What are the issues that keep soaring from training and retaining 'older youth'? There's a lot of talk about recruiting 'youth' into soaring. Does RAS/SSA put 45+ y.o. students in the youth category? Who exactly are we trying to recruit? Today's 45+ y.o.s are the ones who will be flying...

Our club is seriously considering buying a Blanik L-33 but I have heard a few reports that the fuselage can be easily damged if a tail first landing is made. I would appreciate it very much if clubs that own an L-33 could give me guidance. Is a Blanik L-33 rugged enough for club use? Does the...

Our club has had an L 33 for about 5 years. It has always been hangered, yet the paint fell off in sheets all over the ship. Blanik did not want to assume any responsibility even though the ship was new. The problem was extensive, and the club had to finance the paint job. The only consession...

Is a motorglider a "powered aircraft"? Does anyone have official words to this effect? I asked our regional FSDO this question and he felt that a motorglider was not a "powered aircraft", but I have heard from others that it is. I ask for reasons of certifying as a tow pilot in a motorglider....

Hi, I'm hoping to go after a state triangle record for sports class. Obviously the speed would be handicapped....but is the distance handicapped as well???

The news about the B777 accident at SFO is getting me confused. The news stories are constantly pointing to the Autothrottle not maintaining airspeed (and question if the 3 pilots in the cockpit were monitoring airspeed)but in all the aircraft I have flown airspeed is controlled primarily with...

Hello, Sme 10 years ago I wrote a program for DOS named "Polar Explorer" - designed for analyzing both theoretical and practical aspects of glider performance in any conditions. The program was advertised in the Soaring magazine for a couple of years by CuSoft Research Inc., and some 30 odd copies...

From the sounds of it they are one and the same personality wise ;) Al

I've been reading the articles about sailplanes in Olympic Games, some other postings about PW-5 and I came to conclusion that most people who are posting this articles are afraid of World Class gliders. Why? What is so difficult in understanding the concept of the glider, the cost of building it,...

There are pleanty of less expensive sailplanes. The latest and greatest machines are not needed by most pilots. . Just because someone can't afford the top of the line doesn't mean there is no room for them. There are plenty of airworthy older sailplanes available at reasonable prices.. GA

Has anyone been thankful that they have had FLARM? And do the same people have a transponder? How many people fly with FLARM or Transponder? Let's hear about the close calls, or potential close calls, or even the peace of mind of awareness.

I am a member of two local soaring organizations and work with several others. Most organizations fly MSL. A few teach flying AGL. It was pointed out at one meeting that flying MSL is illegal if you read FAR 91.121 (shown below). They also mentioned that if you crash and the NTSB says your...

Tried to download GlidePlan and couldn't get through the registration process. I've tried to contact customer and Matt Herron with no luck. Anyone know if it is still available? Bif Huss "H7"

Given the level of moving map sophistication in the cockpit these days I am wondering what use, if any, Glideplan is to the soaring pilot. If you use it, where does it add value for you? Safety? training? XC planning or in flight navigation? Competition? Any stories o share? Thanks, Matt...

Is Gliding and Motorgliding International now dead? Although I always questioned the 'international' bit of the site, it had some great articles. Since Gillian's depature the site doesn't seem to have been updated. Has there really been no news for 15 days. Or is this indicative of the SSA's new...

Good day gentlemen We have a SGU 2-22 for sale on Wings and Wheels. I had a call before the new year about it from Indonesia named Paul and they gave me there credentials and all looks legit even to the stage where I got calls from a shipping company! I have not heard anything back but now I have...

Good afternoon, I am a budding cross country pilot that is trying to work on the best flight logger to pair up to my Oudie for recording my flights for the BGA ladder and also for competitions and badge claim flights. The system that I use needs to be mobile as I do not want it hard- wired...

Picking up a new Cobra trailer at the port on Tuesday......wondering if I can expect just to plug it into my SUV motorhome and have the lights working correctly? Anyone with a success story ? Trailer and SUV are both fitted witht the new large plug and receptacle. Thanks! J4

Hi Guys, I'm curious if any of you guys have ever tried to self launch with no wing man on a cg hook only glider. I have skids on my wingtips as well. Would you put the wing that's on the ground further forward at start? What's the technique!! I think this is why having a cg hook is a...

Seems like this would be great info to have when comparing your glider (and piloting) to others of the same kind. Is this possible? Do they let you? Or do you have to sort through every competitor in the world until you find ones with the glider type you want to examine?