On Sep 14, 1:16*pm, Guy Byars wrote:
I just turn my "Devices" on at the beginning of the flight and off
when I land.
They provide information as I fly, moving map, Airspace, landable
points within glide range, at a glance, but require no interaction.

Then you are in the minority.

I think the most dangerous time during a soaring contest is when the
CD changes the task after all the pilots have launched. *I can imagine
every pilot in the contest flying blindly with his head down, and eyes
glued to a computer as he scrolls and pokes the screen trying to enter
the new task.

Moving map flight computers are one of the most important instruments
for flying XC in a high performance ship in the Great Basin,
especially if you are a serious XC pilot who would like to fly further
from home over new territory. The sectionals stay folded in the glider
pocket all year long, completely useless. And if my PDA malfunction, I
have a moving map sectional on my iphone. Pricelss.
And much less time is spent looking on a PDA then messing up with a
sectional in the cockpit.

Guy, none of your suggestions will work were I fly. But I agree that
flight computers took away the challenge of navigation, so we can
spend more brain power on finding lift.

Ramy