I've read the past posts on using ~20% methanol to prevent tail ballast from freezing. I have these questions three: 1) Is methanol in any way corrosive to rubber parts/seals? 2) Is there a reason not to use ethanol if methanol can't be found? 3) Does a glider flying in the Great Basin area in...

The rules say that an aircraft towing or re-fueling has the right-of- way over all other powered aircraft. Please point out to critics of glider operations that every pilot is taught this rule before flying solo and that this rule is on the written test he or she must take before getting a license.

I would like to retire our old Barographs and replace them with a portable Flight Recorder that could be rented to candidates for SSA badges. Does anyone have any suggestions for a portable flight recorder which would meet the badge requirements? Thanks. Carl Baxter Turf Soaring

At the IGC meeting in March, we will decide whether to require FLARM at World Gliding Championships. Additionally, we will vote on: The future WGC calendar The site of the 2014 WGC Ballast in the 13.5 meter class Handicaps in the 20 meter 2 seat class The Club class handicap list Use of GPS...

I am curious what group members with experience with self-launchers regard as the best propulsion system (currently) in terms of in-flight restart reliability, maintenance, safety, and other operational factors (e.g., vibration). Of course the electric Antares might win on all counts except for...

So how many of us have flown along close to cloudbase under a cloud street, and suddenly seen another glider pass us on the opposite heading? It's obviously hard to see a glider that is coming straight at you. So what about a narrow beam LED strobe aligned with the glide path vector... would the...

I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess? I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I...

I am interested in learning if other soaring clubs have a Janus 2-seat glider in their fleet, which model they have, its suitability as a club ship and whether they would recommend one to a club that was looking for a 2-seat cross country trainer. If you have other personal experience in the Janus,...

My take on self-launchers launchers … is really pretty simple. A self launcher means you can launch whether there’s a tow plane or not. Period. For me, that would mean I could launch from Jean, land somewhere, make camp (I love ‘ramp camping’), and launch the next day and fly back (conditions,...

It is likely that the probability of an ACTUAL double release failure on tow is what ever positive number is closest to zero. Of course that doesn't mean that Mr.Murphy can't serve one of these up. I would be interested in hearing any accounts of actual, non-instructor induced double release...

I was reviewing some contest flights from 2008 and it occurred to me that there hadn't been a thorough review of people's experience with the new "start anywhere" rule - which measures distance on the first leg from a start from anywhere along the boundries of the start cylinder. I general I...

Several SSA OLC competitors in the recent Region 6 South contest at Caesar Creek OH appear to have entered their flights in their respective home regions (other than Region 6), even though no point on the flight tracks lies outside of Region 6. There are other instances where pilots have listed...

It might an old message, but I ran across it and would encourage instructors and those who haven't to at least experience two flights with no reference to instruments, at least to pattern altitude. Learn to use the wind noise and pitch attitude on a glider you know well. One of the more rewarding...

Greetings, I typically suffer from motion sickness early in the season and sometimes on longer flights if the thermals are rough. I have one of the electronic wrist devices. It's of some benefit, but it's not an instant cure, at least for me. Just curious if there are any new meds or other...

I submitted my flight 12 hours ago and its still not showing up. There are only 2 flight for the whole US for yesterday, so I think its not just me. Limus

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On another topic, bagmaker wrote: Mr Daniels is right on the money, youngsters now have a new phone every 2 years, a new car every 3 years, a mortgage no-one can really afford, 3 ipods, a PDA, $250 sunglasses and a wardrobe of jeans the cost of which would support a small african...

You can see pictures of Hana's glider Diana 2 and her "modifications": http://www.gorpol.pl/powiekszenie.php?id=2817 http://www.gorpol.pl/powiekszenie.php?id=2818 http://www.gorpol.pl/powiekszenie.php?id=2819 http://www.gorpol.pl/powiekszenie.php?id=2820

Does anyone know what the requirements are to add a private pilot airplane rating if you already have a private pilot glider? I know the training requirements would be reduced for an airplane pilot transitioning to glider but I dont know how it works going the other way.... Does anyone have info...

After some back and forth discussion, it seems pylon-mounted wings could have a lot of potential for sailplanes. WRT aerodynamics, they make a laminar upper wing and much more extensive laminar flow on the fuselage possible. Structurally, notably yaw forces might be problematic (ground-loop), but...