This was my first contest with PF (Brick on order... rented the mobile PF) and my impressions are similar to Morgan's.

The alarms for dangerous situations give you an acoustic warning and this did get my eyes outside the cockpit. When the acoustic beeping frequency increases there is a VERY DANGEROUS possible collision situation. On the first day, I was alerted to a "head on" DANGEROUS ALERT. I was able to spot the conflicting glider beforehand which passed 100-200ft almost overhead.

The PF display and alerts are not obtrusive and amazingly do not go off even in gaggles... unless there is a conflict. When beeping starts your REALLY need to get your attention outside the cockpit.

PF is definitely worthwhile.. and not distracting in flight unless there is something serious going out. Range seemed to be around 2sm maybe a little better...more than adequate for collision advisories.

Walt Rogers, WX

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 9:01:52 AM UTC-7, Morgan wrote:
Not as exciting as the Brick reports from Mifflin with the new hardware, but we had a good showing of PowerFlarm at Avenal. In total about half the field was equipped with portable units of our own or from the Rental Program through Rex at Williams Soaring. I also put PF in each towplane for the duration of the contest. The tow pilots don't benefit from the audio alert due to the noise, but at least the PF equipped gliders can get a warning.

I think that everyone flying with the PF found them to work very well and an aid to situational awareness. The range of the portable units is a couple of miles under the best scenario, but I continue to be amazed at how well it filters out thermal and non-threat traffic.