Herbert,

You finish above me often enough that I'm paying attention.

Seriously, I've heard at least one other good contest pilot also sing
the praises of WinPilot's climb maximizer. I'm intrigued, but dissuaded
by the cost of upgrading to an IPAQ (from my handful of 1500s)
including the assorted cables and brackets, and the software itself
(from GNII). Oh, and as I understand it, to get the climb maximizer
feature, I'd also have to "upgrade" from my old reliable LNAV to a 302
or investigate the SN-10 or Borgelt.

As it is, I've got to buy a backup flight recorder before next season
after not one but two hardware failures during the past two seasons.

But it's interesting to think about over the U.S. winter. Thanks for
the input.

Chip

wrote:
Now, you probably wouldn't call me an 'expert', Chip, but I'll give
it
a try anyway:
WinPilot Pro has a 'climb maximizer that comes on when you start
circling. I didn't spend money on it since it was part of the
package.
It does pretty much what "Themi" claims (same algorithm?). It gives
you an audio tone to fly straight for a little and by doing so guides
you to the center of the thermal. There is an elaborate and well made
graphic on the IPAQ panel but we keep our eyes outside the cockpit,
don't we! Comments: it works well and the prompts come when I would
normally initiate moving my circle. When losing the thermal it shows
an arrow of varying lenght to guide you back. Look at the WinPilot
website for details. Best thing: you can turn it off!
Herbert, J7

wrote:
Being forced to fly occasionally in blue conditions and often
finding
myself low on course, I found this to be an intriguing concept
(ignoring the fact that it's yet another way to increase the cost
of
competition). But I hadn't heard that any "name" pilots were using
it
apart from Tom's tests.

Does anyone know of any experts who have given it the official
stamp
of
approval (i.e., by actually spending his/her own money to buy one)?
Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"