On Jun 4, 7:32*pm, Mike Bamberg wrote:

I think you all miss the point that a panel mounted AoA indicator is
not the right way to get this critical information. *I don't want some
boob looking in the cockpit while thermaling!! *That's why we create
audio variometers! * I have been considering this for some time and
unless we want two channels of audio in the cockpit, or we have a very
good heads up display, the AoA info is wasted when you need it most.

Mike

An AOA indicator, like the airspeed indicator or even the yaw string,
can easily be used by just glancing at it. Once you have established
the correct AOA, then it's easy to maintain by looking at your
glider's nose position vs the horizon - just as you do now, with that
inaccurate airspeed indicator. The whole point is that you can
quickly set the correct AOA for the bank angle and wingloading you are
flying at (without having to guess what airspeed to use based on some
chart or graph in the flight manual - quick, what is your gliders min
sink speed with 20 gallons of water in a 37 degree bank?).

What would be real nice - and might save a life in the pattern - would
be to have aural Fast/Onspeed/Slow tones that would replace the vario
tones when the spoilers an/or landing flaps are extended (assuming
that once those are out, you are no longer really concerned with
climbing!). Then you could focus all your attention outside the
cockpit on your approach, without having to glance into the cockpit to
check airspeed. That's how we used to land F-4s, and it was a really
comfortable way to fly a visual approach.

What is amusing is that pilots who have never had the opportunity to
fly an AOA-indicator equipped aircraft seem to be reluctant to accept
it's advantages and cling to their old ways, while pilots who have
used AOA gauges love them.

Kirk
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