On Dec 21, 9:58*am, J a c k wrote:
Ian wrote:
Are you saying that I could look at another indicator without spending
any less time on anything else?

One can give adequate attention to every instrument which can fit on a
glider panel, and many more.

[....]

The vario-off mode is OK, if you must reduce the aural clutter, but
please tell us how you believe that turning off a major link (radio) you
have with one of the greatest hazards in flying (other traffic) is going
to improve your longevity....
Any thing which reduces potential distraction during the most
hazardous phase of flying is a Good Thing, in my book.

I find the radio useful for expanding awareness of those things which
are not readily visible. Continuous three-hundred-sixty degree
all-aspect awareness may be impossible for humans, but expanding what we
do have is always good. Having too much information is far more rare
than is sub-standard processing.

Hearing gliders isn't nearly as important as seeing them.

Seeing other aircraft is often aided by hearing radio transmissions.
Have you literally heard an aircraft you didn't first see? When you do,
you may wish you had had some indication of its location prior to your
close encounter. The radio is one way of improving your chances. I would
not want to restrict my ability to receive pertinent information from
air or ground sources.

I also find the radio useful to listen for downwind calls, along with
the communication from launchpoint to winch. That's all we hear on
our ground frequency so it's not a lot and it's useful (to me). I
also like to have the vario on as whilst sink & lift can be obvious
(10 down certainly is!), it points it out very clearly and helps me
adjust the circuit to suit. A lot of my worst circuits have been
flown without the audio vario.