COMPARE THIS ULTIMATE PANEL

One trick is to cut off the parts of the map you don't intend to use.
This gets it down to a reasonable size with one or two folds at most. You
can put the legend in the side pocket in case you need it and in case you
might be charged with not having a current sectional (expriation date
printed right there.)

At 18:55 14 September 2009, jb92563 wrote:
How can you see ANY of those instruments when you are unfolding a Map
in the cockpit of a glider like that?

I just turn my "Devices" on at the beginning of the flight and off
when I land.

They provide information as I fly, moving map, Airspace, landable
points within glide range, at a glance, but require no interaction.

If you have systems that need interaction then I agree, you are
spoiling your flying by having to mess with gadgets and focus inside
the cockpit.

I still have paper maps as a backup, but those need fussing with as
well when unfolding/folding and trying to find things.

My particular setup is interaction free, leaving me free to focus on
the visual and seat of the pants aspects of flying.

If I'm not paying attention to something important the gizmo beeps to
let me know I need to take a quick glance at it.

Setups are completed entirely at home in the livingroom, with a
computer degree of course ;-)

Ray




On Sep 12, 9:32=A0pm, Guy Byars wrote:
The panel in my glider is the ultimate in sunlight readability, low
power consumption, ease of use, low maintenance, low clutter and low
cost.

http://www.gfbyars.com/SGU1-20/final/P1010425.JPG

If you want to see terrain features, look out the window. =A0If you
want
to know where you are, look at your map. =A0If you want to know how
far
you are from the turnpoint, put your ruler on the map and measure.

If you want to mess with computers, USB input devices and VGA
displays, why not just stay at the office.

Guy Byars

How can you see ANY of those instruments when you are unfolding a Map
in the cockpit of a glider like that?

I just turn my "Devices" on at the beginning of the flight and off
when I land.


They provide information as I fly, moving map, Airspace, landable
points within glide range, at a glance, but require no interaction.


If you have systems that need interaction then I agree, you are
spoiling your flying by having to mess with gadgets and focus inside
the cockpit.


I still have paper maps as a backup, but those need fussing with as
well when unfolding/folding and trying to find things.


My particular setup is interaction free, leaving me free to focus on
the visual and seat of the pants aspects of flying.


If I'm not paying attention to something important the gizmo beeps to
let me know I need to take a quick glance at it.


Setups are completed entirely at home in the livingroom, with a
computer degree of course ;-)


Ray

iPAQ 310 & XCSoar



On Sep 12, 9:32*pm, Guy Byars wrote:
The panel in my glider is the ultimate in sunlight readability, low
power consumption, ease of use, low maintenance, low clutter and low
cost.

http://www.gfbyars.com/SGU1-20/final/P1010425.JPG

If you want to see terrain features, look out the window. *If you want
to know where you are, look at your map. *If you want to know how far
you are from the turnpoint, put your ruler on the map and measure.

If you want to mess with computers, USB input devices and VGA
displays, why not just stay at the office.

Guy Byars

I just turn my "Devices" on at the beginning of the flight and off
when I land.
They provide information as I fly, moving map, Airspace, landable
points within glide range, at a glance, but require no interaction.

Then you are in the minority.

I think the most dangerous time during a soaring contest is when the
CD changes the task after all the pilots have launched. I can imagine
every pilot in the contest flying blindly with his head down, and eyes
glued to a computer as he scrolls and pokes the screen trying to enter
the new task.

On Sep 14, 1:16*pm, Guy Byars wrote:
I just turn my "Devices" on at the beginning of the flight and off
when I land.
They provide information as I fly, moving map, Airspace, landable
points within glide range, at a glance, but require no interaction.

Then you are in the minority.

I think the most dangerous time during a soaring contest is when the
CD changes the task after all the pilots have launched. *I can imagine
every pilot in the contest flying blindly with his head down, and eyes
glued to a computer as he scrolls and pokes the screen trying to enter
the new task.

Moving map flight computers are one of the most important instruments
for flying XC in a high performance ship in the Great Basin,
especially if you are a serious XC pilot who would like to fly further
from home over new territory. The sectionals stay folded in the glider
pocket all year long, completely useless. And if my PDA malfunction, I
have a moving map sectional on my iphone. Pricelss.
And much less time is spent looking on a PDA then messing up with a
sectional in the cockpit.

Guy, none of your suggestions will work were I fly. But I agree that
flight computers took away the challenge of navigation, so we can
spend more brain power on finding lift.

Ramy

On Sep 14, 6:08*pm, Ramy wrote:

Guy, none of your suggestions will work were I fly.

Actually, I wasn't making any serious suggestions. I was just poking
some fun at the big screen flight instrurment manufacturers. I was
also poking fun at the techophiles who treat a soaring flight as an
excuse to play with their computers and gadgets, and not the beautiful
and relaxing experience it should be.

Guy Byars

While the panel is a minimalist thing of beauty - do you live at sea
level? I ask this because your altimeter is set at zero. Tsk...Tsk...

Ok, so this has sparked a curiosity for me. Who has a list of WAGs
(Mental math calculations) that can be used in the cockpit for glide
distances with wind and such? Is there a resource right now listing
them? Obviously I know it depends on glider performance, but what are
some starting points?

-Nick S

Then you are in the minority.

Probably has a high correlation with the age (and occupation) of the
pilot in question. I'm not a youngster, but have been around hi-tech
cockpits a long time and love them. Kids grow up with the damn things
and have no problem with them. But some of the "more mature" aviators
out there tend to have some issues with the fancy toys....those are
the gliders I try to avoid in a crowded thermal!

I think the most dangerous time during a soaring contest is when the
CD changes the task after all the pilots have launched. *I can imagine
every pilot in the contest flying blindly with his head down, and eyes
glued to a computer as he scrolls and pokes the screen trying to enter
the new task.

On this point I absolutely agree with you - changing tasks after the
launch is incredibly dangerous! Even with pre-announced backup tasks,
setting up some systems during the prestart milling (usually on a weak
day, otherwise why change the task?) takes a lot of heads down time in
crowded airspace. But I bet it was just as bad in the days of charts,
grease pencils, compass headings, and photo books!

Cheers,

Kirk
66

On Sep 14, 6:22*pm, "
wrote:
Then you are in the minority.

Probably has a high correlation with the age (and occupation) of the
pilot in question. *I'm not a youngster, but have been around hi-tech
cockpits a long time and love them. *Kids grow up with the damn things
and have no problem with them. *But some of the "more mature" aviators
out there tend to have some issues with the fancy toys....those are
the gliders I try to avoid in a crowded thermal!

I think the most dangerous time during a soaring contest is when the
CD changes the task after all the pilots have launched. *I can imagine
every pilot in the contest flying blindly with his head down, and eyes
glued to a computer as he scrolls and pokes the screen trying to enter
the new task.

On this point I absolutely agree with you - changing tasks after the
launch is incredibly dangerous! *Even with pre-announced backup tasks,
setting up some systems during the prestart milling (usually on a weak
day, otherwise why change the task?) takes a lot of heads down time in
crowded airspace. But I bet it was just as bad in the days of charts,
grease pencils, compass headings, and photo books!

Cheers,

Kirk
66

In flight task changes do seem extraordinarily dangerous.

Despite the anti-tech sentiments, this could be an application for
long range WiFi. It seems the latest incarnations of the 802.11n
standards allow ranges in excess of 5 miles.

Imagine glide computers which could be updated in flight from the
ground by the CD to enter a new task in everyone's computer
simultaneously and then automatically poll them to assure accuracy.

The pilots wouldn't have to do anything except fly the new task.

In article
,
Guy Byars wrote:


I think the most dangerous time during a soaring contest is when the
CD changes the task after all the pilots have launched. I can imagine
every pilot in the contest flying blindly with his head down, and eyes
glued to a computer as he scrolls and pokes the screen trying to enter
the new task.

Oooh! Man, I hate having to enter a new task in flight. Very scary.
Somewhat better if a dump or alternate task is agreed upon before launch
so it can be pre-loaded into the computer. That has it's risks as well.
At a recent race, I forgot to switch back to the primary task after
entering the alternate. I was half way around the course when I realized
I was flying the alternate task. It was a little late by then to
re-start, so I just went on to the primary task first turnpoint and flew
the correct task. Made for a long, strange looking first leg on the
flight trace!