On Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 8:22:00 PM UTC-6, Andrzej Kobus wrote:

Kirk, your PowerFlarm does not even come close to traffic awareness ADS-B out/in installation provides. Before I installed ADS-B Out/In, I was in situations, e.g. in a thermal, when I got a warning from PowerFlarm about another aircraft a mile away at my altitude. How do you find that aircraft? You only see part of the sky and not for too long, plus it might be coming from the sunny side. One 360 turn takes 20 seconds and if you miss the other aircraft it may take considerable amount of time before you see that part of the sky again. Flying with PowerFlarm in areas with considerable power traffic is simply stressful.

TIS-B service gives me total situation awareness. I know exactly where the other transponder equipped traffic is as well as his direction of travel and speed.

I still have PowerFlarm to see other gliders, but saying that PowerFlarm is better than ADS-B out/in is a stretch.

You might not be able to install it in a certified glider but you can sure install it now in any experimental glider.

Also why would you want ADS-B system to cost $500 when PowerFlarm costs around $1,500? You are not being fair.

Andrej, I completely understand the limitations of PF vs ADS-B - but something that is available is better that something that isn't. What is your setup? How much? Is it likely that other glider owners will equip?

There is no technological reason why a VFR only ADS-B system should cost more than $500, IT THE INTENT WAS TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL TRAFFIC AWARENESS. But ADS-B is about replacing SSR radars - not freebie traffic info for the small guys.

Hey, it's great that you have a working ADS-B system in you glider. In my club, we have 2 transponders, 2 PFs, and nothing else - out of around 20 gliders on the field. So ADS-B is a TOTAL FAIL in our environment.

Cheers,

Kirk
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