On Sun, 03 Oct 2010 19:54:52 -0700, Eric Greenwell
wrote:

If wind is important to you, spend the money for an air-data instrument.

If someone flies in mountain environment, I feel I can recommend the
Zander vario-computer, coupled to an electronic (rs232) interface on
the compass. (I have no connection with the maker nor any seller).

I have used computers of many brands, many models, I have fine tuned
almost every possible variant, but in the end I was hardly satisfied.
Nothing beats the Zander setup (if you can guess through the obscure
reasoning which inspired the author of the user's manual).

Just don't think about other setups based around solid state
compasses; the affordable ones are too pitch sensitive to be of any
use.

With the Zander, once it's correctly tuned (airspeed, and extremely
careful compass calibration), you get a consistent, reliable wind
reading. If you see sudden changes, in direction, you may be
reasonably sure the wind is locally deviated by some local features or
breeze. It happens frequently. I find it interesting and sobering
(thinking, the risks of wind-shears when ridge flying).

On occasions, such local wind regimes can have a huge influence on
your average speed on a competition task, and the information I get
from the Zander gave a few very valuable opportunities)

I have tested the "True Wind" function in LK8000 for PDA, and I was
positively impressed. Keeping accurate compass heading and speed is
easier than I thought when crossing valleys, while it's out of
question when close to approaching a ridge.
Of course, my Duo has a perfectly calibrated compass.

Aldo Cernezzi