On my last annual, the IA showed me the AD's and a special note for Standard Cirrus gliders that they can only have "light gray or blue trim colors only." huh??? My contest ID is "medium gray" and I was told he would "let it slide this year".......OK!!! Whatever!! He wasn't making it up, he...

Has anyone heard of or experienced a case where the pull of the glider's release handle during flight failed to result in the rope dropping off the release mechanism? Last summer two of us were under tow when turbulence threw us too high above the tug (or sink drove the tug too low) @~2,000ft agl....

US Pilots: Tony Condon is down in Australia flying in the Formula 1.0 Grand Prix. Nice online tracking... https://www.f1gp.com.au https://tracking.f1gp.com.au https://www.facebook.com/formula1point0

Hey all, I have noticed some gliders have what look like small fuel filters spliced into the tubing prior to avionics. I imagine this is a safeguard to dust, etc entering the avionics. Seems to make sense eventually what's outside is going to get inside.... However, is this necessary? I see a lot...

Received an email from the following email address , requesting a reply to verify my contact. The text says it is from Hank Nixon but this is not his regular email address. the subjec is 'QT on behlf of Hank Nixon" Is this for real? Boise Pilot

This is the sort of dumb aloud-wondering usually reserved for the soaring off-season, but... How many days or weeks do you think it would take to fly a sailplane across the continental U.S. or Canada? Really fly it--no trailering as has been necessary during the Smirnoff Derby and Return to...

what could be better than getting paid to fly gliders? getting paid to race them i suppose.... in any case this post concerns commercial rides. Harris Hill in Elmira New York is looking for a commercial pilot who would be interested in spending a summer flying commercial rides in an ASK-21, for...

I'm interested in doing some ridge flights in the Northeast US at various sites like Blairstown, Wurtsboro, Springfield etc... while bringing fellow club members along to share the new experiences. Can anyone point us to specific information and resources for the different sites? I've been able to...

I am updating the variometer system in our club ASW-19b. I would like to add speed/vario switch into the stick handle. Any ideas, advice and suggestion for components welcome!

Reading the latest Rules Committee meeting minutes I see item number 14 slips a "tax" in the rules. $50 charge by waiver for any contest pilot showing up without a crew. Note it is $50 PER DAY! This was not included in the pilot poll, we currently have a sanctioning fee surplus, the minutes...

This has been covered in these pages before, but it may be timely to post it again in view of the coming fuel price squeeze and the increased interest in winching. This Excel spreadsheet explains mathematically why a winch system comprised of lighter linear (rope) and rotational elements...

I am building a Duster Sailplane in my garage here in Eden Prairie, MN USA. I am attempting to revive interest building and flying the Duster sailplane. I have been working with Ben Jansson, the original designer of the Duster and I now have the ability to provide full size, high quality, scale...

The DLR-Lange H3 project is officially announced, details he http://www.lange-aviation.com/htm/english/news/news.html The 23-meter wing molds will also be used for the new 23-meter Antares and Schemmp-Hirth open class machines. The H3 max takeoff weight: 1.25 metric tons (2756 lb), provides...

I know this subject has been discussed here before, but searchability on google groups really stinks so I'm just starting a new thread. Getting to be winter time here in the northern hemisphere so we need something to talk about anyway. I'm dreaming about new fabric on 373Y this winter. With that...

Add up your ten longest flights, you have made in your lifetime of soaring, and then average them. I was on the phone today with Carl Herold, IV, he just averaged his 10 longest flights, they averaged 699.4 miles. 699.4 miles (statute) is equal to 1,125.58 kilometers, ok,...

Our club is looking at new tow plane. The plane has a Schweizer tow hook with "1200 lbs max" stamped on it. Does anybody know what that relates to? Is this the max gross weight of the glider or max tow tension or...? I've tried Schweizer, but they couldn't help since they are no longer making tow...

Can someone who is sucessfully using the DOS applications for downloading, converting logs from the 302 and sucessfully posting to OLC post the process? I am interested in the DOS process only. There are 4 files mentioned on OLC and FAI web sites: 1. datacam2.exe - for downloading flight traces...

At what time of year should one go to Minden for long distance XC? Should i expect thermals or wave? I prefer thermals due to the fact that my wave experience is minor. Would early to mid august be a good shot? And finally: Are there any statitics available on the net? TIA

Hello all, My old portable PC packed up definitely a few weeks ago and when I started looking around for a new one I found that none of them have the old traditional serial port anymore !? This rather leaves me in the lurch with the Filser GPS-logger in my glider, since the interface is over a...

Will someone please explain why the subject of "reverse seeding" for the Region 9 contest at Parowan keeps coming up. Regionals are Regionals, and Regionals are for the contest pilots that live in the region. Others are welcome to come if the contest is not filled. Applicants from the contest...