DG1000M. I am located in Grants Pass, OR. I have contacted Williams Soaring and it is about a 5-7 week wait. I have called a couple other individuals and have not gotten any response. My most reliable option is to tow it out to Moriarty...