I have recently started gliding again after a long absense. I no longer have funds to support my power plane habit and am soaring as less expensive means of getting airborne. I am surprised to see that winch tows in the USA are still almost non existant. Why not. Surely a winch is much cheaper...

Hi, I have been doing a lot of playing with my iPAQ 310 and SeeYou Mobile for PNA. Somehow the unit is now in a mode in which I can't turn it off so that it stays off while connected to the wall charger. Every time I turn it off it turns itself right back on. If I disconnect it from the wall...

Hello USA. In late June, I'll be driving my restored Schleicher ASK-13 from Marfa, Texas, to the International Vintage Sailplane Meet (IVSM) on Harris Hill, near Elmira, NY. Ready to replace the tires on my enclosed Swan trailer (a Cobra copy), my local tire suppliers cannot find the "T" or "ST"...

We've heard alot of arguments for and against instituting FAI rules in the US. For the record, I lean towards the FAI rules. If we want to win at the world level we ought to be selecting pilots under the same rules system that they will fly in the WC. That being said, the recent Junior Worlds...

From the SSA e-news service, I assume this it's on the member web site too: "State of New Mexico authorities have already informed us that no interest or penalties will be imposed. We are working diligently with the IRS to mitigate federal penalties and interest." Also, it sounds like the...

Can anyone help me identify the sailplane in this photo: http://www.abtriplec.com/images/misc/van_nuys_mystery_plane.jpg I found it using Google Earth and am stumped... I can't find any info on it on the 'Net and am hoping you guys can point me in the right direction... It has an approximate...

The SSA will have a display booth at the upcoming RC Exhibition to be held April 4-6 in Toledo, OH. Info he http://www.toledoshow.com/ Our booth will have all kinds of new SSA event signage (thanks Lane), soaring video's running on a 65 inch LCD, sailplane models and most importantly will...

During the 2016 SSA convention, TOPMETEO.COM announced availability of their suite of soaring, ballooning and general aviation forecasts for the United States Region. Dr Bernd Goretzski briefed me on the soaring version of this product. It looks to be nearly identical to all the TopMeteo soaring...

As a student pilot, thinking more about gliders lately, I started reading this group. I can't help but notice that talk of contests seems to dominate the subjects here. I think I would enjoy gliders just for the fun of flying, and seeing what you could do individually, and for the beauty of...

So, if you were ordering a new Cobra trailer, would you order a fiberglass top or an aluminum top? For sake of discussion, lets exclude obvious price difference. I've never seen an aluminum top with insulation. What type of insulation is used and is it worth the 1000 plus euros? For those having...

Hi Everyone, Logged my 1st OLC flight yesterday from my Android phone which I thought was quite cool ... havent in the past ever got around to having a personal GPS logger or PDA, just used the club ones including the hassle of downloading from a Cambridge with a RS232 serial port .. yuk...

Hello all, My Becker 4201 just started acting up. Specifically, it has a cyclic regular dead spot when transmitting, so the person listening to you gets about half of each word. It receives just fine, and all functions work as they should. Same thing happens with a fully charged battery or one...

If you have a Turn Area Task and you fly into turn 1, then fly into turn 2 then pass through the finish circle could/should it be possible to leave the finish circle and return to turn 2 and fly deeper into the circle than you did the first time and then return to the finish circle? On an option...

Aircraft - Ventus Bt, Asw 20 bl and Libelle. Logger / Vario - Colibri and Lx160 ( now a 160s ) Opinion - 8/10 Plusses - Reasonably simple to use. Reliable, plenty memory Minus - can't set task and/or active TP in flight via RS232 interface without redeclaration ocurring Volkslogger / Borgelt...

I found this on YouTube and I would be more interested in what the crowd on Aviation Banter/Soaring had to say. I am impressed that this individual would post his video, has to be a bit embarrassing. Lots of second guessing and backseat flying in the comments but I think he did the right thing. ...

M&H announces NEW WINGLETS for the Ventus2 and Discus. The winglets are designed by Prof. Mark Maughmer of Penn State University and the Ventus2 winglets are expected to be available late spring 2012. Discus winglets expected availability will be announced here later. This is the link...

I have just seen an unscientific poll on a guitar forum that I found fascinating, and not because of what it means for playing guitars. In this poll, almost 41% of those responding were between the ages of 50 and 59. The next largest group, 40-49, is at only 18%. Like most, if not all of us...

Does the ClearNav bearing display satisfy the magnetic compass requirement of FAR 91.205?

Ralph Kolstad has announced that his father, Ken Kolstad, passed away yesterday, June 18th, at the age of 96. Ken and his family have had a long involvement with Colorado soaring. Ken and Mid Kolstad received a Paul Schweizer Lifetime Achievement Award at the SSA Convention earlier this...

I have been away from soaring for 12 years and have noticed the open class now has long wing and much shorter wing birds (JS-1C) competing. I am curious how do the 21 and 23 meter new ships keep up with the ASW-22BL's and Nimbus-4's. Are the new shorter wing gliders better overall (better L/D,...