The springtime AERO Convention, held in Friedricshafen, Germany, hosts a full range of aviation displays – from R/C models (with indoor flying zone), to sport aircraft, to avionics, to sailplanes, to acro planes, through to general and business aviation – each with dedicated exhibit areas and halls. The event was held on a biennial basis…
Author Archive for Bill Elliott
Bill is a Soaring Cafe Co-Founder and the Publishing Editor. He is a two-time U.S. 18m national champion with extensive racing and cross-country soaring experience. He represented the U.S. in the 18 meter class at the 2010 and 2012 FAI World Gliding Championships Bill earned his airplane rating in 1981, but was looking for new challenges by 1989 when the lure of motorless flight induced him to join the Huntsville Soaring Club. After soloing in a Blanik L – 13, Bill began soaring cross country in the club 1-26, then bought a Duster followed by an HP-18 a few years later. It was with that HP-18 that he won the Region 5 South Sports Class Championship in 1995, his first championship.
Florida 500km Goal Flight in a Light Sailplane
by Bill Elliott •
For several years I’ve had the opportunity of visiting Wallaby Ranch in Florida during the week of the EAA’s annual Sun ‘n Fun fly-in. The Spring-time weather has typically been excellent and I have enjoyed sharing the sky with Steve Arndt in his Magic Dragon and other ranch pilots flying various light gliders and hang…
Concordia History
by Bill Elliott •
In the year 2002, sailplane designer Gerhard Waibel and competition sailplane pilot Dick Butler formed a pact to design an FAI Open Class sailplane. Their vision was to design an Open Class sailplane with maximum performance from a pure competition standpoint with no intent to go into serial production. The design of a sailplane always…
CONCORDIA – SUPERSEGLER
by Bill Elliott •
“Nothing ever built arose to touch the skies unless some man dreamed that it should, some man believed that it could, and some man willed that it must.” — Charles Kettering ——————————————————————————————————————- The Soaring Café is delighted to have the privilege of presenting the Concordia Project from inception through design, building and flight testing. Dick…
Calcuating Trigger Time
by Bill Elliott •
The last post covered the process of calculate trigger temperature and the mechanics of the atmosphere that are underway as the day heats up and thermals start. Today’s post will cover how to estimate what time the surface temperature will reach trigg…
Calcuating Trigger Time
by Bill Elliott •
The last post covered the process of calculate trigger temperature and the mechanics of the atmosphere that are underway as the day heats up and thermals start. Today’s post will cover how to estimate what time the surface temperature will reach trigg…
Calculating Trigger Temperature
by Bill Elliott •
If you want to fly long distances you need to get going early. The best way to make that happen is to be ready when the thermals start to pop; but how do you know when that will be? Today’s post will address how to determine Trigger temperature. My …
Flying in Spain – 2010 video
by Bill Elliott •
Some nice souvenirs of wave & thermic flying from Santa Cilia de Jaca in Spain.
00:24 : “pic du midi d’Ossau”, from Canfranc
00:55 : Monte perdido & Gavarnie
01:50 : Posets
02:13 : Vignemale’s spanish side
Amazing Super Cell Photograph
by Bill Elliott •
These are a set of absolute incredible pictures that Chris Ruf found and posted the the GTA Racing group. The photograph is just one image from the portfolio of electrician Sean Heavey. The supercell cloud was photographed in July west of Glasgow, Montana, USA. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1334672/Jaw-dropping-image-enormous-supercell-cloud-Glasgow-Montana.html#ixzz17BJuzlls
Latest Developments at the Cobra Trailer Factory
by Bill Elliott •
Alfred and Agnes Spindelberger of Alfred Spindelberger Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH in Germany recently shared the latest developments regarding their Cobra brand of trailers. As an owner of several trailers over the years (both Cobra and other brands) the features and attention to detail were definitely worth a closer look. According to the pilot couple, the current…
