With 25% of this year's entries from the land of the Great White Queen, this years Dust Devil has a clear international flavour. It is Day 1 today and, as ever, our correspondant, Carol Clifford reports the coming and goings and to-ings and fro-ings. This year we feature a competition blog for...

Hi All After many years good service, our Zander SR800 Vario/Glide Computer has developed a fault. It reads 7m/s lift when the glider is on the ground. When the range switch is moved from 0-10 to 0-5m/s it goes off scale. The digital averager slowly climbs till it reads 13 m/s. The audio makes a...

I spent some time with relatives in the DC area over Xmas ... and was amused to find a 'sailplane' adorning the lid of Panera Cream Cheese .... it seems like a strange connection ... anybody have a clue? Also, the 'design' is a strange conglomeration of wood/glass pieces/parts that don't seem...

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/glider-crash-kills-sydney-man/2006/12/27/1166895349086.html http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20978265-2,00.html -- Mal www.mals.net

When the new 2007 Regional and National rules come out, I plan on reviewing our new racing rules and sending my note's out to anyone who is interested. Just send a email to , and I will send out a email review for you to look at, for the upcoming season, along with notes on the...

Contestants expecting to fly in the 2007 15M Nationals at Mifflin County, and needing commercial lodging should act now due to a conflict with PSU graduation the weekend of May 19 (contest May 15-24). For a list of accommodations check the website at: http://mifflin.soaringweb.net/ On another...

Factory dolly with ears on each side of the axle for you tow bar. Probably fits several differant ASWs? Gary Boggs www.nwskysports.com

Our tow plane prototype has just made its first flight. look http://www.windcraft.fi/pik27/welcome.htm -- AkiSuokas Posted at www.flight.org

Where can I learn about the optimum speed to fly in a particular flap setting? I am flying a Mosquito, the handbook is not so easy for me to access. Thanks in advance, Bagmaker.

The sun is now moving back north where it is more appreciated. Mike

Slightly off-topic I admit, but strikes a chord with me as a glider pilot: http://today.reuters.com/tv/videostory.aspx?storyid=42c02bd811e7e8a45466c64db02cdb0c0fd0a8a0&WTmodLoc=vidarticle-r1-featuredvideo-7 David Starer

Santa is 'tracked' every Christmas Eve by NORAD radar You may follow him on www.noradsanta.org Like all pilots Santa asked weather forecast before take off. http://www.nserc.gc.ca/news/features/2006_12_22_e.htm The Canadian Air Defence Sector Operations Centre at 22 Wing North Bay alerts NORAD...

Hi, I am looking for the date of the airsport show in Germany. I think it is in april 07 in Friedrichafen . thank you S6

Mark your calendars. The Colorado Soaring Pilots/SSA Governor's Seminar and Awards Banquet is scheduled for February 24th, 2007, at the Clarion Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn) at Centennial Airport (same location). Price, menu selections, and presentation list to be announced, but will include...

1990 National 360 Parachute, quick snaps, $600 plus shipping or best offer E-mail: Ph: 518-885-5599 Located in Saratoga Springs, NY USA

They have been lost in the depths of the post office system somewhere, but most calendars finally arrived today. We will ship as soon as possible, and appologize for the delay. Tom Knauff Knauff & Grove Soaring Supplies www.eglider.org email:

Hi, 2 interesting new items worth mentioning here - Silent Wings - The American Glider Pilots of WWII, DVD, Available in March, Pre-order now This is the film that will be shown on Friday evening at the SSA Convention. It looks very, very...

How does one figure how rough the air is? Consider that my final glide is happening at the end of the day, just one or two bubbles of lift remaining, and I am at Vne. Am I safe at this speed or should I only be going this fast if I am SURE that not one bubble remains, and no turbulant air will be...

Anyone knows of a professional serve of this type in North America, for an existing canopy with frame? Udo

Newly posted on the SSA website are the proposed Contest Rules changes for 2007 and the minutes of the November 2006 SSA Rules Committee meeting. The proposed Contest Rules changes are subject to approval by the SSA Board of Directors in Feb 2007. As always, constructive comments are...