Best vario for airmass awareness across the speed range

Jim H and Jim, I wonder if this generation of glider guiders could even find or center a thermal using a simple mechanical vario lol How far we have advanced but also how far we have digressed in skills.

On Friday, January 24, 2020 at 2:48:34 PM UTC-6, wrote:
Jim H and Jim, I wonder if this generation of glider guiders could even find or center a thermal using a simple mechanical vario lol How far we have advanced but also how far we have digressed in skills.

Haha! For me, it seems like finding the sweet air is getting more difficult every year! And I don't even have a mechanical vario in my '26, not enough room in the panel, haha. I really ought to fly the other '26 (the club's 1-26) more often, and without a battery, to prove to myself I can still do it "old school"....

One thing I have always found difficult is sorting out what the airmass is doing when I am cruising at speeds above about 80 knots, and in the presence of gusts and turbulence. Enlisting new technology to help me here...

Cheers,
Jim J6

Truth there Jim, even though I have the 302 setup as super netto in cruise mode, I tend to use my behind to tell me if its worth stopping.

On Friday, January 24, 2020 at 3:48:34 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Jim H and Jim, I wonder if this generation of glider guiders could even find or center a thermal using a simple mechanical vario lol How far we have advanced but also how far we have digressed in skills.

I suspect that many have not calibrated their Alpha Sierra Sierra sensors anytime recently. Failure to calibrate these sensors leaves one totally digitally dependent.
Risky and prone to long term failure.
UH

wrote on 1/24/2020 12:48 PM:
Jim H and Jim, I wonder if this generation of glider guiders could even find or center a thermal using a simple mechanical vario lol How far we have advanced but also how far we have digressed in skills.

In the olden days we flew with slower, lighter gliders, so a slower vario without
audio worked fine. Now we cruise at 90 kts and thermal at 60 with full ballast.

But even then, pilots were using TE and Netto.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1

On Friday, January 24, 2020 at 12:48:34 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Jim H and Jim, I wonder if this generation of glider guiders could even find or center a thermal using a simple mechanical vario lol How far we have advanced but also how far we have digressed in skills.

A simple mechanical vario was new tech when I learned. Real varios have a red pellet and a green pellet as the only moving parts. Those were the days. I don't miss them. My current glider has a full in-flight infotainment system that can even play full length movies - great for those long boring final glides.

It's hard to feel thermals at 90 knots in a carbon glider full of water. At 17 knots in a hang glider (1lb/sq ft) you really get a feel for the structure of the thermal which can be quite exciting at times.

I've been flying with a CNv the past few years. I like it a lot. Much better info on airmass and dramatically easier centering the thermal. But there are times I ignore it and rely on an old Winter mechanical. I'm talking about a turn or two, not an extended climb. So I can still fly without the newer gadgets. I just don't feel like it.

Chip Bearden
JB

Jfitch, I just acquired another restoration project which still has one of the old pellet varios lol. I always wondered how immediate the response time was with them.

As to flying ships with the higher wing loading and faster cruise/thermal speeds, yep, thats an entirely different situation. Electronics become more vital for efficient flying. I still made a point of flying occassionaly with just my mechanical vario when I had my ventus just to train my a.s.s. as to how my ship felt when plowing thru lift and how to center up a thermal without accurate aids. I remember one flight trying to get home from hawthorne late in the day when my battery pooped out. I got home using the mechanical winter, and watching when the airspeed would slightly jump when entering mild lift. That little jump in airspeed told me what I needed to know ling before the winter said anything lol.