Thanks for the morning chuckle, Kirk. Civilization is in the eye of the
beholder, though I must agree with you about St. Louis...

I fly in a glider poor sky so Flarm is of little use to me. That's the
simple truth. Now, when a $1,500, panel mounted ADS-B system is approved
for GA aircraft, I'll drop my MRX and install one of those. I promise!


"kirk.stant" wrote in message
...
On Tuesday, December 10, 2013 12:19:07 PM UTC-6, Dan Marotta wrote:
Maybe someone should develop a device like the MRX PCAS which detects

transponders and includes azimuth in addition to range and elevation.


Hmm, that's exactly what PowerFlarm does with ADS-B/mode S targets. Which
are becoming more and more common, and includes pretty much all fast movers
and advanced GA planes. Plus PF gives you the same data as an MRX (I have
both - now use the MRX for towplanes and club gliders). And you get really
good (as in Link-16 good) glider to glider cooperative data.

So lets see - I believe you have a transponder in your glider (about $2k)
and a MRX $500 and I assume a parachute (about $2k). So you see the risk is
airliners (transponder for TCAS), lightplanes (MRX), and something that will
make you need to make a nylon letdown. But by your own statistics, the
PowerFLARM is more useful than the parachute, replaces the MRX, and lets you
see airliners BEFORE they run you down or have to maneuver around you ("Hey,
FSDO, get that clown in the glider out of our approach path!"

To me it's a no-brainer. Where I fly, the transponder provides the least
protection, so I haven't yet tried to squeeze one into my '6. But having
experienced the SA that the PF provides in a glider-rich environment, and
the SA it gives on nearby power traffic, I don't like flying without it
anymore!

Of course, we all have to make decisions based on our perceived risk - but i
find your dismissal of PF a bit perplexing, especially since you use the
much more limited MRX and count on your xponder to keep from getting run
over by a fast mover!

Oh, yeah, see and avoid. Right. How about BIG SKY theory - that's really
what keeps the midairs down to a tolerable level in the US. In France they
finally realized that they no longer have the luxury of a big sky, and now
FLARM is mandated for all gliders.

Not so dumb, those cheese-eating surrender monkeys!

Kirk

OT, I just spent 9 months working in France. Sure was nice being in a
civilized, modern country. Coming back to St Louis was like being sent off
to a third world country! But hey, at least we have more cable channels!