Apparently, there are a few people out there working with Linux for gliding
applications. (Thanks for the links) Maybe it's a good thing.

I keep thinking that the potential user base in this space is so small that
if the PDA based apps split it, there won't be all that much profit to
support a commercial business - especially with a price war. So, we are
back to the hobbyist/enthusiast hacker who tends to like Linux/GPL anyway.
This person just wants some recognition for expertise and contribution made.
Gliding software might make a good resume entry.

Should someone take up the challenge, I'd like to see something along the
lines of an x86 based (lots of small, cheap, powerful, highly configurable,
12V boxes like those from Via) with the in-flight software developed on a
very small, hard real-time Linux kernel with an API like DIAPM RTAI. This
removes all the constraints of the PDA platform. (Somehow, I just don't
think a pocketable device designed for to-do and a contact lists is a great
platform for advanced soaring software, even if they are widely available.)

This approach offers the chance to do the entire panel in a gliding specific
"glass cockpit" with a screen size that's actually big enough to read at a
glance.

Bill Daniels