J a c k wrote: I think the Duo's airbrakes are better than many people think. The Duo is a big heavy glider with lots of inertia. It doesn't like to change direction quickly. That includes its behavior on sudden airbrake deployment. You don't get a lot of sink right away. ...

Andy flew his final glide last Wednesday night. You will be missed EA! Whenever we have more information, we will pass information about his memorial service. Enrique Mertins KO

Since I have been unable to get access to the XCSoar forum thus far, I thought I'd go ahead and post my questions here. I just got a used Dell Streak 5 that was previously an AT&T one. It appears it is Android 1.6 and seems to be functioning fine. I attempted to install XCSoar using wifi. I first...

Hello group, I did a wiring overhaul in my cockpit recently. I learned a lot in the process and decided to document my research for various ways you can connect batteries to your electronics. Hopefully this will be helpful to folks like me half a year...

So after attending Uncle Hank's presentation at the convention I have been inspired to sand out the crazing in my gel coat. I am planning on the 600-1000-1200-1500 wet sanding process and then buffing out the finish. I understand the basics, but does anyone have a good primer on the...

The scenario is winch rope break practice with the instructor pulling the release to simulate rope breaks. I'm not talking about just an ordinary hard pull. This is a maximum-effort, adrenaline pumped, two-handed strain to get the release to work. On the ground, the CG hook checks out as a...

Is the "no touching of controls" when it comes to insurance common in the power community? If that was part of the policy in my previous glider club, I didn't know it. It certainly wasn't in the club rules. I routinely let passengers try a couple of turns at altitude if they wanted to. Usually,...

I've been getting familiar with my PowerFLARM brick and Butterfly display before installing it. I created a flarmcfg.txt file and loaded it using a USB stick. The file loads ok as confirmed by the configuration indicating my glider ICAO address. However, after the expected flashing green/red LED...

Folks: You will not yet find this on any accident/incident reports. There were no fatalities. A pilot called me to relay this story. The SZD-50-3 Puchacsz was bought used from Europe and imported to the US with ~1900 hours. The glider was given a US airworthiness inspection, and licensed by an...

Seems to be a common thing at contests or any other time you are flying something different than what the pilot is use to pulling. How about the next time it happens to you, have your radio call be 'Towplane pulling Glider (Insert your callsign here), please speed up 5 MPH' or some such if you...

Serious question. I've spoken to several pilots regarding the handling characteristics of the 1-34, and the general comment was that the Rudder could have been a bit more effective. My question is, Has anyone tried to modify the rudder to be more effective? What would be the result of adding a...

Does anyone still do this? It is illegal in the USA but does anyone do it anywhere else? Be glad to have any info about articles/accounts of people who have done this. Also has anyone been able to climb up the sunny side of a cumulus cloud? Read somewhere that one famous glider pilot did this and...

I'm looking for information on the Schiebe/Alliance SF-34. Would any of our German or French brothers care to comment on the suitability of the SF-34 as a club training glider? Handling qualities, comfort, durability, soaring performance? To my knowledge, there are only two examples of this glider...

Hi, I have just purchased a glider with a large flag and lettering on the fin, is there an easy way of removing them? Mel.

SSA will be exhibiting gliders, with an info booth, at Oskosh this year. That's great! But their choice is a bit surprising: "The current plan is to exhibit two sailplanes, a Ximango to represent motor gliders, and a Sparrowhawk for the purists." (quoted from the SSA website). Now, the Ximango...

If you have a Pawnee or a Tug with enough grunt why not dual tow? Guys at my club here in NZ do it on a regular basis on days when a long tow is needed to get away. Split the cost. Paul "Stewart Kissel" wrote in message...

The only test and recertification station to serve Utah refuses to test and fill the german factory bottles for the DG-400 since they do not have a USA DOT stamp on them. The official regulations (which he showed me) state that foreign bottles without the DOT stamp can only be tested for "EXPORT"...

I have sent to Emails to Centrair to get pricing info on the parts needed for the AD's. I received one message that described the cost for the hinge pins and rivets. I haven't heard anything else from them about wiring money over there to purchase the parts. Does anyone have their wiring...

Is this some sort of malicious code or something? My security settings won't allow me to play it, and I'm supposed to download and install some exotic .exe file to see it. I'll pass on the flying dogs! Here's a safe one though : http://www.lyontaxiprestige.com/good.wmv

Today Gordon Boettger flew his Kestrel on a 3TP flight of about 1800km out of Minden, Nevada. A sunrise takeoff lead to the first turn near Chilcoot, then South to near Inyokern, back North to Susanville, then down to Palmdale. This flight handily beats my flight of last year on a similar route. ...