Anyone using the spot satellite messenger while flying or else? Pro? cons? Thanks www.findmespot.com Richard Depinay Phoenix, AZ

Time to repace my 12v 6ah SLA battery. Same or 7ah or 8ah?

Although I have not heard anything on the radio or TV, the NY Times this morning pointed out that the pilot of the Airbus is a certified glider pilot. I think this provides the SSA with a rare opportunity to potentially increase our membership by taking the following actions: 1. Immediately...

I might be wrong, but my sense is that now in this soaring season, and considering *only* quantity of gliders "substantially damaged" or worse, few semi-regular, US-based, RAS readers would not agree this U.S. season is - statistical pedantry aside - already distinctly...

Tracking down to 2.5 minutes. Prices for the Gen3 and is there extra cost for the better tracking? Couldn't find anything on the website. From SPOT: Having initiated over 2,300 rescues around the world, SPOT is solidifying its place as a leader in satellite communication

I just received an e-mail from Argentina that contained the text below. "Today, Dec 22nd 2006 at 1:00 AM UTC, Klaus Ohlmann called me on the phone just after landing to let me know he have made a 500 Km flight at 306 km/h on average in a Nimbus 4DM... this could be the first above 300 km/h and...

I've seen a couple of references to someone not wanting us to use cell phones while gliding. I haven't seen the reason... what's the rationale?

I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing, and it seems pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs at least one person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve him when he lands out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But what do all the single guys do? Johan...

All - Does anyone know of any good books or articles on the nuts-and- bolts / common-strategies of how to fly the various competition task types? I'm still waiting on my copy of Winning II, but Reichmann and Brigliadori don't really touch on these and the competition rules only define what the...

I flew the Sports Class Nats with Powerflarm Brick (v 3.0), Butterfly 57mm display (v 3.1). My experience last season was that flarm was a bit of a nuisance: in large gaggles the darned thing made more noise than my audio vario. As well, I found the "radar" tracking feature a useless...

OK, just had to post: Is anyone else here really annoyed at the SSA's insurance requirement "changes" for this year? I had an unpleasant experience with Costello when I bought my first sailplane (2007). I was very satisfied with my move to Avemco for the last 4 years. They've provided me with...

Greetings! Anyone found a cradle for an iPaq that suits use in a glider and doesn't require amputation of a limb to pay for it?? We are considering standardising the mounting facilities in our club fleet and the costs of multiple cradles seem prohibitive at this time. The main hurdle to overcome...

So what is the latest on the availability of the Butterfly vario? Wonder if it will "fly" in any Uvalde WGC sailplanes? Also, will it deliver full featured or will the featurs dribble in over time? Sure would like to see something on YouTube including a sampling of the audio. How about it...

All, I presented at the SSA conference this last winter on the efforts of our club to build XC soaring pilots. This has been an emphasis for me for many years (hence my moniker SoaringXCellence), to the point I went and personally bought a G103 just so I could provide the training (since been...

Witnesses indicate two sailplanes in the same thermal. Anyone have pilot names or are these Alberta Soaring Council people? Some of them were just here with their new winch, visiting us in the Southwest US. WWW.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2011/09/04/bc-glider-crash.html Karen

Most of the discussion I’ve seen related to arranging for a retrieve after a remote land-out has focused on either cell phone (often not available), text message (slightly better than cell phone), or satellite-based like ELB, PLB, & SPOT (only one-way, no confirmation your message was...

Hi, I use tri-focal 'blended focus' prescription glasses, and I use either clip-on or flip-up non-polarized orange sunglasses for soaring. Unfortunately, my last pair died at the New Castle contest, and I can't seem to find the source anymore on the net. Anyone have a good source for cheap,...

Good Morning to the RAS Community: Team EY (USA), myself (Tim McAllister) and my wife Susan McAllister, are proud to announce that the GP Series of 13.5 meter span gliders from the manufacturer Peszke S.C. of Krosno, Poland, are now on offer to the North American gliding community. As the...

I'm a novice glider pilot thinking of a Speed Astir II B. Any thoughts on this aircraft? Thanks! David

I received a Butterfly external display with my US PowerFLARM core (brick). I also ordered a PowerFLARM Portable so have been able to compare the two. The alerter volume of my Butterfly external display is much lower than the alerter volume on my portable, even when the Butterfly is a maximum and...