I received one of the first TruTrak solid-state (no gyro) T&B indicators last week and flew with it last Saturday. For a full report, go to www.oxaero.com. Jim Hendrix

SureCheck Aviation now offers a low cost proximity detection device that's suitable for glider use. It receives transponder transmissions and indicates nearness of the source. This unit is the size of a credit card and operates on batteries. Velcro it above your panel and you're done. This...

Stefan Melber, et. al., have just published an aerodynamic simulation of a Standard Cirrus glider. It's a scholarly work and will not be understood by most of us, but the pictures are informative and worth taking a look at. You will find a link to it at www.standardcirrus.org. It's a 1.2 MB...

The Standard Cirrus web site has been moved to a new home. It now lives in a folder at www.oxaero.com. It will take several days for the domain name to catch up. Until then, www.standardcirrus.org will point to the old site, or may not work at all for a day to so. Meanwhile, you can...

If I update my Flarmnet Database in my ATD-57, will I lose my in-flight pilot-input identifications? Thanks, Jim J6

So, I have been using white lithium grease for decades for all my glider fittings. This has worked out fine, no problems ever, all my fittings have stayed nice, with no damage of any kind. However, now that I have an 18 meter motorglider and am retired and blessed with time to go soar, my rigging...

Any suggestions? Either currently available or coming in the near future (next year or so) would be ok, I am not in a rush. Prefer it would fit in one 57mm hole. I take care of navigation and tasks with other standalone devices (full on OpenVario with its own vario/STF sensor board, and a Kobo...

Can anyone give me details of software required (free if possible) to download the track log from the Pilot 3 GPS. Thanks Jim Hughes

A winter reading suggestion: I've just finished "Soaring, Beyond The Basics" by Dale Masters & enthusiastically recommend it. It's all about developing airmanship, sensitivity to the terrain & interpreting clues to lift. Dale's dry humor & clear writing style make this book an enjoyable page turner...

Just spotted on Ebay, no relation to seller, Motorized Schleicher K-4 Rhonlerche http://tinyurl.com/ynvkhw

Anyone here flown sailplanes in Mexico? I'd appreciate your comments, as I'm interested in a commercial operation there. Jim

There are few RAS comments on the Laister LP-49. In photos an ungainly design, but does appear a reasonable transition ship for a low-timer; 31/1 LD, retractable gear, flaps, auto hookups, aluminum wing. How large is the cockpit? Anyone here with LP-49 flying & rigging experience? Jim Hultman

After a year's hiatus, there's finally an Open Cirrus being mailed in the next few days. The web version can be read at http://classicsailplane.org/Cirrus/Newsletters/2003no1.htm Jim Kellett, Resident Curmudgeon Chairman, Classic Division, Vintage Sailplane Association Webmaster, Open Cirrus...

We've been using a Tost reel internal to the towplane (PA-25) for several years now, and are delighted with the overall improvement in operational efficiency and safety. However, we've also had over a dozen breaks in the Tost-supplied rope/cable, always right where it enters the "slug" that...

Piet Barber is one of the webmasters of Skyline Soaring Club in Virginia. He has established a cool channel on the AvantGo network that, once subscribed to, will automatically download the glider-related portions of 14CFR Parts 61 and 91 directly to your Palm or WinCE PDA. He has indicated his...

Trying to figure out the best places to install the microswitches on the spoiler and gear. Do not want ANY exposed wiring. H3, Front Royal, VA.

1. We have an older (Model 20) L-NAV that suddenly started reading ca. 2 - 2.5 kts "pessimistic". This started, perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, right after we'd had it at a public display, making us wonder if perhaps someone accidentally tinkered with some of the settings. We went back to...

Anyone know what happened to the SOARING Magazine index project? It used to be at http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/Soaring_Index/HomePage.html#toc but this URL wasn't working this morning . . Jim Kellett

The Battle is On!! Yes, the perennial argument about the so-called "best glider" is about to be resolved, once and for all!! Is it equipment, or skill? Is it nature, or nurture? Is it the pilot, or is it the machine? Is is glass, or is it aluminum/fabric? WATCH THIS SPACE! 1-26 Association...

I just read a conference report from Europe that references a February 12, 1999 midair between an Airbus A320 and a glider, apparently in France. Anyone have any details?? (Working on safety seminar on mixed use airports and traffic avoidance.) Note: If you "reply private", please be awarae of...