Hi, Aviation Consumer finally evaluated the Proxalert R5 proximity alerter and what they say is crystal clear : "It has better performance and features" than other devices and "The R5 is the easy winner over Surecheck" trafficscope. Those interested could buy a copy of the article...

I'm thinking about "upgrading" from a Cambridge LNAV/GPS to a more modern setup using a PDA. But I've noticed that the usual setup has the PDA mounted vertically on the canopy, which I would not like since it obscures a portion of the outside view and for me the visual aesthetics of being able to...

Help needed! We have imported a used sailplane with a Komet Trailer to the port of Baltimore in the United States and have had nothing but problems with the US DOT trailer inspector. The Trailer is a 2001 Komet trailer. The US DOT employee at Baltimore, Dick Merit, has been totally unreasonable,...

Friday November 11th saw a cold front and low-pressure system through Arizona that produced excellent winter cross-country conditions. The best two flights were 440 km and 388 km (log files on OLC), probably the latest 300km+ flights we have seen. This led me to wonder how many sites around the...

Wondering what the other clubs/glider operations are using in their Pawnees for fuel? Would like to hear some informed opinions regarding this issue, please. J4 Mid-Georgia Soaring Association

Greetings: Last week, around Wednesday, there was a large grass fire west of Portales, New Mexico, USA. The wind was around 45 knots and it was warm. Albuquerque television station KOB aired some video tape of the fire that I found astounding. They showed two, what I would call, fire-devils. ...

Does anyone know when our 17 year old emergency parachute canopy will pass its use-by date? Indeed, is there a definite lifespan, or is it down to the discretion of the packer? The 'chute has always been stored indoors in a dark dry cupboard. Also, has anyone had any experience of having a...

All, I have a new (to me) glider and trailer. Good rig, but like most things, capable of improvement. The ramp that extends from the back of the trailer for assembly has a single, car style scissor (spare tire) jack for raising and lowering the fuselage. It rocks back and forth a bit too much,...

If a 7 amp/h battery shows 12.00 volts exactly, after 5 hours with a 5 Watt resistor, what voltage should a 10 amp/h battery show? Both batteries are of the same type and starting from the same voltage with surface charge removed. Udo

Hi, Tasman has released a new version of the firmware that runs in the V1000 variometer. The new version has a different sink tone than previous versions. The sink tone now gets lower in pitch with lower sink rates. The climb tone remains the same as it has always been with increasing pitch...

At what time of year should one go to Minden for long distance XC? Should i expect thermals or wave? I prefer thermals due to the fact that my wave experience is minor. Would early to mid august be a good shot? And finally: Are there any statitics available on the net? TIA

Reducing the drum size has more effect on torque than I realized. My spreadsheet shows 953 lb-ft for 48", 242 lb-ft for 36" and only 85 lb-ft for 24". What do you think? Bob --

9 years after my 300km, yesterday I finally managed to climb a bit more than 3000m during my first wave flight. Not a big achievement compared to the "real" wave flights but for me 2005 seems to be a happy year so far:) /Janos

Last year at the Hobbs Region 9 contest the CM used a PC program for providing driving directions to crews based on GPS coordinates reported by wayward pilots. Can someone tell me what software that was? I need to get something like that for me and crew to use (PC based), with the additional...

I live in a relatively quiet city, until recently. A flight school opened up across the bay from me, and all day long, all I can hear outside are these private plane motor noises. It is really awful. It is like having a gas powered lawn mower above me all day long. As one plane leaves, another one...

I wonder what is so important behind the members only part of the SSA web site?

Last week I received an official looking letter from the Assessor for Kern County (Bakersfield), demanding to know the location and value of my glider on 1 Jan 05. It threatens to impose a penalty if I fail to file the enclosed form by 7 May. The puzzling thing is, my glider has never been in or...

Electronics guru's, Can I use 1 speaker for both by radio (Becker 3201) and vario (LX160). Both call for a 4ohm speaker. Would connecting both to one speaker still work ? Would it be too quiet ? Any chance for damage to the radio or vario ? Thanks

So I've got this big new glider hangar with a 60 foot door opening, and while I like birds (in this case sparrows / fly-catchers), my Yorkie dog goes nuts when they are in "her hangar". They don't nest but occasionally poop, being birds after all. Any suggestions on how to humanely repel /...

Does anyone know if it is possible to get a European pilot's license based on a US license? If so, what does it take? Is there only paperwork, or is a checkride involved? Regards,