Nice NASA article here complete with a Mars Rover photo sequence: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/14jul_dustdevils.htm?list67423 -Tom

Yet another potential source of lift? http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/11oct_undularbore.htm?list812469 The question is how long do they last and how far they propagate? And, of course, how do you catch one? -Tom

Messenger, that is... OK, so I've just been driving with it recently. But I have kinda figured it out, and have also set up an email filter to generate a much more useful email or text message position report. What follows will be most useful for someone who already has one of these, but it may...

The location of this year's Flight Instructors Refresher Clinic (FIRC) will be the Clarion Hotel located at Centennial airport. If you are not a CFIG, you will still benefit from the varied subjects discussed. Only a small portion pertains to instructors only. Hurry! Less than a week to...

They are having a father's day promotion. Use promo code "FATHER8" when activating and get 6 months free tracking. As I've said before, live tracking is *THE* reason to fly with SPOT. The OK, HELP and 911 features are nice, but if you crash and are unable to activate these, then the last track...

On Friday, January 21, 2011 4:35:43 PM UTC-8, bildan wrote: I'd be more impressed with BRS chutes if videos of the tests didn't show the flight test guy jumping with his own personal 'chute after the BRS deployment. It suggests he knows riding the darn thing down isn't good for his...

On Saturday, June 25, 2011 6:02:27 AM UTC-7, Andy wrote: You already scared me off. "Exciting and challenging" and by implication "aggressive" tasking for handicap class. Not what I need to tempt me to fly in an area I've not flown for over 20 years. OK then replace those words with short...

On Saturday, July 2, 2011 4:01:08 PM UTC-7, Darryl Ramm wrote: Many folks will probably use the TinyTrak see http://www.byonics.com/tinytrak/ A lot of SoCal folks are using the MicroTrak http://www.byonics.com/mt-rtg I just used mine for the first time on Saturday. I added a second aircraft to...

On Saturday, July 2, 2011 3:34:30 PM UTC-7, Tim Newport-Peace wrote: If I were you, I would look for a second-hand A2, A22, A3 or A22. All these radios run happily with a 12-volt supply connected to the radio (not to the battery). I'm using an A22 with no battery at all and a speaker/mike. ...

A group of employees at my company are participating in an evening walk to raise funds and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each of us has set up a website through the group to collect donations, so I thought it would be a great way to also promote soaring. I'm asking folks to...

Searched the archives for this info, but all I find are non specific refeences to some installations. Not very useful when one is out shopping for someting to install on the club Pawnee. So, who has mirrors on their Pawnee that work well? Where did you buy them? Current part number would really...

This is primarily aimed at US pilots, but certainly applies to us all... The latest issue od Soaring magazine has a well written editorial by Dennis Wright about our responsibilities of avoiding airspace that requires permission to enter. On page 13 there's an article if interest to any of us...

I have a PZL K-13 compass that's leaking. Here's a photo of the compass: http://www.soarbfss.org/scgi-bin/gallery2/v/Flying_0/acc.jpg.html This summer, I had the canopy of my ASH-26E open and it focused the sun onto the compass and melted a hole in the front. Luckily it was in the black painted...

I currently charge the (hard to remove) batteries in my ASH-26E with a solar panel and charger installed on/in my trailer. During a contest, the plane may not spend much time in the trailer during daylight hours, but it does spend most nights in there. The solution would be to use the solar panel...

Has anyone modified the L-23 wingtip and put a rollerblade or other wheel on it? Factory wants $1900 per side for wheel equipped replacement tips, whivh IMO is a bit steep. -Tom

I was browsing a CompUSA today and came across what looks like nearly the perfect camera for taking photos from the cockpit. It's a Kodak V570. 5 megapixel and a 23mm equivalent wide angle lens. Here's a review: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/kodak/v570-review/index.shtml The camera's tiny,...

In another thread, some folks mention flying with these "light sensitive" glasses. I have a pair, but find I must use clip-ons while driving, as the glasses apparently react to UV, and the car's windows filter most of it. I have also found that same effect, though a bit milder in the sailplane. ...

With all this discussion going on now, maybe someone with some knowledge or experience could enlighten us on the consequences of 10 or more sailplanes in a tight gaglge all squawking the same info. Will ATC see them all? Or will interference and/or filtering software at ATC make some or all of...

The operating manual for the Becker ATC 4401-1-xxx transponder has the following specifications: (http://www.beckerusa.com/products/detail/pdfs/ATC4401-1-I+O.pdf) Max. operating altitude : - ATC 4401-1-175 15000 ft. - ATC 4401-1-250 50000 ft. and

On Friday, July 8, 2011 9:39:02 AM UTC-7, Dave Nadler wrote: So far, my Antares 20E has not let me down, but it is a motor-glider and I fly it always such that the day when there is a problem, I will have a pre-planned and safe out. My ASH-26E has never (completely) failed me either, but I...