Each side of the landing gear of the Pawnee is fastened with 3 bolts. Each fore and aft outboard bolts connect through 2 sets of tabs welded to the lower fuselage longeron. Our right hand gear is slightly loose at the forward attach point . Either the holes in the 2 tabs are worn out-of-round...

I liked the subtle ticking noise of ye olde RICO VACS vario I had in the HP-14. And it was very good at pointing out weak lift. Alas that relic from the 1970s stopped working some time circa 2000. I sent it to its maker and he fixed it, but it later failed again, as has another unit I scrounged...

A friend of mine (seriously) is about to retire and wants to begin touring the US with an RV while towing a glider trailer. Been done many times. No issues to speak of with this concept. But he also does NOT want to use the RV to tow the assembled glider around the airport during events. He...

We have not seen much performance increase with new gliders for couple of decades, other than increased wingloading. I wonder if anyone has run the numbers for glider with FBW steering. I'm thinking of flapped glider with multiple moving segments of flaps (independent servos) and very small rear...

Soarist It is thanks to the many hundreds of hours of research, investigation and dedication by the California City Glider Pilots Action Group and the soaring community in general. That we at least temporarily have some hope of Caltrans re-permitting Cal City Airport to return to the safe, sane...

In case somebody was interested, the video materials from 17th EGC (Club, Standard, 20m) are available at http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa5hoVLTl803FzSQOiQVz6w Today the video of the daily task briefing was posted about 9am EST (3pm local). So one could watch it while the competitors are still...

Hello All, I am looking for real world reviews of the Puchacz (or the newer Perkoz) in the club / instructional environment. How do they hold up to daily use/abuse? Maintenance issues? How are they for ab-initio? Truth to the spin-eager rep? Any bad habits?

Hi, Photos from day 4 of the WGC in Uvalde, TX are available he http://www.flickr.com/photos/remde/sets/72157630984490418/ Good Soaring, Paul Remde

I had the honor of giving the Ralph S. Barnaby lecture at the fall Board of Directors' meeting. The title is "The evolution of US contest soaring," which I sort of talked about but couldn't resist adding an editorial here and there. If you're really, really bored at the office, you might enjoy the...

I e-mailed Dr. Weber with some constructive suggestions and questions regarding his proposed service fee policy, and am posting part of this exchange because fellow DG and LS owners may be interested. SUGGESTION: To the extent that service fees are really necessary, why not add some reasonable...

Just sent a note to Dennis to voice my disappointment with the current SSA website. I preferred less splash and more functionality (and reliability). It has been several months since the switch over, and I'm still unable to access the photos section, one of my favorites. Today was the tipping point...

I just noticed that a few of the welds on the top aluminum framework of my Komet trailer have broken. Maybe I am just lazy but I am concerned about getting the welds redone with the fiberglass top right next to it. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good bonding agent to use on the broken...

Hi, This was a crazy idea I had that my son thought would be a lot of fun. The question is whether or not it is legal or advisable. The idea is to tie a bunch of helium party balloons to a SPOT unit, then let it go and see how far it gets. We would chase it down in a car. Theoretically, we...

Hi Guys Does anyone have a 20B panel outline file that will work in Auto CAD program. The 20B has a completely rounded top a flat bottom and steps on both sides. It is different than a 19, 20A, and is the same as a 20C. Thanks Norm

Hi all This has been thrashed out before but a search didnt come up with any difinitive answers, only general observations and personal views. What opinions have you all on canopy tinting - what color and why? The tinted canopy looks better from the outside - Yep, I reckon so The tints seem to...

Please be careful out there. I just got an earful from a fighter pilot who said he had an 'encounter' with a glider over the Pahranagat valley tuesday afternoon. That's a VERY busy corridor Monday through Friday.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880617031 Two sailplanes forced down in Warren, Vermont Pilot Rick Roelke of Bedford, N.H., looks at his sailplane in Blueberry Lake in Warren after landed short of Sugarbush Warren Airport on Tuesday. He and pilot John Dezzuitti of...

After reading of the recent mid-air out West I bought a Zaon MRX PCAS (Portable Collision Avoidance System) from Aircraft Spruce & Speciality to try out. I also fly a Piper Vagabond without an electrical system and this unit doesn't require your aircraft have a mode C transponder as it's a...

I'm planning to join the local soaring club and had my first ride last weekend. I was eager to take the controls while being towed and was enormously humbled by the experience. I've had my ppsel for several years, but do not have many hours under my belt. Never the less, I was looking forward to...

Does anyone have or know of a place to find a valid interprtaion of 61.113? Can a US Private Pilot legaly tow a glider for compensation?