One of our Pawnees has an ADSB out transponder now. (Evergreen Soaring) We’ve had glider pilots we’re towing that have FLARM ask us to turn off our transponder. We’ve told the glider pilots to turn their FLARM down or off. My recommendation is to either have a switch for your FLARM or know...

Check out the SSA website for the complete info on this petition, and consider commenting to the FAA (comments due by March 1, via web site, mail, fax, "eRulemaking portal"): SSA Transponder Petition Published By Dennis Wright Posted Thursday, February 19, 2004 The SSA petition asks that SSA...

This is an interesting piece of news from the helicopter industry: STRATFORD, Conn.,- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), today announced an agreement to acquire Schweizer Aircraft Corp., a privately owned U.S. company specializing in the...

Hi, I have noticed that most if not all modern gliders are built with a T-Tail (not sure about the term, I am talking about the elevator being located at the top of the tailfin). While most power-aircraft I know right up to the airliners have it at the bottom. What are the aerodynamic or...

Comment period ends 5 April. It would require an inspection within 60 days to ensure the elevator control attachment slot on the vertical stab be measured. One which caused a fatal crash in UK last year was found to have been enlarged. If the cut-out has been enlarged, the factory must be informed...

Dear All, I hear from my Italian friends at the Junior's WGCs that the famous soaring photographer Neil Lawson has died yesterday. He was standing on the roof of his car, to get better pictures of the finishing gliders. One of those gliders caught him. The pilot involved is a British team mate,...

Hi All, As I understand the racing rules for 2006, the SSA has decided to mandate ELT installation for all competitors. The ELT must be permanently mounted inside the glider. Personal ELTs will not suffice. This is all complicated by the FAA's decision to obsolete some existing ELT frequencies...

Hi, ever heared of winch launches up to 5200 ft (1590m)? in the forum of www.segelflug.de I read the following. It might be of interest for you (short form translation): During a glider acrobatic meeting in Fuerstenfeldbruck (Germany/Bavaria), pilots from Bavaria and Austria had the possibility...

I have a datalogger, I have an IPAQ, and I have all the cabling etc. I have spent considerable time at Cumulus Soaring, reading the comparisons of glider software. What I lack is the experience to know what is important. I've played with the features of SeeYou Mobile, and frankly, most of the...

Isn't there an FAR that says aviators will not fly below 500 feet, if over people, places or things, unless they are in the act of landing? This question was asked by a pilots wife/crew at a nationals. Her motorhome was located on a permanently closed runway about 500 feet from the active runway....

Okay guys, here's your new thread. Please... Del asks "how well will pilots react if they unexpectedly get into a spin or a spiral dive? Normally you gird your loins up first before doing a deliberate spin!" Answer: this depends on the pilot, of course. By the time you are gaggle flying,...

http://www.spr.aero/wcc-main-news/e-concept-rules-for-electric- gliders.aspx

Received the following from JP Stewart, a great up-coming pilot. 'GB' .......................................... Jp Stewart An email I sent to BRSS, if anyone can help I would be very appreciative... "BRSS,

At sunrise on 17 February, we are planning on launching in the Duo Discus glider from Minden at sunrise and aiming for Rapid City, SD as our goal, a distance of over 933 miles. Below is a link to the map with our position updates every 5 minutes. If you'd like to see the details of our position,...

I have been following the arguments about Flarm as well as US task setting with interest. I do not wish to confuse the picture further but I do want to point out that Handicap Distance Tasks solve many of the complaints about standard assigned tasks (including leeching). With HDTs we recognise the...

Our club has a Piper Pawnee 235hp in excellent condition. We just spent $35000 five years ago to completely overhaul her...new fabric, new engine, anything that needed to be replaced was... Heres the rub...we are in the middle of a new two place acquisition with the club making a decision about...

So I am in the market for a new battery for my Libelle. I was thinking it might be time to upgrade to a LiFePO4 battery. Any recommendations/reviews from the community? I've seen people using the K2 and Stark Power batteries. Any preference between the two? Thanks Peter

Hi All, I'm aware of and use the math formula to get my rental Cirrus back to home base, but I like to back it up with SeeYou mobile. I know it's recommended to use required LD to target making sure you have entered a correct polar and safety altitude. But this doesn't account for winds does it?...

I'm preparing for my Private test, and in discussing it with the local FAA examiner, he indicated that one item on the test is a landing with no drag devices, using only a turning and forward slips. As he explained it, the task in the PTS is to demonstrate the ability to land totally...

From: Chairman, IGC GNSS Flight Recorder Approval Committee (GFAC) Subject: Date of effect now 1 April 2004 for revised IGC-approval conditions for certain legacy types of GNSS flight recorder. An announcement was recently made to the effect that a number of types of legacy recorders would have...