On Nov 13, 6:14*am, Walt Connelly Walt.Connelly.
wrote:
Okay folks, I am a rather new glider pilot, about 120 flights within the
last year and maybe close to 100 hours aloft. *(I have mastered sink) *
I am beginning to acquire the gadgets necessary to proceed with this
sport and was looking for some input on those little PDA type devices I
see people poking with a stylus before take off.

Any recommendations on the best one to have? *Software? *What can it do?
The best device for those of us technically challenged? *

Walt

--
Walt Connelly

[And before somebody else bites, a PDA and soaring software is not
_necessary_ to proceed with this sport. But they can be useful.]

Ask your local XC pilots what they use and starting there is likely a
very good place. You'll be able to get help on how to use this stuff.
Most software can do way more than what a new pilot needs and knowing
how to turn off much of the junk is a good start.

Leading software packages include

SeeYou Mobile
XC Soar
LK 8000
Winpilot

The PDA market is kind of dead so choices of what PDA or PNA devices
(Portable Navigation Assistant) devices you run this stuff on is a bit
more complex. And choices of hardware may depend on if you want to
plug into a flight computer (like a Cambridge 302) to get better wind
data etc. or whether you just want to use a stand-alone GPS in the PNA/
PDA. Naviter did the Oudie which is a bundled PNA and SeeYou Mobile to
address some of the hassles with current PNA/PDA devices. The Oudie is
good for people who do not want to monkey around with technology.

You should ask local pilots if you can look at their PDAs in sunlight
(including wearing the sunglasses you fly with). You may be very
dissapointed in the daylight visibility of PDA/PNA devices. There are
more expensive solutions to that (e.g. the LX Mini Map).

You need t think about how to mount this stuff so its easy to se and
safe and powered properly. If you are flying club or rental gliders
the mounts available there may dictate what hardware to purchase.

---

Most of these programs have a simulator mode and some have simulator
software you can run on a PC. Using those features to learn the
software is really invaluable. The more technically savvy folks can
also drive any of these products with the NMEA data-out from soaring
simulators like Condor or Silent Wings and that's an even richer
environment to learn the products and play with advanced features
(like the current changes to contest Start features in SeeYou
Mobile...).

You did not talk about your goals etc, but if you are serious about
starting XC flying one of the best technology purchases you can make
is SeeYou (the desktop PC program not SeeYou Mobile). That lets you
analyze your own and other flights etc. What you use on the PDA.
Whatever of these soaring software you purchase you should purchase
SeeYou (for your PC) as well.

Darryl