This weekend Bob Carlton brought his Bonus Jet glider to Phoenix for Arizona Soaring Association members to demo and presented a fine PowerPoint / video presentation after our BBQ dinner at Turf Soaring. What a great time we all had. The weather cooperated, and although it was a tad windy, there...

Those with airplane training will be familiar with Ground Reference Maneuvers which teach students very accurate maneuvering with solid airspeed and coordination control at low altitudes despite the peculiar visual cues found there. Those with glider-only training will not be familiar with GRM's...

Some photos from 1st public presentation of Ventus 2cxa with FES during Aero 2014 https://picasaweb.google.com/115479415730905646727/AERO20141stPresentationOfVentus2cxaFES?noredirect=1 Regards, Luka

A friend keeps insisting that a 4-place glider was built at one time. Can anyone verify, identify, or point to a picture?

Y'all, Been many years on rec.aviation.student but even more years since gliding. Unable to explain the 'why' of water ballast to increase performance in gliders to argumentative airplane student. I need a simple explanation in 25 words or less. Gene Whitt

Is gel coat crazing purely a cosmetic problem or does it pose a threat to the structural integity of the underlying fiberglass? I realize this is a controbersial issue but I would really like to hear the current opinions of members with experience refinishing gel coated gliders.

Hi All, Assuming a budget of under $30k, I'm looking at upgrading my Russia AC-4. She's an excellent ship and I could do a whole lot more with her... But with our weak conditions locally, I find myself itching for a few more points of glide (currently about 31:1) and a lower min-sink (currently...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Huk_WOxk1oc After seeing this video, I think I'm going to try and recruit 5 people to help me assemble my ship instead of just one....

Although I have not heard anything on the radio or TV, the NY Times this morning pointed out that the pilot of the Airbus is a certified glider pilot. I think this provides the SSA with a rare opportunity to potentially increase our membership by taking the following actions: 1. Immediately...

PowerFLARM is supposed to have the capability to detect and display Mode S 1090ES position data on its display. How many aircraft (Airliners, bizjets?) currently send out 1090ES data? This is for the US, of course. Kirk 66

When I installed Power Flarm (PF) in 2013, I had no idea whether it would ever 'save my butt'. Not many people have it in my area. Last October I was flying by myself on a weekday in the Sugarbush Wave, at 8000 climbing, and squawking 1202 (on a TT21 that came with the glider). I gave Burlington...

Good Evening All: After a very long wait, the GP 14 Velo took to the air yesterday (November 24th) from Krosno, Poland by both aero-tow and electric self-launch. More details to come but check GP Gliders on FaceBook for pictures and video. First pilot reports are very good. We are finally...

Darryl, Ramy, Williams, et al After installing a squat switch (such as the Peregrine brand), did your plumbing pass a pitot/static leak test? I have heard gossip of the Peregrine switch having pitot/static leak issues. Is there another approved squat switch known not to leak?

Is it legal in the US to fly gliders while taking drugs such as Prozac, Effexor, or Lithium for depression given that a medical certificate is not required??

As you may already know, I am ordering a new ASH31Mi. I am in the process of coming up with the panel layout and instrument selection. I would love to here from other pilots what they consider to be their dream panel (cost is not an issue). Tom

Mr. Ray Galloway (P1) asked for me to post the following note: There has been much discussion over the differences between the FAI rules and the US rules. This is partly due to the fact that the US is the only country that does not follow FAI rules. At the 1985 WGC the US team was among the top...

I'm just getting back into the sport after a long hiatus. I've seen that a lot of glider pilots fly with parachutes (ones they wear) and I have seen Ballistic Recovery System parachutes in planes as well. From my layman's view, it appears that getting out of a plane using a traditional chute after...

SoaringNV is sponsoring a Minden Wave Camp this week. As part of our camp we have invited the tower controllers from Reno TRACON to talk to us about communication with them, something we do for every camp. We learned, quite inadvertantly, that a nationwide transponder squawk code has been...

I was very pleased to see the advert in the December issue of "Soaring Magazine". See: www.safeflight.com Does anybody know more about this device - especially the price? Bill Daniels

Thanks for all of the advise. I dont think I can afford a B or C and I have made 2 minor errors in preflight in all of my hours. Any suggestions on a 25k and under sailplane would be appreciated. Jeff