Jeff Bennett leaves Cambridge Aero Instruments

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

The Butterfly Vario? Not yet a certified recorder I believe.
sorry, I know this is off-topic, just to make this clear: It is a certified flight recorder since 30th of March.

Cheers
Marc

I sent my 302 to Cambridge (R-Track Technologies in Memphis, TN) a couple of weeks ago for repair (no audio) and calibration. Called yesterday for a status update and was told by Roger R. that they were testing it and doing the calibration. He said I should have it back within a week.

Imagine my surprise when that same day, I got a call from Paul Remde who informed me that he had my 302 (in Minnesota) and, yes, there was no audio. He said a note from Roger indicated that Jeff was no longer with Cambridge, they didn't have any parts, the calibration wasn't done and here ya' go....

Paul says he will have to send it to Dickie Feakes in ENGLAND (!) for the repair. So, there I was, looking out the hangar door at 18,000 ft, cloudbases, and knowing that I have to return the 302 I borrowed (Thanks Mitch!) next week.

What to do? Well, I ended up buying another 302 (at a discount- Paul was sympathetic) that I really can't afford and instructing him to do what it takes to get the thing to the UK for the fix.

At any rate, I was flat-out LIED to by Roger. Take this as a warning. Forget Cambridge, R-Track Tech and deal with Paul or another reputable distributor.

And I will have a slightly used 302 for sale as soon as I get mine back- hopefully before the end of the season.

Mark

Gary & Rodger need to come to an agreement, assuming Gary even wants to support the 300 series, we need to officially dissolve the no-compete or whatever has kept Gary from working on the newer cambridge stuff.

Someone Must offer repair service for the thousands of Cambridge units in the USA.

Understand, we are not talking about the ability to calibrate or to make simple repairs, Paul and Dickie are capable of that, from what I know Gary is probably the only person who can realistically trouble shoot and repair these things for the Soaring Community.

Hi,

It will be interesting to see what plays-out in regard to the parts and
Cambridge name. Roy Ridgeway has expressed interest in selling what's left,
but hasn't put a price on it. Since new 302 sales have been extremely slow
for the last year or 2, it seems to me that the only value is in the parts.
Hopefully Roy will see it that way too.

I would be interested in buying the parts, but probably can't afford them.
I can currently calibrate, re-seal and replace backup batteries in 302s. If
I had access to parts I could do much more.

Gary is not interested because he's very busy with ClearNav work.

Dickie Feakes is a very experienced 302 support person in the U.K. He has
agreed to repair 2 units that are in need of repair. He has some parts in
his stock - including the parts necessary for the 2 repairs.

I sincerely hope that some was will be found to support 302 units going
forward.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
_____________________________________________

wrote in message
...

Gary & Rodger need to come to an agreement, assuming Gary even wants to
support the 300 series, we need to officially dissolve the no-compete or
whatever has kept Gary from working on the newer cambridge stuff.

Someone Must offer repair service for the thousands of Cambridge units in
the USA.

Understand, we are not talking about the ability to calibrate or to make
simple repairs, Paul and Dickie are capable of that, from what I know Gary
is probably the only person who can realistically trouble shoot and repair
these things for the Soaring Community.