I wrote a new article on how to use computers to help judge glides. http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john.cochrane/soaring/docs/safety_glides.pdf or the first item here http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john.cochrane/soaring/index.htm#maccready This will probably end up in Soaring sooner or later,...

NCSA (Byron, CA) is looking for a tow plane (Pawnee preferable) in good shape. If you have one or know of one please respond here or directly. Thanks Ramy

I was given an older MH EDS unit to install in my Phoebus glider which I got for a song and am restoring. The glider has a bracket for the oxygen tank, but no tank is installed. The bottom is a rounded fiberglass cup, and there is a flip bracket to go around the neck. It sits behind the seat pan...

I'm looking for ideas on how to make professional looking placards/labels for a instrument panel rebuild I'm doing. I need to make tiny labels for fuses, and switches and I hate, hate, hate the look of the continuous strip label maker "sticker" stuck to the panel. It looks tacky, but they never...

Recently I Purchased an Astir CS. I was surprise to see that someone installed the spoiler connection bolts the way that if I open the spoiler fully it will jam all the way open. Could anyone share maintenance manual that we can install the new bolts correctly? I have to find out what kind of...

Following some fun discussions with Kempton Izuno I worked out MacCready theory in wave. It turns out we should fly faster. http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john.cochrane/soaring/docs/wave_macredy.pdf Enjoy! Let me know if you see bugs. John Cochrane

I have started tinkering around with the idea of developing a Tow-tracking for clubs to use that would not interfere with operations yet still be able to provide an upgrade to having a dedicated logger try and confirm release altitudes. My current thought is to have a cell phone app that talks to...

Today I flew the first day of the Truckee FAI contest. We had about 14 planes in the launch area at once. All pilots had Flarm (and transponders) which was great. My setup is a PowerFlarm Brick (V6.02) with a FlarmVIew display (latest firmware, and powered by the brick). V7 and Oudie are also...

Now that my PowerFlarm PCAS performs as well or better than my Zaon (thanks to the latest firmware and the shorter antenna) Just last weekend I flew another side by side comparison between the ZAON MRX and my Power FLARM portable. For about half of the flight the Power FLARM indicated a...

I'm growing weary of my PowerSonic (PoS) batteries crapping out a few minutes after their 1 year warranty expries. Are Werker batteries any better? ... or are they essentially the same? The salesman at Batteries Plus said they pretty much stopped selling PS because they were having quality...

As we all know soaring has it's challenges and risks. So does building & flying your own plane. Check out this link and read the second paragraph for details on the danger facing us. www.rv-8project.com/good_bye_to_soaring.htm My question is if soaring is so dangerous why when you go to the...

VSLA? A123? Cycling chargers?? I think this subject should have it's own thread. Unlike transponders, we almost all need them.

Any reports from the Convention? Jet sailplane on display? NK vario? Interesting talks? Etc.

Just a warning to check your trailer spare before a trip and along the way at gas stops. My 1998 trailer spare tire mount broke on a highway trip. The wheel is mounted on the frame that holds the glider nose in place. Two 8mm bolts welded to the nose cone frame hold the wheel to the frame. One...

Thinking of buying a 109A need to know the good the bad and the ugly of it. Just what do I need to know about it, I have had people say stay away from it others say it is good if you know how to fly it ?

When we made my fuselage, it was winter and we were heating the shop with a propane heater. Propane releases moisture during combustion. So........molds are waxed multiple times, gelcoat (shurfab polyester product) is sprayed into the mold, we leave the heater on and go home for the...

Ever since my first contests and XC flights I have been wearing an external male catheter. Putting these things on is easy. Taking them off is another matter altogether. I know they have to be sticky or they might fall off at an inopertune time but jeez-la-wheez they sure can stay stuck and are...

What is the conventional wisdom on fiberglass top trailers? I've never had any experience with one. Should I keep it this way and stay away from it by all means? Or is it OK, really, and not much worse than Al top? How long do they last and how much maintenance require? What are the pros and cons...

Do I correctly understand the AD below to mean that any Pegasus in the US with 3000 hours cannot be flown after January 6, 2006? Certainly would have an effect of the market value of this glider, even one with significantly less than 3000 hours. I notice that someone put one on the market today...

I was just reflecting on the Bright Hopes for the future of soaring which have appeared here in the past. What became of ... * the American Spirit / Eagle? * the Genesis? * the PW-5 / PW-6? I know a fair few PW-5's were made, but did it ever come close to the