Each day the task includes a steering turnpoint to line the gliders up with the active runway. Sometimes the steering point has a radius of 1000m (1km) and sometimes it has a radius of 2km. I tried to find an association between runway in use, or task type, and the radius but have found...

I had previously run some quick tests feeding PowerFLARM "TIS" data to my Garmin 396. I didn't continue the evaluation because, without any indication of mode C/S targets, it wasn't going to replace my Zaon MRX. Today I ran a ground evaluation of the new non-direction target indication provided...

I'd like to hear other people's experience of PCAS performance for the portable unit. I'm particularly interested in side by side comparison with ZAON MRX. Yesterday I flew my PA28-180 with both the ZAON MRX and the portable on the glareshield. Several times I saw traffic reported by the...

Several PowerFLARM purchasers have wondered about the frequency with which the FLARMnet file is updated and why the number of records in the Butterfly FLARMnet file has not changed recently. The good news is that FLARMnet folks are responsive to questions. The bad news is that you won't like the...

The long awaited Power FLARM portable was delivered to customers some weeks ago but I have seen no reports about how well it it performing. Is this just because the soaring season is over for most US pilots? Does anyone have some test result or impressions to share. Andy

Both Pawnees at the local glider club suffer from leaking front crankshaft oil seals. One has had several oil seal changes and the problem is not cured, the other started leaking within a few hundred hours of a major overhaul. One is in original fixed prop configuration and the other was...

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=1875776 I wonder how this "flight" could have got through even the most basic reasonableness check. I assume there is none. Andy

I've been towing for quite a few years but had a new experience today. I was towing a pilot new to the Std Cirrus, and who had never towed on a CG hook before. I expected an "interesting" ride, but he did fine. That is until release time. I looked in the mirror to see him pull up into a hard...

I had a look at the on-line SSA Sailplane Directory and have to say it looks like a very nice addition to our information sources. I noticed that there were no pictures of the ASW-28 and was thinking of submitting some. I then found the conditions for posting pictures: "It is a condition of...

Pilots who have participated in a recent SSA Sanctioned contest are being polled in an attempt to persuade the rules committee to adopt a MIRA (Mandatory if Rentals Available) rule for 2011 SSA sanctioned contests. The proposed rule will require all contestants to submit, after each contest...

On Jun 21, 7:53 pm, "Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote: Now a Bell 47 helicopter, THAT is hard to fly. With zero helicopter time I had the opportunity to fly a Bell 47. In less that 40 minutes of flight and perhaps 20 minutes on the controls, I had done takeoff, hover, hover turns,...

The SSA member achievements pages show the current US pilot ranking and the best pilot ranking. In my case my best ranking is based on a 2004 Regional in which I placed 6th. Since I placed 2nd in a 2003 Regional I would have expected the ranking from that year to be higher. Can anyone explain...

Cambridge documentation defines the following: Attributes: A - Airport L - Landable Point S - Start Point F - Finish Point H - Home Point M - Markpoint R - Restricted Point

Two local pilots had FAA ramp inspections last Friday and one other, after declining to be inspected, had a discussion with an inspector. It appears that the local FSDO is taking the position that NO flight may be made in a glider with an experimental (racing and exhibition) certificate, even...

I have looked at the LK8000 video and browsed some of the forum threads. Would someone please tell me: Where can I find list of supported hardware devices? Where can I go to download PC and target hardware apps? thanks

Worldwide, what exemptions from transponder equipage apply to glider tow planes (assuming built and certified with an electrical system)?. How typical is it that tow planes are not equipped with a mode C or mode S transponder? Andy

I attempted to configure a spare Aero 1550 for Parowan and got into a major nightmare with all 3 of my PDA's unable to run GNII. The program hung with the "loading files" message displayed. The problem grew exponentially as I transfered CF cards between PDA's. After tearing out most of my hair I...

It appears that a life could have been saved had basic controls checks been performed - "Controls free and in the correct sense". A walk round wag of the ailerons with verifcation the other one moved, or a positive control check after assembling, would also have helped. As a flight instructor I...

On Mar 9, 10:14 pm, Tuno wrote: Note that a major performance factor is maximum wing loading -- not just L/D! I was being left behind in strong conditions by gliders that could fly much higher wing loadings than my CZ. Ted is really into this high wing loading thing. ...

In a recent thread it was asserted that it was possible to get sport pilot airplane privileges without taking a knowledge test and flight test if the pilot held a private glider rating. For some reason I cannot see that thread. I had doubts that this was true and followed up with AOPA. The text...