Does anyone know what active type, make and model of sailplane is the most numerous in the world and in the USA? Bill Snead

Any news on new Jonker JS-3 Landing in Sagebrush, short of runway 30 @ Minden?

As a glider pilot and tow pilot, there are a couple of SSA - recommended hand signals/procedures that I find confusing at best and dangerous at worst: First, the HOLD and STOP signals. Used interchangeably by most wing runners, the HOLD signal (arms level) is essentially invisible from the...

For many or most of us, winter is here and the gliders are parked for a number of months. I have removed every battery from the cockpit, put mouse poison in the trailer and taken out anything that should not freeze (waxes, plexi-glass cleaners etc). What is the best way store glider batteries,...

The SSA will have a display booth at the upcoming RC Exhibition to be held April 4-6 in Toledo, OH. Info he http://www.toledoshow.com/ Our booth will have all kinds of new SSA event signage (thanks Lane), soaring video's running on a 65 inch LCD, sailplane models and most importantly will...

We've heard alot of arguments for and against instituting FAI rules in the US. For the record, I lean towards the FAI rules. If we want to win at the world level we ought to be selecting pilots under the same rules system that they will fly in the WC. That being said, the recent Junior Worlds...

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/jul/13/pilot-ok-but-under-arrest-after-glider-goes-down-on-badger-mountain/

https://www.youtube.com/user/SSAsoaring/featured A link to your new SSA YouTube channel. This is very preliminary and will take a few weeks, perhaps months to get rolling at full speed. I need your help! Email me at with links to youtube video's, channels and...

So far, the USA's 2012 northern spring appears to be shaping up to be a "typical soaring season" in accident terms. In my view, that's not a good thing. Why? Summary-to-date follows... - - - - - - 1/28/12 - 2-33 seriously damaged in a non-rope-break approach accident; at least one occupant...

Thinking about purchasing a club class glider for next year (can't afford a JS1 or ASG29). I know Std Cirri seem to be popular, but notice G Dale has bought a DG100 or 101 and won the UK Nationals in it -just wondered which would be the best for club class competition and what the pro's and...

would you recommend this ship for a recently licensed pilot ??? comments welcome! regards Harry

Current Status of the Blanik L-13 SPAR AD Grounding? Does anyone know what the current status of the Blanik L-13 Eddy Current testing procedure is? Has the University of Prague developed this procedure for LET’s review? It is my understanding the clubs of the Czech Republic have been flying the...

After a fatal accident in Austria LET issued a Mandatory Bulletin: http://www.let.cz/files/bulletines/MB_L13_109a_english.pdf EASA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/easa_ad_2010_0119_E.pdf

This sort of follows up on the future of soaring thread, but is more focused on the sailplane design aspect. Ok.....here is the scenario: the powers that be have decided that once again the soaring community needs a sailplane that represents Joe Sailplane Pilot. Joe sailplane pilot wants a...

Hi all, Following up on the recent thread regarding the VW Jetta, I'm curious to find out what other station wagons (not SUVs, not hatchbacks, but proper wagons) folks are using in Europe. I'm currently using a 2002 VW Passat VR6 Wagon (Variant) with the 4motion drive train and it's been...

Has anyone compiled a list of movies in which gliders appear? I tried googling, and it turned up some of the obvious names, such as _The Thomas Crown Affair_ and _The Boy Who Flew With Condors_, but nothing like a comprehensive listing. Johan Larson (whose interest in soaring was triggered by a...

I recently saw the write-up on the Stratomaster AHRS-2 system. Its American uncertified kit that shows a ribbon compass, T&S and artificial horizon on a single LCD display that fits a standard 80mm panel hole. It only uses 200 mA at 12v, is light and costs about GP 100 ($US 180) more than an...

I recently replaced the Original Equipment Michelin MXV4 H-rated tires on my VW Passat 4 motion wagon (Variant for those of you in Europe) with Dunlop SP 40 A/S all weather radials. Other than lacking a speed rating, they are the same dimensions as the originals. Although the new tires are...

I have a vertical-stabilizer mounted TE probe of the type that has 3 ports: ram, static, and venturi. I have been having problems with my varios and LNAV and had previously checked out the plumbing but had only looked at the "outside" end of the TE probe itself, which I remove after each flight. ...

I would like to hear what other glider pilots have found to be helpful in trying to center thermals. It is common in gliding books to read that a constant diameter circle, as a product of flying a constant airspeed and a constant bank, is important in centering thermals. If the airspeed and / or...