I thought it might be fun (and healthy) to start a poll or discussion for the guys and gals who have been in the sport for + 25 years or more. So, my question for those people is : "What is the biggest change you have seen in the sport over the years you have participated?" For me, the biggest...

Hi all. I'm a former cfi-i/mei and commercial glider pilot, but I've never gone cross-country in my PW-5 glider. Training up for it though. A question: If you are in an area where the fields are small, but there are several private airfields around, which should be your priority? Seems to me...

This came up today on askacfi.com. Most of us have seen someone who used to fly but hasn't for years and decides to take up soaring. These people have no medical, no flight review, and no 90-day currency. They cannot fly whatever it is they used to fly, but with some - maybe a lot - of time and...

I'm in the market for a standard class or 15 meter flapped ship. This is my first ship, and I doubt I want to deal with 18 m of wings. An example would be a Discus 2 vs ASW 27. Currently most of my flight goals are simple: get as high up, and far out as possible. Speed is nice, but I'm doubtful...

I'm not alarmist to say that the FAA is going to ground 80% of the senescent USA glider training fleet sometime soon. The only question is when. The L-13s are being recycled. The few people who know how to properly inspect and keep the 27 wooden Schleichers KA-* gliders flying safely are...

Like about 300 US Blanik L-13 sailplane owners, I have a ship that will probably never fly again. Just trying to find out what other owners are doing with their hangar queens. I know of one where the owners took it apart, separating the aluminum from the steel for sale to metal recyclers. From...

I got excited when I read about the cheap chinese PNA tablets around $100: 600MHz CP, Wince 6.0, fast GPS built-in.... On this NG. Then it took a month to show up, after an attempted order cancellation from the vendor (??) - Ever hear of such a thing? I thought it would make a nice moving...

OK in order to sort a dispute that is running between Ramy and myself. I have Strepla which shows minor airspace and altitude violations which Seeyou does not. FYI. Ramy's Logger Calibration report shows a +169ft error at 18000ft. The flight in question is this one here . http://tinyurl.com/fe2k8

Hi, This is just a thought... I’ve recently been extremely interested in the FES (Front Electric Sustainer) sailplanes. They are becoming quite popular. Even very high-performance racing sailplanes like the Ventus 3 are being sold with FES systems installed. I am the U.S. dealer for DG/LS...

In the Dutch gliding records list, I found a flight, conducted in South Africa that landed after the local official daylight time. For ratification a flight must be conducted legaly, so I asked the Dutch NAC for explanation. The responsible officer told me that a flight that lands before...

I'm sick and tired of reading about glider crashes and never knowing what actually happened. We badly need to be able to learn from the misfortune of our soaring compadres. The obvious answer is that we all have a camera mounted over our right shoulder that will simultaneously monitor the scene...

I have a 2016 honda civic. It’s my only car. Has any one towed their glider and trailer using a small sedan like a civic?

What color devices are pilots using for Top Hat/XCSoar? I'm running Top Hat on a Kobo Glo (large eink gray scale--great readability) and a Dell Streak 5 (smaller screen, color, acceptable readability). If the Dell were a little brighter and larger, it would be perfect. Options seem to range from...

Apparently went down in high winds while attempting a cross country wave record. http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4063969&nav=8faO

I am a newly soloed student pilot, still flying the club's 2-seat trainer. I'll be moving to the club's single-seater soon. Then I hope to be allowed by my instructor to make solo flights in my own mid-performance sailplane that I bought before starting glider lessons. It was flown by advanced solo...

Can anyone direct me to Clubs / Web sites using this method of launching - Interested in finding out more about this method, particularly from clubs that operate from gravel/dirt strips Thank you John Spargo

Hello All There has been quite a bit on refinishing on RAS recently. Most people advocate that when gel-coat starts cracking up, it is essential to remove it ALL. Does anybody out their own a ship which was refinished without removing all the gel-coat? What is the service history of these...

The discussion of wearing parachutes is an interesting one. Parachutes are cheap insurance and, when one is needed, nothing else will quite do the job. So, why aren't they universally worn? In a word, weight. The available two seaters, for the most part, have weight limitations that almost...

Hi All - I just received the following press release from Lange Fleugzeugbau: Maiden flight ANTARES 18S The first ANTARES 18S made its successful maiden flight Sunday May 28th, 2006. The youngest member of the ANTARES-family of sailplanes then was put to the acid test during several test flights...

Anyone? Bob