Electric Sonex

"Dan Nafe" wrote in message
...
... (add a GPS-informed computer to the mix and you
could
always be sure that you had enough energy to return to the field)

What a great idea!

Yes it is a great idea, but not mine. Such computers have been used
on
gliders for years.


I'll bet the sailplane systems use the GPS as a pseudo-Air Data
Computer, too. (To account for winds aloft and help avoid landing out)

The normal sailplane configuration consists of a GPS driven PDA which uses
dedicated soaring software. I have a basic system which includes a Garmin
12XL, Compaq 1550 PDA running Glide Navigator II.

http://www.soaridaho.com/photogaller.../17900_MSL.jpg shows the cockpit
configuration (notice the altimeter.) http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/gn.htm
describes Glide Navigator II capabilities.

Wayne
HP-14 N990
http://www.soaridaho.com/