I have just posted up to Al's Gliderforum a german language copy of an overhaul manual for the Solo 2350 2-stroke engine as used in all of Schempp-Hirth's sustainer models, as well as the Ventus CM and the new LS-8t sustainer model. This document is quite complete with a good number of color photos...

The FAA is sticking to its guns in holding that a rated power pilot who is out of currency in his power rating cannot solo in a glider when the transition pilot is not current (no current flight review) in his other rating. The most recent legal opinion is dated today, April 27, and addressed to...

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...

All, I've place my ASW20b on the market, some of you in the states know it's Id (21) and know it's a fine ship. If interested please see the ad on W&W at: http://www.wingsandwheels.com/wantads3.htm Respectfully, Rick Culbertson Colorado, USA

The US distributor of Aeros hang gliders has announced that the Ukranian company's ultralight sailplane has had it's first flight. This craft was built using the wing of Aero's rigid wing hang glider, the Stalker. It was designed to be towed up by the same tugs hang gliders use. I wonder what...

I DON'T mean to stir up trouble on this forum with this question, especially being new, but have been wondering about this for some time. I am wondering how feasible it would be to do this with either a homebuilt or experimental glider here in the US? I figure this has been asked but didn't find...

may be someone is interested in a small programm ( http://ywtw.de/igcsim.html ) that allows you to replay IGC-files in Google Earth. It's a replay, without use of kml, best for flights in the mountains :-)

The proposed rule changes for 2008 US competition soaring are posted at SSA.org/sailplane racing/rules & process. Input is welcome. Final rules proposals go to the SSA for publication in the board "Blue Book" in mid January. Seasons Greetings to all from the SSA Competition Rules Subcommittee UH H...

All, I have been using a JRC JHP-500 handheld radio for field communications and have been a bit disappointed with it's performance. It has a standard 6" flex antenna. When I am in the air and someone tries to talk with me using the handheld, the transmission always sounds very weak, even if I am...

I know I will get replies on each end of the spectrum... but for a first glider, low time pilot, it seems like a 1-26 would be a good choice. Easy to fly, easy to land in tight spaces, cheap to maintain, and very common and there are a few 1-26 groups, so help is available. It's inexpensive (well...

I know this is a silly question, but I was reading an article by Dick Johnson that talked about holding a slight slip while thermally. This article was written before winglets and I was wondering if the same idea applied to gliders with winglets. Also, as for slipping to lose altitude for landing...

There is an interesting discussion here at http://www.postfrontal.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5589&whichpage=6 with a lot of pictures I have taken out of new PNAs with 800-900 nits displays. This PNA has also a spare RS232. I am searching for a Dell Streak to compare, but it is was gone out...

I've recently started flying a Ventus2. I can't rig the thing without a lot of struggle. The trouble is, there's a cover above the spars and you can't see anything once the first wing is in. I struggle to get the second wing to fit, never knowing whether it's a bit too high or a bit too low....

Hey all, I trailered a (new to me and a partner) glider from Ontario to Alberta last week and through the trip blew out both trailer tires on the late-80's aluminum Cobra trailer and destroyed the fenders on the trailer through the event. The first blowout (1:15am east of Madison, Wisconsin)...

What is the maximum altitude (about) when the mobile phone becomes useless? PeterK

In the latest edition of Soaring magazine there is an article about TLAR. For those not familiar with TLAR, it is a landing approach teaching method that is based on angles as opposed to elevations and distances. Using angles automatically compensates for variations in altitude. On downwind , if...

Anyone retro fitted a set of factory (piontkowski) winglets onto a Ls4 Points for and against thanks in advance

Yesterday afternoon Mark Mocho (MM Fabrication) opened the canopy of his Pegasus to get his cell phone. By the time he made a call to me, his soaring hat, which was lying atop the glare shield, was smoking. The canopy was acting like a big magnifying glass and focusing the sun's rays onto a...

OK, so I made a long post in one thread about competition classes... 5U started another thread about the Rules Committee and I was really tempted to respond to Karl's comments there; but I didn't want to hijack the topic. So I'll post this in a new topic instead: I'm a low-time glider pilot...

Interesting news, the entire Australian team has been penalised for unsporting behaviour on the last day.. A protest is currently being heard. The bun fight at the Keepit corral.