Are IGC approved loggers too expensive? What is there cost point compared to a Barograph and camera setup? I.E. The cost of a Colibri logger compared to the cost of an approved Barograph (in 2008 dollars). I don't know the cost of a barograph 20 years ago (in there heyday) but they could not have...

One of the event participants patched together a good marketing video for our club from this years Winchfest at 29 Palms California. Three winches, four clubs participated in a "best practices" styled event. Watch the Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0hDZa41rVc HoUdino

bioennodepot.com is offering 15% off LiFePO4 glider batteries. 12V 9A only $85.00 bucks If your old "Sealed Lead Acid" (SLA) needs replacing, here is an opportunity to get a 12 Volt 9 Amp hour LiFePO4 battery. I have been using these for several years and would never go back to SLA's. Lots of...

I have a 16mm home movie showing a test flight of the Bumble Bee at Rosamond Dry Lake in 1945. I need help with 2 things: 1) I would imagine that Bowlus and Nelson are part of this movie but I can't find a photograph of either of these guys so that I can ID them. Does anyone know where there is a...

I am trying to get honest and accurate information on the general handling characteristics of a couple of 18 meter class sailplanes. Here is what I am interested in. I would appreciate some honest feedback, preferably backed up by some experience in the sailplane that you would like to give...

I've been told (and witnessed) that aerotow on CG hook is initially difficult for someone who has trained for aerotow with a "nose hook" (aka hook-forward-of-CG). Suppose this CG-hook-newbie were to take winch tow training (with CG hook). Would the winch training reduce the initial difficulty of...

Dumb beginner question follows: I am just starting out flying gliders.... Here in the USA it seems nobody wears a parachute unless they are contest flying or doing aerobatics. However, I generally do like knowing that I have a backup plan and a parachute seems reasonable. I suppose a history...

Hi Gang Like you all I have questioned what the best L/D of my 3 (now 1) gliders - DB800B, Stemme S10-VT and SparrowHawk were in reality suspecting that real L/Ds would be lower than the manufacturers published values. I have used a PDA for many years switching it between gliders. Software is...

In the entire club, 15, and standard WGC, the US team posted a grand total of two pilot reports about what was going on https://ussoaringteams.org/#news Clearly there were lots of lessons learned here! US team: you want our support. You want our money. You want our volunteer time. And yet you...

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...

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...

Any thoughts on flight characteristics of the Open Cirrus? There used to be a website covering this glider, but it doesn't appear to be active since last year. Thanks, Mike

The previous posts under "Stay in, or get out?" raises questions about the current state of ballistic recovery systems. As paraplegic, I have a personal interest in BRS because thoughts of my successfully exiting an out of control sailplane with a parachute, and then landing without the use of...

1998 Stemme S10VT for sale, email for details.

I owned a flew a Speed Astir for many years. It was my first glass ship after gaining about 40 hours in rental glass ships. The Speed is a natural transition from the Grob 103 to the Grob 102 and then the Speed Astir (Grob G104). I got more compliments on how good it looked than anyone. I had...

Do you use Malletec mini vario? If so, what are the pro's and con's? How about the "Ascent" vario sold on wings and wheels? Thanks

I have a Bendix A-8A regulator that I took out of our glider. Is there a shop around that still overhauls this regulator, or has it become a museum piece?

Running XC Soar on an Ipaq 2215. The program loaded and runs fine as well as the Flashcard GPS unit. My problem is how do you load the map data into the program? I have gone to the Naviter web site and downloaded the map covering this area,but can't get XC Soar to find it. Ken

Looking for a cradle for 1500 series Compaq PDA. I have two, but both went bad during a power surge. AC adapters are OK.

I have purchased an ASW20L and want some feedback on winglets M & H quote 5% improve in l/d with their set . Does anyone have an opinion on how accurate this claim is. Is there other manufacturers that make them ,net sites please and opinions if you have them. gary