What can a PDA do for me?

Yeah, with most flight computers you spend too much time looking at the
screen or turning a knob to reach a menu, etc., while you should spend more
time looking outside. Most of the programs available for PDA's require no
more than a quick glance to get all the information you need.

Regards,
Rod

As far as I am concerned, my PDA is my verification
for the math I am doing in my head. I use Glide Navigator
II software linked to my Cambridge Model 20 and GPS-Nav
display. The PDA acts like a moving map and will give
you pretty close to exact distances to turnpoints,
airports and so on. It also tells me if I am with in
final glide to a safe landing area. It also comes in
handy while in thermals as it shows x's every few seconds
which can help you stay in a thermal or other forms
of lift.
Granted, I have a great deal of respect for the pilots
who were competing pre PDA's. The work loads during
a contest must have been insane at times.....
Also, the PDA is only as good as the equipment and
software you are using so do a lot of research. It
is also best to download as many of the programs to
demo them as possible. I also recommend speaking with
other pilots in your group about what they are using
and the pro's and con's that they have come across.
Best of luck,
Brian
17

The one I've been using for a few years, CEGlide, can do all but the TAT
optimization--your last question. It may be able to do that w/the upgrade
now available, dunno.

I've found the final glide STF to be amazingly accurate, even w/out TE
input.

I'd recommend adding a handheld to your existing set-up for all the reasons
you mention.

Brent

"BJen" wrote in message
...
I've got a late '80's model flight computer with an
integrated non-GPS final glide calculator and an IGC GPS
logger. I'm thinking about upgrade options to minimize the
mental workload for these items that I currently have
trouble with:

What's the current wind speed and direction?

What altitude do I need to final glide upwind to airport X
and turn back downwind to home at airport Y?

What airport is easiest to get to when I'm low given
different airport field elevations and current wind
direction.

When should I turn to get home 3 hours after I started this
task?

I'm not really sure what options I have. More generally,
I'm wondering what the PDA's can do. I presume they have no
airspeed/pitot input, no TE input and only GPS altitude.
Is that correct? Can they perform vario/TE/STF/final glide
functions?

I realize they can do GPS moving map, flight track
recording. I suspect they can figure wind from a circling
algorithm, but without TE or airspeed can they replace my
old flight computer? If not, can they supplement it (with
my GPS/pressure logger) so I can avoid the expense of a new
flight computer?

Anyone want to give me some comments here? Thanks.

What a PDA can do for you depends on how you interact with a computer.
Every program you would get will get you the necessary basic
information, so the most important part for you is the user interface.
You need to make your own decisions based on trying (or at least
looking at a program). A good place to start is
http://www.soaringpilotsoftware.com look for the GPS_LOG WinCE (it is
free) program, download version that runs on a PC and play with it to
see what it can do for you (oh and yes..., bring your brain with you
)
Remember also that PC user interface is always a different from that
on a PDA.

Henryk Birecki

BJen wrote:

I've got a late '80's model flight computer with an
integrated non-GPS final glide calculator and an IGC GPS
logger. I'm thinking about upgrade options to minimize the
mental workload for these items that I currently have
trouble with:
............

It will kill you, if it requires to much attention to operate.

So carefully think about the features you need and then get one that
requires no attention during flight and that has an audio output.

Best Regards

Hans

I use a PDA (iPaq) and an SN-10 and I like the SN-10 because is has big
knobs and I hate poking at the PDA screen in flight with the stylus. If you
go with a PDA, set it up so you only need look at it during cruise, minimize
the finger-poking by programming the buttons on the unit. I NEVER have time
to mess with any of my instruments or even my radio knobs while thermaling -
for some reason I'm always been concentrating solely on climbing in the
core - I normally glance occasionally at whatever screen is up, but poke or
turn knobs? Not very successful with that unless I'm straight and level (or
close to it).

The lady I bought my Nimbus 3 from flew did her 1000km using a sectional
encased in two pieces of plexiglass with a string over the top tensioned by
a rubber band. It apparently worked very well for her - I've had no luck
tapping on it with my finger or even my iPaq stylus - damn thing doesn't
respond at all ;-)

Of course she flys farther in her 1-26 than I do in her old Nimbus...

Jim

"BJen" wrote in message
...
I've got a late '80's model flight computer with an
integrated non-GPS final glide calculator and an IGC GPS
logger. I'm thinking about upgrade options to minimize the
mental workload for these items that I currently have
trouble with:

What's the current wind speed and direction?

What altitude do I need to final glide upwind to airport X
and turn back downwind to home at airport Y?

What airport is easiest to get to when I'm low given
different airport field elevations and current wind
direction.

When should I turn to get home 3 hours after I started this
task?

I'm not really sure what options I have. More generally,
I'm wondering what the PDA's can do. I presume they have no
airspeed/pitot input, no TE input and only GPS altitude.
Is that correct? Can they perform vario/TE/STF/final glide
functions?

I realize they can do GPS moving map, flight track
recording. I suspect they can figure wind from a circling
algorithm, but without TE or airspeed can they replace my
old flight computer? If not, can they supplement it (with
my GPS/pressure logger) so I can avoid the expense of a new
flight computer?

Anyone want to give me some comments here? Thanks.