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#11
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Small Altimeter Options for Gliders
On Nov 12, 4:55*am, joesimmers wrote:
I am going to build a new panel for my glider this winter and would like to go with all small instruments. The Altimeter is the only one that I am having trouble deciding on, I thought I was going to need a "certified" altimeter but recently spoke to a very reputable source and found out that a "certified" altimeter is not required for VFR flying, so this opens my options. I have it narrowed down to four choices listed below. 1) *New Winter altimeter $900 ( A lot more than I would like to spend) 2) Used Aerosonic for $500 to $700 ( looks like a very nice instrument, a bit heavier than the Winter) 3) UMA single pointer 20k *$300 *(These look very difficult to read accuratly as the 20k is one full rotation) 4) Microtim digital altimeter from *(http://www.microtim.com/index.htm ) *(This option looks very good to me, it takes up * very little panel space, easy to read, self contained long lasting battery, easy on the wallet compared to other options) I found a post by Mike Borgelt where he stated he was using a Microtim altimeter and he reccomended it. Does anyone know of any good reason not to install a Microtim? Thanks for any advice, Joe Simmers Joe, MGL also has a very nice digital altimeter option which has a VSI and a temperature. I have it in another panel the I built bottom of the following page. http://www.craggyaero.com/instl_pictures.htm MGL details: ALT-1 http://www.craggyaero.com/smart_singles.htm Richard www.craggyaero.com |
#12
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Small Altimeter Options for Gliders
On Nov 12, 4:55*am, joesimmers wrote:
I am going to build a new panel for my glider this winter and would like to go with all small instruments. The Altimeter is the only one that I am having trouble deciding on, I thought I was going to need a "certified" altimeter but recently spoke to a very reputable source and found out that a "certified" altimeter is not required for VFR flying, so this opens my options. I have it narrowed down to four choices listed below. 1) *New Winter altimeter $900 ( A lot more than I would like to spend) 2) Used Aerosonic for $500 to $700 ( looks like a very nice instrument, a bit heavier than the Winter) 3) UMA single pointer 20k *$300 *(These look very difficult to read accuratly as the 20k is one full rotation) 4) Microtim digital altimeter from *(http://www.microtim.com/index.htm ) *(This option looks very good to me, it takes up * very little panel space, easy to read, self contained long lasting battery, easy on the wallet compared to other options) I found a post by Mike Borgelt where he stated he was using a Microtim altimeter and he reccomended it. Does anyone know of any good reason not to install a Microtim? Thanks for any advice, Joe Simmers There are two instruments in my panel that I chose to keep at 80mm - the airspeed and the altimeter. The reason? Readability. I also put the airspeed top center in the panel. I figured I really don't want ever to be in a position of misreading my altitude, and particularly my airspeed. My worry on the LCD altimeter is the battery or display going south due to any of a host of reasons. Unless panel space is really at a premium make sure that you select instruments you can quickly and easily scan, even if it means bigger ones - at least in these two categories. 9B |
#13
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Small Altimeter Options for Gliders
From my point of view with nearly 60 yo eyes, the Winter is fine-
expensive but readable. Mark |
#14
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Small Altimeter Options for Gliders
I agree with John Carlyle. If only Winter would just make a new face
for their little altimeter. One with 20 foot graduations and numbers that are a bit bigger in size, I think they would sell a bundle of them. Take the standard United 3" altimeter and scale down the face. The 57mm Aerosonic altimeter looks like a scaled down 80mm version and is incredibly easy to read, but it's way too expensive for common use. -Kevin |
#15
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Small Altimeter Options for Gliders
KevinFinke wrote:
I agree with John Carlyle. If only Winter would just make a new face for their little altimeter. One with 20 foot graduations and numbers that are a bit bigger in size, I think they would sell a bundle of Pretty much all gliders I fly are equipped with Winter's 57mm altimeter, and I never felt any difficulties in reading it. As the fifties are nicley marked, it gives me immediately a good quick estimate, and in those very rare moments when I want to know more precisely, I can always take a closer look. The only problem I've encountered is that I've seen a couple of them with broken temperature compensation, but I don't have any statistical numbers, so I don't know whether this altimeter is overly prone to that failure. |
#16
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Small Altimeter Options for Gliders
Maybe my point can be better made with pictures. Compare the altimeter
at this link: http://www.airwich.com/aerosonic-2inch-altimete2.html with the bottom altimeter at this link: http://www.winter-instruments.de/eng...henmesser.html Sure, you can read the Winter, but the Aerosonic is much crisper and clearer. And if you imagine replacing the red-tipped 10,000 foot hand on the Winter shown with the all white 10,000 foot hand that my Winter actually has, you can appreciate why I'd junk my Winter in a heartbeat if the Aerosonic wasn't $3,700! -John John Smith wrote: Pretty much all gliders I fly are equipped with Winter's 57mm altimeter, and I never felt any difficulties in reading it. As the fifties are nicley marked, it gives me immediately a good quick estimate, and in those very rare moments when I want to know more precisely, I can always take a closer look. |
#17
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Small Altimeter Options for Gliders
jcarlyle wrote:
I'd junk my Winter in a heartbeat if the Aerosonic wasn't $3,700! I'd junk my 1-26 in a heartbeat if the Antares wasn't $200,000 ... |
#18
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Small Altimeter Options for Gliders
You've got a 1-26 with a 57mm Winter altimeter???? Besides being
sacrilege, what are you doing with all the excess panel space? -John John Smith wrote: I'd junk my 1-26 in a heartbeat if the Antares wasn't $200,000 ... |
#19
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Small Altimeter Options for Gliders
On Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:30:36 -0800, KevinFinke wrote:
I agree with John Carlyle. If only Winter would just make a new face for their little altimeter. One with 20 foot graduations and numbers that are a bit bigger in size, I think they would sell a bundle of them. I understand why you'd want bigger numbers, but why do you need even 20 ft graduations? I have an 80 mm PZL altimeter with 100 ft graduations. Thats fine enough markings for my needs: I can estimate to 20-25 feet if I should ever need to do that. -- martin@ | Martin Gregorie gregorie. | Essex, UK org | |
#20
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Small Altimeter Options for Gliders
jcarlyle wrote:
You've got a 1-26 with a 57mm Winter altimeter???? Actually no, luckily. While most gliders I fly are indeed equipped with the 57mm Winter altimeter, I luckily don't have to fly 1-26s. Unluckily no Antares either, though. But I guess you knew that. |
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