What is the minimum number of days required to select a national champion and where is that specified? What rules apply to seeding points earned at a Nationals and where are they specified? I'm sitting out the rain at Hobbs and can't reconcile the SSA FAI Nationals rules with some information...

On a day when all but one competitor did not attempt the task, apparently due to thunderstorms, one competitor completes it and takes 1000 points. The contest is pretty much over. Are we rewarding the right behavior? Why wasn't the day devalued? Comments invited especially from the Std class...

I had previously run some quick tests feeding PowerFLARM "TIS" data to my Garmin 396. I didn't continue the evaluation because, without any indication of mode C/S targets, it wasn't going to replace my Zaon MRX. Today I ran a ground evaluation of the new non-direction target indication provided...

Has anyone running ver 2.6 on a Power FLARM Portable seen a PCAS target at greater than +/- 49 (4,900ft)altitude difference. In recent tests I set PCAS Vert range to values greater than 5,000 ft and never saw a return on aircraft as they flew over on the PHX arrival route. They only showed up...

I received a Butterfly external display with my US PowerFLARM core (brick). I also ordered a PowerFLARM Portable so have been able to compare the two. The alerter volume of my Butterfly external display is much lower than the alerter volume on my portable, even when the Butterfly is a maximum and...

Last year "YO" told us about how he nearly lost his trailer top after both bolts securing one trailer top hinge plate failed. Of course I checked my bolts and all four were secure at that time. Yesterday I arrived at the club field and had a problem releasing the left rear top latch. Sure enough...

I need some help with the the Aero 1530 (CE 2.11). A bit strange for me I know since I'm the one usually giving help with this PDA. I'm guessing many of the folks that still use this ancient device are sailplane pilots, hence the post here. I'm stuck with a corrupted contacts file. It displays...

Pilots who have participated in a recent SSA Sanctioned contest are being polled in an attempt to persuade the rules committee to adopt a MIRA (Mandatory if Rentals Available) rule for 2011 SSA sanctioned contests. The proposed rule will require all contestants to submit, after each contest...

Turnpoint Exchange includes airspace files. The airspace files listed under Arizona Soaring Association were not provided by ASA, are not approved by ASA, and are known to not properly depict the location of the US Mexico border. In the file asa_2010_sua.sua the border is defined by the...

In the more than 30 years I have been involved in gliding/soaring I have had my wing run many times, have run other pilot’s wings, and have taught novices to run wings for ground and aerotow launches. At a recent national contest I saw a wing running technique that I had never seen before. I was...

On Mar 9, 10:14 pm, Tuno wrote: Note that a major performance factor is maximum wing loading -- not just L/D! I was being left behind in strong conditions by gliders that could fly much higher wing loadings than my CZ. Ted is really into this high wing loading thing. ...

I seems to be a sad reflection on our sport, or the rules that govern it, that a contest with only 7 contestants can be called a "Nationals". I'm used to flying local club contests with 3 times more contestants than that! Andy

The SSA member achievements pages show the current US pilot ranking and the best pilot ranking. In my case my best ranking is based on a 2004 Regional in which I placed 6th. Since I placed 2nd in a 2003 Regional I would have expected the ranking from that year to be higher. Can anyone explain...

I'd like to hear from people who submit logs to OLC using a recorder that has no ENL (Engine Noise Level) capability and produces a log with no ENL data. Does OLC automatically determine the start of soaring flight, or do you always have to set it manually? If OLC does it automatically, how often...

Special thanks to John Leibacher for TP Exchange in general, and for his assistance at very short notice with creating files for an ASA club contest remote site. While working on the file preparation I was surprised to find that some Cambridge format (DAT) files on TP exchange use...

The following references are provided, without my comment, for those interested in the subject of stall recognition and recovery. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123492905826906821.html?mod=djemalertNEWS reports on the referenced fatal...

I don't know what other people do with their dead glider batteries but I have been saving mine with the intention of eventually disposing of them in a "green" way. Turns out Checker Auto takes batteries for recycling. Not only do they take full size car batteries but they also take any size SLA...

Was looking for a report of the Uvalde incident mentioned in another thread and found this: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20080811X01215&key=1 Glad everyone got down ok but have to wonder why the glider and the tug were at the same altitude, and in the same place, a minute...

For some reason I can't reply to the old thread that discussed adding new ratings to sport pilot without a flight test. The reply option is not available. Anyway... It seems FAA has had second thought on this and has issued an NPRM. Some of it reads as follows: "Currently, to obtain additional...

I was quite disappointed that my Winter 4FGH40 altimeter required repair after being in service for only 5 years. I was, however very pleased with the service provided by Winter. They had my altimeter less than one week and returned it repaired, with the new style pointers, and with a new EASA...