Multiple varios

John:
This is a subject on which experienced glider pilots will disagree on. Many now use electronic instruments exclusively, in which case a single good vario is the norm. Others - who have doubts about battery sustainability (especially on long flights) will want a mechanical back up. I've had batteries fail very far from home and was happy to have a mechanical vario backup. Or it may depend on your OCD medication level . . .
Roy

Span matters!
Since all gliders are built the same, you can express your personality through your panel.

On Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 5:19:27 PM UTC-5, Roy B. wrote:
John:
This is a subject on which experienced glider pilots will disagree on. Many now use electronic instruments exclusively, in which case a single good vario is the norm. Others - who have doubts about battery sustainability (especially on long flights) will want a mechanical back up. I've had batteries fail very far from home and was happy to have a mechanical vario backup.. Or it may depend on your OCD medication level . . .
Roy

Let's talk politics - it's less controversial.

But seriously, I've always liked having a good (simple) mechanical vario backing up whatever electronic wizardry is the flavor of the month/year. I do from time-to-time like to compare readings, response rates, etc. just to make sure the morons, the neurons, and fig-newtons in the electronic instrument are behaving. In fact, I discovered a hardware/software problem this year when I started to notice consistent differences between the two instruments.

In 30 years of XC gliding, I'd say I've actually had to rely on the mechanical backup maybe 3 times when the electrics went south. Not exactly a compelling reason, but we're creatures of habit.

Erik Mann (P3)

On Thu, 14 Dec 2017 14:46:15 -0800, Papa3 wrote:

In 30 years of XC gliding, I'd say I've actually had to rely on the
mechanical backup maybe 3 times when the electrics went south. Not
exactly a compelling reason, but we're creatures of habit.

I used exactly the same reasoning as Papa3, but fitted two electronic
varios. The main one is entirely dependent on the main glider battery.
The other normally runs off the main battery but also has a 9v PP3
strapped to its rear that can run it for 8-10 hours if the main battery
fails.

I do in fact glance at it for confirmation while hunting for thermals,
because it has a much faster response than my main vario and I also
prefer it when ridge running because, unlike my main vario, it makes
'sink' noises as well as 'climb' ones.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie
| dot org

Several manufacturers make excellent electrical backup vario's LXNav V3 has a built in speaker is small and and one can purchase the associated UPS battery pack to give you 8 hours of electronic vario with audio, if the electrical bus fails. Nice little unit. I have not had a mechanical vario in a sailplane since 1999 when I purchased a Borgelt vario that would run on a 9 volt battery as a backup. If it truly is a backup, nice to have the audio.