"Tim Ward" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
...
Does it strike some of the digerati here that expensive mechanical
altimeters with easily mis-read clock-like hands locked into either the
metric or US measurement systems are archaic?

GPS provides highly accurate, although not ATC compliant, altitude.
Various
vendors provide electronic pressure altimeters with digital displays
that
can be switched between meters and feet with the push of a button.
Digital
pressure altitude sensors drive the "glass cockpits" of new GA aircraft.

I seems to me that clock-like altimeters designed 70 years ago and
maintained by watchmakers must be nearing their well-deserved
retirement.

Bill Daniels

Yeah, now if they can just make them so they don't need batteries.

Tim Ward


What's the big deal with batteries? IMHO, batteries are at worst a minor
inconvenience easily worth enduring for the benefits of the technology they
make possible.

Every portable gadget uses them. Most folks have a cell phone, PDA,
portable GPS, digital camera, maybe a camcorder and who knows what else.
Even your car, tug or winch won't start without a battery. They're cheap
and they work fine with a little TLC and regular replacement.

My glider uses a standard 7.5 AH 12V SLA that now sits on a shelf connected
to a charger that quietly maintains the charge. I know for sure that it
will work at least 10 hours and still show more than 12.5 volts while
transmitting. It has a three year "replace by" date written on it whereupon
I will plunk down $20 for another at "Batteries-R-Us" even if it still seems
OK. I don't trust old batteries.

Bill Daniels