If You've Flown a FLARM Stealth Contest, Vote Here

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 4:52:01 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 4:24:07 PM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:
Wow. We are really out there now. I think the word is "philosophizing!" Deep guys! Deep! Deep words with Jack Handey deep!

;-). https://youtu.be/Ea5fqGrx7sI

Sean,
Thanks for the laugh!

I still think many are enamored with all the technology on the horizon. It certainly is coming at us with such a rapid pace. We are not thinking what is beyond the horizon.

XC

Read section 6.6 below.
Permissible stuff is limited and much of what might be contemplated by some is outside what is allowed. For 2016 phones will be permitted for tracking only.
UH
6.6 Restricted Equipment
6.6.1 Each sailplane is prohibited from carrying any instrument which:
* Permits flight without reference to the ground.
* Is capable of measuring air motion or temperature at a distance greater than one wingspan.
6.6.2 An external cleaning device is any device with moving parts designed to clean the exterior of the sailplane during flight, such as bugwipers.
The use of such devices is allowed in all classes Rule 6.12.
6.6.3 Carrying any two-way communication device is prohibited, with the following exceptions, each of which must be a standard,
commercially available model that is not used to provide any in-flight capabilities beyond those referenced below:
6.6.3.1 An aircraft-band VHF radio
6.6.3.2 An aircraft transponder
6.6.3.3 A wireless telephone (which is not to be used during flight)
6.6.3.4 A air-to-ground position reporting device
6.6.3.5 An anti-collision device. Rule 6.6.3 does not forbid the use of a standard GPS output data stream or GPS log produced by the
device.
6.6.4 Other than an aircraft-band VHF radio, any device that allows in-flight access to weather data is prohibited.
6.6.5 Violations of any provisions of this Rule are considered Unsportsmanlike Conduct. (Penalty described in Rule 12.2.5.3.)

Indeed. As a country, the US needs to increase our support for these amazing US junior pilots and give them every opportunity to move to the top of the standings at the next junior world championship. These kids are very special, truly awesome, talented pilots and we should be talking more about how to get them on the podium for the next one (more training), and less about stealth mode to be honest. At the same time we need to also support and develop the younger pilots just behind them. This is were I would like to see us all focus. Imagine if we had this much energy and effort behind the US junior team. See the video below...

Anyway, do they have Flarm mandatory in Australia at the FAI Junior Worlds? Are they running normal or stealth mode? It would be interesting to hear JP, Boyd or Daniel's (and the coaches) take on what's happening in the air strategically with respect to Flarm (did they bring in fancy flight computers for example) with Flarm and if the "Uber teams" are taking advantage of it. I've been watching the traces. Seems to me that the top teams are extremely disciplined in their tactics, well coached, well and coordinated as teams (team flying), etc. Obviously they are far more highly funded and have more time to practice as a junior team then our kids have had to this point. Even Australia has a massive Junior program. Australia has been sending its Junior team to Europe for example and doing training camps (3 weeks per year) even with an equal or greater expanse of a country than the USA...

http://youtu.be/xY9FiqQBYAU

Live long and prosper! How can we do that if we are not constantly evolving to accept the changes in our world (i.e., new technologies, philosophies, morays ).

The progression of change remains ever constance, clocks that bind will be left to rust.


On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 1:24:07 PM UTC-8, Sean Fidler wrote:
Wow. We are really out there now. I think the word is "philosophizing!" Deep guys! Deep! Deep words with Jack Handey deep!

;-). https://youtu.be/Ea5fqGrx7sI

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 5:04:50 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 4:52:01 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 4:24:07 PM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:
Wow. We are really out there now. I think the word is "philosophizing!" Deep guys! Deep! Deep words with Jack Handey deep!

;-). https://youtu.be/Ea5fqGrx7sI

Sean,
Thanks for the laugh!

I still think many are enamored with all the technology on the horizon. It certainly is coming at us with such a rapid pace. We are not thinking what is beyond the horizon.

XC

Read section 6.6 below.
Permissible stuff is limited and much of what might be contemplated by some is outside what is allowed. For 2016 phones will be permitted for tracking only.
UH
6.6 Restricted Equipment
6.6.1 Each sailplane is prohibited from carrying any instrument which:
* Permits flight without reference to the ground.
* Is capable of measuring air motion or temperature at a distance greater than one wingspan.
6.6.2 An external cleaning device is any device with moving parts designed to clean the exterior of the sailplane during flight, such as bugwipers.
The use of such devices is allowed in all classes Rule 6.12.
6.6.3 Carrying any two-way communication device is prohibited, with the following exceptions, each of which must be a standard,
commercially available model that is not used to provide any in-flight capabilities beyond those referenced below:
6.6.3.1 An aircraft-band VHF radio
6.6.3.2 An aircraft transponder
6.6.3.3 A wireless telephone (which is not to be used during flight)
6.6.3.4 A air-to-ground position reporting device
6.6.3.5 An anti-collision device. Rule 6.6.3 does not forbid the use of a standard GPS output data stream or GPS log produced by the
device.
6.6.4 Other than an aircraft-band VHF radio, any device that allows in-flight access to weather data is prohibited.
6.6.5 Violations of any provisions of this Rule are considered Unsportsmanlike Conduct. (Penalty described in Rule 12.2.5.3.)

I think we are all set with the ADS-B out according to these rules since it is the transponder that sends the GPS position, at least for ADS-B out on 1090 it is the case. At least one thing we don't need to argue about.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 1:52:01 PM UTC-8, wrote:

We are not thinking what is beyond the horizon.

http://belovedplanet.com/wp-content/...3-1024x961.jpg

Permissible stuff is limited and much of what might be contemplated by some is outside what is allowed. For 2016 phones will be permitted for tracking only.
UH
6.6 Restricted Equipment
6.6.1 Each sailplane is prohibited from carrying any instrument which:
* Permits flight without reference to the ground.
* Is capable of measuring air motion or temperature at a distance greater than one wingspan.
6.6.2 An external cleaning device is any device with moving parts designed to clean the exterior of the sailplane during flight, such as bugwipers.
The use of such devices is allowed in all classes Rule 6.12.
6.6.3 Carrying any two-way communication device is prohibited, with the following exceptions, each of which must be a standard,
commercially available model that is not used to provide any in-flight capabilities beyond those referenced below:
6.6.3.1 An aircraft-band VHF radio
6.6.3.2 An aircraft transponder
6.6.3.3 A wireless telephone (which is not to be used during flight)
6.6.3.4 A air-to-ground position reporting device
6.6.3.5 An anti-collision device. Rule 6.6.3 does not forbid the use of a standard GPS output data stream or GPS log produced by the
device.
6.6.4 Other than an aircraft-band VHF radio, any device that allows in-flight access to weather data is prohibited.
6.6.5 Violations of any provisions of this Rule are considered Unsportsmanlike Conduct. (Penalty described in Rule 12.2.5.3.)


And enforcement of these rules is a good sign of where stealth will likely end up. Thank goodness at least that we're not doing complex procedures for showing you have disabled AHRS modules of xcsoar, lx, etc. Though "carriage" is illegal. Interest in patrolling cockpits to see who has that, who has a truetrack, who is bringing an Ipad, or iphone, what software they are running (foreflight, ADSB receivers, weather radar); who has two way radios (reported a few times), is zero. Interest in checking who is on 123.3 and not one of the other well known frequencies, zero.

Just what is the point of writing rules like this, I don't know. We had a good proposal to throw the whole rubbish out last year, I guess that's gone by the wayside.

The hilarious Rule 6.6.2 nicely characterizes where we're going.

John Cochrane

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 6:52:28 PM UTC-5, Andy Blackburn wrote:
On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 1:52:01 PM UTC-8, wrote:

We are not thinking what is beyond the horizon.

http://belovedplanet.com/wp-content/...3-1024x961.jpg

Exactly.

I wonder if the Strobe in the leading edge of the fin is considered an illegal anti-collision device?

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 5:10:23 PM UTC-8, John Cochrane wrote:
Permissible stuff is limited and much of what might be contemplated by some is outside what is allowed. For 2016 phones will be permitted for tracking only.
UH
6.6 Restricted Equipment
.....
6.6.3.5 An anti-collision device. Rule 6.6.3 does not forbid the use of a standard GPS output data stream or GPS log produced by the
device...

6.6.5 Violations of any provisions of this Rule are considered Unsportsmanlike Conduct. (Penalty described in Rule 12.2.5.3.)


And enforcement of these rules is a good sign of where stealth will likely end up. Thank goodness at least that we're not doing complex procedures for showing you have disabled AHRS modules of xcsoar, lx, etc. Though "carriage" is illegal. Interest in patrolling cockpits to see who has that, who has a truetrack, who is bringing an Ipad, or iphone, what software they are running (foreflight, ADSB receivers, weather radar); who has two way radios (reported a few times), is zero. Interest in checking who is on 123.3 and not one of the other well known frequencies, zero.

Just what is the point of writing rules like this, I don't know. We had a good proposal to throw the whole rubbish out last year, I guess that's gone by the wayside.

The hilarious Rule 6.6.2 nicely characterizes where we're going.

John Cochrane

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 5:12:43 PM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:


Anyway, do they have Flarm mandatory in Australia at the FAI Junior Worlds? Are they running normal or stealth mode?


Sean, from local procedures: "A functioning FLARM configured to function in Australia must be carried and remain powered on for the duration of all competition flights. Please note European PowerFLARM units do not work in Australia.
FLARM devices will not be provided by the organisers."

No word on stealth, so I assume not.

Dan

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 5:12:43 PM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:
Indeed. As a country, the US needs to increase our support for these amazing US junior pilots and give them every opportunity to move to the top of the standings at the next junior world championship. These kids are very special, truly awesome, talented pilots and we should be talking more about how to get them on the podium for the next one (more training), and less about stealth mode to be honest. At the same time we need to also support and develop the younger pilots just behind them. This is were I would like to see us all focus. Imagine if we had this much energy and effort behind the US junior team. See the video below...

Anyway, do they have Flarm mandatory in Australia at the FAI Junior Worlds? Are they running normal or stealth mode? It would be interesting to hear JP, Boyd or Daniel's (and the coaches) take on what's happening in the air strategically with respect to Flarm (did they bring in fancy flight computers for example) with Flarm and if the "Uber teams" are taking advantage of it. I've been watching the traces. Seems to me that the top teams are extremely disciplined in their tactics, well coached, well and coordinated as teams (team flying), etc. Obviously they are far more highly funded and have more time to practice as a junior team then our kids have had to this point. Even Australia has a massive Junior program. Australia has been sending its Junior team to Europe for example and doing training camps (3 weeks per year) even with an equal or greater expanse of a country than the USA...

http://youtu.be/xY9FiqQBYAU

Good point, Sean. And it is interesting that a discussion on FLARM, stealth and now future technologies would come around to juniors in soaring. We get so caught up in what we want in our gliders and in our glider race we forget there will be no racing without new people coming in.

The critical years to get junior pilots to go on to racing is not 14-18 years old but 18-25. Somewhere in there they have to go to college and return to the sport. Two factors come immediately to mind, the challenge and the start up costs.

Having seen several juniors go through our program I notice that those that were led by the nose around all their cross countries don't seem to return to the sport. Apparently sense of accomplishment is important. Making gliding easier or eliminating land outs through the use of every available technology is not enhancing this sense of accomplishment.

During their college years or right after they have to get a glider and start racing. This glider has to come from a benefactor, a club, or initial purchase. Getting excited young people together with these gliders should be our most important objective. Our club supports a Discus CS and a Duo for this purpose. The cost of this is a discussion that comes up each year. The more elaborate this initial glider is the more difficult this problem becomes.

XC