AIR Glide S

I have used XCSoar with the Air Avionics ISU. The serial stream mimics either LX or CAI protocol, and either can be used with XCSoar. Wind data is transmitted in both procotols, but in a time filtered form. However XCSoar does not seem to use that data, rather it calculates wind using its own traditional methods.

While others have claimed to have and use inertial sensors going back to the first CAI 302, it appears as though no one except Air is actually using them to a meaningful result even today.

Nice description, thanks!

Most of my experience with shear in New Mexico has involved a long line
of clouds with bases considerably higher on one side of the line. It's
a simple matter to find and use the lift. Next time I get the chance to
fly in shear I'll try to watch the wind indication on my ClearNav
vario. It's pretty quick to update, but I don't think it will be as
useful as you described.

On 10/21/2015 9:09 PM, JS wrote:
Dan et al,
Flying in convergence, the Air-Glide informs you of approaching shear line conditions. The wind changes from a ~10Kt tailwind through 9, 6, 4, 3, to "Still", at which point your vario is going up. If you fly through the shear, there will be a similar indicated headwind.
Running along the shear, if the wind is from your right, move left. If it is from your left, move right. Simple. Accurate. Just as you imagine this shear stuff works.
No other vario I have personally flown with that will do that.
Jim


On Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 2:33:02 PM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
That's great for telling me what does, but not how to use it. Are
you saying to always turn downwind in the local micro wind to get to
the center of the thermal?



Maybe my CNvXC vario has this capability, maybe not. I'll have to
do some research on that. In the mean time, I've had good luck with
finding thermals at the upwind edge of cumulus clouds. That's not
always the case but true more often than not.




On 10/21/2015 8:34 AM, Alex wrote:



Comparing instantaneous wind to average wind will show you any local wind deviations as they occur near thermals. Can't find the thermal under a cloud? Just follow the diverging local wind. Need to find the best line along a cloud street or convergance? Watch the local wind. Feel that blue thermal nearby, but not sure where to turn? The wind will tell you.



Am Mittwoch, 21. Oktober 2015 16:01:38 UTC+2 schrieb Dan Marotta:


Of what use is instantaneous wind? Can you react to it without
flapping control surfaces all over the place? Do you use it for
planning your next turn in a thermal?

Not knocking it, I just don't get it why it would be important.
Please enlighten me.

Dan, 5J

--
Dan, 5J

Hi,

I've flown both, CNv XC and Air Glide S (aka Butterfly Vario). In terms of wind indication, Air Glide S has far superior capabilities. I don't know any instrument in gliding that has the same speed and resolution of wind vector and speed.

However, the sensor unit needs to be correctly placed and well compensated. This may require quite some effort, especially in motorgliders with a lot of cables and metal in the fuselage. But probably the same applies to other AHRS units.

Best,
Christoph