I want to replace the tires on my Komet trailer. The original tire size is P165/80 R13, which is now hard to find. The choice seems to be either a Firestone passenger car radial in the correct size or a slightly taller Towmaster made by Greenball. The trailer tire will have a taller but stiffer...

Hi all, I'm here to report that I cheated death and survived a flight in a glider with the dreaded "Landing Flaps and V-Tails of Death". Jim Harper graciously allowed me to fly his beautiful HP-16. What's an HP-16 you say? Well, looks to be just like the HP-18 (or I should say the HP-18 is just...

Some of you might be interested to know that the UK just held its 2015 Junior Nationals a few weeks ago. Nearly 70 juniors pilots (yes, SEVENTY) competed in the event. As an American, I nearly fell over in my chair when I saw the article (and photo of the grid). Back in the USA, the SSA doesn't...

I have noticed over the years that this glider sells for what seems to be a very low price given that it is a near 50:1 glider. But I notice lately that there are also some for sale on Wings & Wheels with relatively low total time: 320 hours $21k 260 hours $20k 200 hours $15k Other than the...

We recently converted from 3/16 7x9 cable to 3/16 plasma rope on our winch. "Plasma", made from Honeywell "Spectra" fiber, seems to have some real advantages over wire or cable. Some benifits include light weight, 11.48lbs per thousand, (that's not much even converted to metric!!), hollow braid (no...

Hi This summer season in Australia has seen our first use of FLARM anti-collision system for gliders. http://www.flarm.com/index_en.html and http://www.rf-developments.com/page008.html (the local manufacturer for Australia) It would seem that FLARM is becoming very rapidly accepted here in

The Southern Eagles Soaring made a formal complaint to the local FAA FSDO in ATL concerning the LaGrange-Callaway airport(LGC)restricting glider flying to weekends only and unwillingness to rent hangars to club members. The LGC board claimed to the FAA that these restrictions are in the interest...

DG-400 Self Launch For Sale Year: 1986 Serial#: 189 Aircraft time: 1017TT Engine time: 29SMOH Condition: No damage history, very clean inside and out, arguably the best DG-400 in the USA. Standard Equipment: 15m/17m wings DEI engine monitor

All, I have been looking into having my glider refinished. Casual conversations with other pilots revealed that most think a "normal" refinishing job would cost about $10k. After speaking with Gaines in Georgia, I believe that is wildly optimistic. Gaines charges $60 per hour, and he says the...

SSA contest report indicates that 2 gliders made contact on the first day. If the gliders are identified correctly then one continued to win the day and the other returned to the airport missing part of one wing and so far has no log posted. Any more information available? Andy.

A simple (EW Microrecorder) is under $800. In todays money, an extra $20 for a badge flight is less than the round of beers you buy. 40 badge flights and you can buy a second one. Pretty soon, you hold a club meeting to decide what to buy next once there are enough recorders. Again...

A good shoot-out is developing at the top of both FAI and Club class. The weather in Ontario has been extriodinary with 325 - 425km tasks, up to 8 knot lift and top of lift often as high as 8500 MSL. Average winning speeds in FAI have been between 105 and 125 kph and 85-95 in Club class! Today...

Anybody have a new or used Mecaplex windows with green tint and scoop they would like to sell? Will also consider one without green tint.

Dreadful news coming from the UK today. Matt Wright (Balleka on YouTube) was tragically killed in a mid-air whilst flying his glider this weekend. I believe he collided with a power plane. I'm sure we have all watched some of Matt's videos on YouTube over and over. He will be sorely missed. RIP...

Saw a Ventus 3 listed in the 18m class and I am wondering how it is looking like? In 15m class we will miss the LS 10, isn't it said? Cheers Michael

What we need in soaring is a new glider built for a reasonable price. $150,000 for a new glider is just not even a consideration for most people. Let's face it, you can get a low mileage Ferrari for half that price! The PW-5 was a terrible failure. The engineers made the wingspan too short,...

Anyone have any knowledge of the three fatality glider crash in Texas? Glider type? Situation? Linwood

I want to install a Winter 4FGH 40 altimeter with an EASA Form 1 certificate in my S-LSA motorglider with the Becker TSO'd transponder. My avionics shop says that the altimeter must be TSO'd as well. Can anyone cite FAA regulations about this issue? Any information would be welcome.

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...

Diana-2, VH-VHZ, English http://www.segelflug.de/cgi-bin/wwwthreads/showthreaded.pl?Cat=1,5&Board=Flugzeuge&Number=68917&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5&o=0&vc=1#Post68917 Many good things have been written and read about Diana-2.... but there is a Diana-2 with serial number 3 and the call-sign...