U.S. Team Day Reports - Day 1 & NCD Today, July 28, was a no contest day for competitors attending the 28th World Gliding Championships in Poland. Read all the reports on the SSA U.S. Team Web site direct from Team Captain John Good in Poland. See the links below for the U.S. Team...

I'm attending the Region 10 North contest at Cherry Valley, AR here in a few weeks. I'm planning on making a big video there. I could sure use some ideas from you good folks. I'm not just making the video for me to enjoy, but for everyone and anyone. Myself and a friend now have accumalated a...

I haven't even looked, but I'm guessing there is still a requirement in the contest "rules" to have contest numbers under the wing, etc. I'm thinking of removing my under wing contest number and not replacing it - is anyone aware of any contest where not having a contest number under the wing...

If you have a Turn Area Task and you fly into turn 1, then fly into turn 2 then pass through the finish circle could/should it be possible to leave the finish circle and return to turn 2 and fly deeper into the circle than you did the first time and then return to the finish circle? On an option...

I admit I am not at all familiar with this glider and I couldn't really find much about it on the interwebs. I'm also not in the market. Just wondering why a seemingly modern two-seat motor glider would be selling (or not) at such a low price.

This is cross posted from the SSA Home News & Information General News, It is specific to the US, but generally applicable as well. The original post is avaliable...

I have just seen an unscientific poll on a guitar forum that I found fascinating, and not because of what it means for playing guitars. In this poll, almost 41% of those responding were between the ages of 50 and 59. The next largest group, 40-49, is at only 18%. Like most, if not all of us...

Can anyone supply a polar curve for a current 18m sailplane? Ideally the Ventus 2cxT, although Schempp-Hirth polars seem to be unobtainable. I already have the Dick Johnson review of the ASH-26E, so will use the polar from that if all else fails. That said, if anyone has a curve for a...

http://www.pilotoutlook.com/pilot_training/parachute_rigger_menu

Hi Gang Occasionally one finds a good read on a subject that many of us are interested in, namely soaring. Well the Government funded in the 50s the development of a new spy plane - a motorglider - named the U2. The specifications of this machine included operation up to 80,000 feet at 80% the...

Continuing to clean out my shop and basement.... Prices include economy shipping in USA. LS-6B landing gear structure $75. This is the welded steel structure that supports the landing gear (axle) and tow hitch. You know, the part that bends if you make a hard landing. Or so I have been told...

Hey guys, I need your help. Someone asked me if there was a video on the internet that would show them a little about the sport of Soaring . Guys, I need your input….and thanks in advance. I honestly do not surf the you tube site and don’t know of any off hand. I have seen the one with the...

Could any owner of a german registered glider shed a light on this subject: As a private owner, and sole operator of a self launcher (DG-808), I'm a bit confused as to what should be done concerning the: Application, Declaration and Approval of a Standardized Maintenance Programme (SIHP) in...

My club is buying a K-21 for student training and I am wondering if a tail dolly is necessary for ground handling? We plan to get the tail wheel option - not the tail skid. Does the K21 balance like the Twin Astir so it is easy to turn on the ground when towing it back to the launch point? When...

During the 2016 SSA convention, TOPMETEO.COM announced availability of their suite of soaring, ballooning and general aviation forecasts for the United States Region. Dr Bernd Goretzski briefed me on the soaring version of this product. It looks to be nearly identical to all the TopMeteo soaring...

Folks, If you haven't made plans yet - one of the premier international events in soaring is just a few days away, and here in the USA! The International Vintage Sailplane Meet (IVSM) is held every five years in the USA, on historic Harris Hill near Elmira, NY. This is the site of our National...

I noticed one thing: The ASK-21 in your video has "braces" (Dunno what they are properly called) inside the canopy that those of my future club don't seem to have: http://www.akaflieg-bonn.de/flugbetr/flugzeug.htm Or

Can anyone out there with experience behind both 2-bladed and 4-bladed Pawnees give me an idea of what the performance losses are? My club has debated this off and on, but I was recently at a field with a 4-bladed Pawnee and was much impressed with the lower noise. Problem is, I've got club...

After some back and forth discussion, it seems pylon-mounted wings could have a lot of potential for sailplanes. WRT aerodynamics, they make a laminar upper wing and much more extensive laminar flow on the fuselage possible. Structurally, notably yaw forces might be problematic (ground-loop), but...

Long time ago I saw a neat movie about a father and daughter(?) learning to soar in New Zealand. Great scenery. Remind me the name of the movie? Also, if my 14 YO son gets instruction and solos in New Zealand does the flight time and solo endorsement from a Kiwi certified flight instructor count...