Question for US Rules committee on AH capability within LX NAV computers?

Hi Sean and everyone,

Interestingly, LXNAV has just announced new firmware version 2.8 for the
LX8000, LX8080 and LX9000. I don't think the details are on their web site
yet. In addition to many cool new features, they announced a new
"Competition Mode" for customers using an AHRS. It makes it possible to
switch off the AHRS for the entire contest period. The screen capture in
the PDF file shows a dialog box appearing on the screen showing "AHRS will
be switched OFF for 14 days! Do you really wish to do that?". This implies
that the AHRS is completely disabled and can't be re-enabled for the 14
days.

I imagine that the U.S. Rules Committee will need to approve the new
feature. I don't know whether or not LXNAV has approached the U.S. Rules
Committee in regard to this new feature yet.

It is very easy to remove the AHRS for the entire contest period anyway, but
this new feature would make it so that a pilot couldn't sneak the AHRS back
into the glider during the contest.

I have just installed an LX9000 and AHRS in our DG-1000S. I plan to fly in
a U.S. contest in 2013. If necessary I plan to completely remove the AHRS
from the glider for the duration of the contest. But, I must admit, it
really makes me very, very unhappy/angry that I must remove the AHRS from
the glider, or disable it, or both. I would never use it to cheat. I will
already be agreeing to fly by the rules. It just bugs me that I must
disable this cool and fun high-tech feature because the rules committee
(which I highly respect and appreciate) is worried that pilots would use an
AHRS-like feature to fly up into clouds (which would be unsafe and
cheating).

Best Regards,

Paul Remde

"Sean Fidler" wrote in message
news:11592598.2199.1333289256635.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@yneo2...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wR4a...e_gdata_player

Please endure the music and watch this video, paying particular attention to
2:00 to 2:25 into the short video.

As was often argued with other PNA bases systems recently...why would these
well known soaring manufactures offer instruments which allow precise flight
without reference to the ground? Please comment.

Have these companies been approached by the USRC in the same manner as
Butterfly Nav, LK8000 and XC Soar in terms of providing versions of there
software that is assured of not being usable in contests?

Perry is a few short weeks away and alot of folks may have LXNAV systems in
there cockpits. Certainly a few do. The World Championships will
undoubtedly by full of them.

What is the status of LXNAV 8000, 8080 & 9000 Flight computers in US
contests? Clearly they possess the capability of providing AH functionality
to their pilots, easily.

Sean
F2