Just in time for the last major US national soaring contest at Uvalde Tx. and a few more regional contests around the country, a program has been developed that makes a small cache of portable PowerFlarm units available to competing pilots who do not own one.  http://www.williamssoaring.com/Flarm/powerflarmrntl.html In an effort to fulfill Dale Kramer’s MIRA (mandatory if rentals are available) vision to have nearly 100% participation in contests, a handful of generous, foresighted and proactive pilots have donated funds for the purchase of 20 portable PowerFlarm units to be administered through a rental program directed by Rex Mayes.

This may appear to many to be a marketing strategy, and though we certainly hope all glider pilots will consider purchasing a
PowerFlarm, the main goal is to make sure that contestants who cannot afford or have not been convinced are not disenfranchised and that pilots who have chosen to fly with PowerFLARM can be assured that the rest of the field of contestants are so equipped.
This is just a starting point. Contests are widely considered to be the soaring venues were glider pilots are at most risk for midair
collision. This is not an attempt to minimize the value of every other one competing pilot.

I invite you all to take a look and take advantage of this promising technology.

Rex Mayes
Williams Soaring Center