On Friday, March 18, 2016 at 11:56:44 AM UTC-5, Waveguru wrote:
I do not have any anti collision devices in my sailplanes so I scan and scan and scan. Our airspace is complicated, so I do intend to get at least a transponder. In all my scanning, I almost never see a target in the 4 o-clock, or even 3 0-clock position as hard as I try. I don't see them until they are crossing right in front of me. The need for electronic help is definitely there, but I hesitate to get something now, not knowing what will be required in the near future.

Boggs

Having spent many years soaring out of Turf, I know exactly what you mean - it can get REALLY busy around there. I would suggest trying a PowerFLARM portable (you can probably rent one somewhere) and see if it helps.

Funny about all the people who subscribe to "see-and-avoid" as the cure-all to avoiding midairs. In the most demanding, lethal environment (WW2 air-to-air combat), it's an axiom that almost all pilots who got shot down never saw their attacker. And this in planes with bubble canopies designed for visibility, young eyes, training, and lots of motivation to see the guy about to shoot you! See-and-avoid didn't work particularly well there - it took lots of training and multi-ship formations covering each other's blind spots to cut down the unobserved kills. And even then, by 1944 or so US fighters were being equipped with a simple tail-warning radar (google AN/APS-13 - the Flarm of the day!).


Yes, flarm is just a tool, not a cure all. So is a transponder, or a parachute, or a hi-viz paintjob, or strobes. Or even listening to the radio. They are all part of the toolkit needed to fly safely as long as there is more than one plane in the air at one time.

Cheers,

Kirk
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