I have used the Climb Maximizer feature in Winpilot Pro for the past 5
seasons and have found it to be a remarkably effective guide for optimizing
climb rate in thermals. The Climb maximizer audio feature, coupled with seat
of your pants sensing of vertical acceleration, provide a safe and reliable
heads-up guide to thermalling. Multicore thermals can confuse interpretation
of the audio signals but this is ameliorated by a quick glance at the
WinPilot visual display.
Doug V

wrote in message
ups.com...
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"