Jeff Bennett leaves Cambridge Aero Instruments

In article
,
JohnDeRosa wrote:

Sad.

Is Cambridge still selling their products like the 302 and 303? If
they sell them, they are manufacturing them. That would imply that
they are testing them. If they test them, then they would also be
able to repair them. So if they can't repair, they can't test, and
can't sell. Coming full circle, it would seem the Cambridge is going
out of business. At least why would anyone buy their products if you
knew you can't get it repaired?

Too bad, I love my 302 as do many others. Let's hope it keeps on
tickin' for another few years. Anyone suggest an alternative device?
The Butterfly Vario? Not yet a certified recorder I believe.

- John



The more I read about high end instruments, the less I regret not being
able to afford them.

I have asked a number of people to explain to me exactly what their
"super varios" do that a good basic vario and a decent PDA/software
setup does not do. I mean besides calculating to more decimal places.
Maybe I would understand if I flew a glider with more than two speeds....

On Thursday, May 23, 2013 10:00:33 AM UTC-4, WB wrote:
In article

,

JohnDeRosa wrote:



Sad.



Is Cambridge still selling their products like the 302 and 303? If

they sell them, they are manufacturing them. That would imply that

they are testing them. If they test them, then they would also be

able to repair them. So if they can't repair, they can't test, and

can't sell. Coming full circle, it would seem the Cambridge is going

out of business. At least why would anyone buy their products if you

knew you can't get it repaired?



Too bad, I love my 302 as do many others. Let's hope it keeps on

tickin' for another few years. Anyone suggest an alternative device?

The Butterfly Vario? Not yet a certified recorder I believe.



- John







The more I read about high end instruments, the less I regret not being

able to afford them.



I have asked a number of people to explain to me exactly what their

"super varios" do that a good basic vario and a decent PDA/software

setup does not do. I mean besides calculating to more decimal places.

Maybe I would understand if I flew a glider with more than two speeds....

The bottom line is "better information".

In my case, it's helped quite a bit.

Evan Ludeman / T8

I have asked a number of people to explain to me exactly what their

"super varios" do that a good basic vario and a decent PDA/software

setup does not do. I mean besides calculating to more decimal places.

Maybe I would understand if I flew a glider with more than two speeds....

Better vario: Immense. Nothing matters as much. What can I do with a better -- and carefully set up -- vario? Outclimb people who think I have some actual thermaling ability. Climb when they land. Roll into that savior bullet thermal that looks like a gust on their varios.

What do I do with a better glide computer? Not look at it so much, and spend less time futzing with it. My PDA was an endless cycle of rebooting, battery management, keeping it cool, and punching screens. My current clearnav has what I want when I want it. I spent a lot of money for an instrument so I could avoid looking at it and look out the window instead. Less crucial, but certainly worthwhile.

I don't understand why people spend so much money on gliders, and spend so much time and effort on this sport, and then cheap out on instruments.

John Cochrane

On Thursday, May 23, 2013 12:11:18 PM UTC-4, wrote:

Better vario: Immense. Nothing matters as much. What can I do with a better -- and carefully set up -- vario? Outclimb people who think I have some actual thermaling ability. Climb when they land. Roll into that savior bullet thermal that looks like a gust on their varios.

With the cost of a relight at $50+, a vario that keeps you in the air more should pay for itself.

I thought that a vario needed to use the 3-D inertial sensor to sort out the horizontal and vertical components of "gusts", and I thought that nobody was doing that just yet. Or does the inertial sensor just make the filtering better?

I thought that a vario needed to use the 3-D inertial sensor to sort out the horizontal and vertical components of "gusts", and I thought that nobody was doing that just yet. Or does the inertial sensor just make the filtering better?

https://groups.google.com/forum/?fro...ng/S-xv58PSe0Q

In article ,
wrote:


I have asked a number of people to explain to me exactly what their

"super varios" do that a good basic vario and a decent PDA/software

setup does not do. I mean besides calculating to more decimal places.

Maybe I would understand if I flew a glider with more than two speeds....

Better vario: Immense. Nothing matters as much. What can I do with a better
-- and carefully set up -- vario? Outclimb people who think I have some
actual thermaling ability. Climb when they land. Roll into that or bullet
thermal that looks like a gust on their varios.

What do I do with a better glide computer? Not look at it so much, and spend
less time futzing with it. My PDA was an endless cycle of rebooting, battery
management, keeping it cool, and punching screens. My current clearnav has
what I want when I want it. I spent a lot of money for an instrument so I
could avoid looking at it and look out the window instead. Less crucial, but
certainly worthwhile.

I don't understand why people spend so much money on gliders, and spend so
much time and effort on this sport, and then cheap out on instruments.

John Cochrane

Better instruments is better instruments. I get that. I just keep
thinking these expensive systems must do something other than be
incrementally better. How much better is a new super vario than a well
compensated Borgelt B40? Would a super vario make that much difference
in a club class ship? If I'm cruising faster than 70, it is such a
booming day that a pellet vario would be overkill. Now, filtering out
horizontal gusts is a feature I would be willing to shell out the bucks
for (assuming I would not have to put up with waiting for the "Next
Software Upgrade" to get the advertised features and off-again-on-again
technical service)!

What PDA setup were you using? I have flown for the last 10 years with
an old Palm Tungsten T, excellent readability in bright sun (actually
better the brighter the ambient light). Using SoaringPilot software
(still supported but not being actively developed anymore). Clip on
battery pack that also functions as the panel mount and the bluetooth
connection to a gps puck means it is a totally wireless system. I have
never had a software problem with it, in-flight or otherwise. Did have a
touchcreen go flakey on me in flight once, but at about $30 apiece, I
carry a spare pda and a spare GPS puck ($50 bucks at Sempsons.com).
Never had a overheating problem, even at 104F days at Cordele. I only
use two screens in flight: moving map and final glide screen. Would I
love to have a Clearnav? Yes, absolutely, but it would take a lot of
"better" to justify the cost in my case.

Amongst cross country and racing folks, I really don't see people going
cheap on instruments (except me). I have seen 1-26's with high end
instruments. Heck, in club class, who besides me, does not have a 302 at
least? Maybe it is just me, but I have less than $20k total in my setup
to include the glider, instruments, trailer and even the motorhome I
drag it around with. On the other hand, I have spent a butt-load on
tows, club dues, and piddling stuff like going halves on a Pawnee.

On Thu, 23 May 2013 16:05:09 -0500, Wallace Berry wrote:

Better instruments is better instruments. I get that. I just keep
thinking these expensive systems must do something other than be
incrementally better. How much better is a new super vario than a well
compensated Borgelt B40? Would a super vario make that much difference
in a club class ship? If I'm cruising faster than 70, it is such a
booming day that a pellet vario would be overkill. Now, filtering out
horizontal gusts is a feature I would be willing to shell out the bucks
for (assuming I would not have to put up with waiting for the "Next
Software Upgrade" to get the advertised features and off-again-on-again
technical service)!

FWIW, and as a Libelle driver, I have an SDI C4 as my main vario (I
already had it when I got the Libelle and I like its noises and nice, big
LCD display), a Borgelt B.40 as backup vario (thanks to the 9v battery
strapped to its back) and a really cheap Binatone B.350 satnav running
LK8000 to take care of the rest of the navigation tasks.

The B.350 has been replaced by the R.350 and costs from £50 ($US 76): it
runs LK8000 (I've checked), the screen is bright enough to use in the
relatively shaded Libelle cockpit and, sitting on a flexi RAM mount in
front of the panel, unlike with many of the bigger PDAs I can easily see
everything else on the panel. This shows what I mean:
http://www.gregorie.org/gliding/libelle/FLARM_panel.jpg

I don't race but I do go XC with this kit.

HTH


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

I believe the advice given by an English 2x World Champion is to have a
good, well compensated, leak free, simple, vario then spend the difference
on Aerotows.

Likewise most modern (Standard Class) gliders have a kink in the polar,
such that best speed to fly for almost any rate of climb is somewhere
around the kink. So there are in fact only two speeds to fly; at the kink
if you're comfy, best LD if you're in survival mode.

So for the original Discus (Dry) it's either 80kts or 50kts

PF

At 14:00 23 May 2013, Wallace Berry wrote:
In article
,

The more I read about high end instruments, the less I regret not being
able to afford them.

I have asked a number of people to explain to me exactly what their
"super varios" do that a good basic vario and a decent PDA/software
setup does not do. I mean besides calculating to more decimal places.
Maybe I would understand if I flew a glider with more than two speeds....

At 08:46 24 May 2013, Peter F wrote:
I believe the advice given by an English 2x World Champion is to have a
good, well compensated, leak free, simple, vario then spend the
difference
on Aerotows.

Likewise most modern (Standard Class) gliders have a kink in the polar,
such that best speed to fly for almost any rate of climb is somewhere
around the kink. So there are in fact only two speeds to fly; at the kink
if you're comfy, best LD if you're in survival mode.

So for the original Discus (Dry) it's either 80kts or 50kts

PF


I had the great pleasure of flying with the same English 2x World Champion
two weeks ago. His advice for modern 18m gliders was also two speeds,
90-100kts or 60kts. I tried it, it works!

Mike