These are [some] points [about iGlide] that I thought were most noteworthy so far. I like the app a lot and am ready to fly with it this week. I’ll [add more] impressions and thoughts after I get some time with it in the air. I’m interested in “post flight” procedures. i.e. transferring flight files for saving on my computer for analysis and sending in to the OLC for daily scoring.
Paul Bertorelli and Jeb Burnside of AvWeb and Aviation Consumer, recently conducted tests to determine how much pull force several commercially available aircraft tiedown systems will resist before yielding. If you’re in the market for a tiedown system for your airplane, sailplane, or trailer, you may be interested in the results of these tests. The…
Doris and I are among the many glider pilots who got to know Wally Scott during semi-annual treks to soaring contests in Texas and New Mexico. One of the interesting characteristics of glider pilot acquaintances is that it really does not matter what you do in “real life.” You could be a doctor or lawyer, butcher or baker, Indian chief or candlestick maker – none of this matters. It is only about how you fly.
In January, 2010, 16 of the world’s best sailplane pilots gathered in Santiago, Chile for eight days of racing over some of the most spectacular and starkly beautiful terrain on the planet. The lucky pilots were invited to compete in the Third FAI Sailplane Grand Prix, a race unlike any other in soaring. The sailplanes all start at the same time and race around a pre-designated course, and the first pilot to cross the finish line wins. To make the race exciting for the uninitiated and the results easy to understand for spectators, the scoring is simple, or perhaps brutal, from the competitors’ point of view. The winner is the first sailplane to cross the finish line.
A few lucky pilots can afford to buy the latest sailplanes, but most of us are limited to used ones. The price of used gliders varies widely. The Libelle is available for around $15,000, while for a little over $20,000 you can purchase a ship such as a Mosquito, PIK-20, Mini-Nimbus, or LS-3. For $25,000…
