Wills Wing
Flytec

Oz Report

Volume 16, Number 173
Thursday, August 30 2012
Boise Riverside RV Park, Boise, Idaho, USA
https://OzReport.com
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

to Table of Contentsto next topic Flytec Tip of the Week - Sensitivity of the Acoustic Vario

Wed, Aug 29 2012, 9:07:48 am MDT
How do I change it?

Flytec 6030|Steve Kroop

Steve Kroop at Flytec USA «info» writes:

A common question from pilots is: "how do I make my vario more (or less) sensitive?" The answer is a little more complicated than it seems since the acoustic sensitivity is a composite of the vario threshold and the vario dampening.  For example, the threshold can be set very low but if the dampening setting is high, you could fly through a weak thermal and the instrument would not beep.  Therefore it is important to understand the difference between these two parameters when setting your acoustic variometer.  The acoustic vario threshold is the minimum ascent rate required for the vario to beep and is expressed in ft/min or m/sec.  Typically we ship instruments with a setting between 8 and 20 ft/min.  Dampening in the amount of delay before the beeping starts once the threshold has been exceeded.  It is actually a bit more complicated than just a delay but thinking of it as a delay will make it easier for the purpose of setting the sensitivity.  Typically we ship instruments with low to moderate dampening.

Some pilots prefer the vario to not beep at every minute bit of lift which would require a threshold around 20 ft/min.  (or higher in regions that have strong thermals). Some pilots want the vario to beep if they are just maintaining altitude, in that case a threshold 0 ft/min would be appropriate.  Most pilots will use a setting somewhere in between.  When setting the dampening you will want to consider the type of air you will be flying in. If the air where you fly is smooth and the thermals typically light you would use a lower to lowest dampening setting.  Conversely, if the air is turbulent with strong thermals you would use a higher to highest dampening setting.  Since the acoustic variometer is so subjective it can take a little tweaking to get the settings just right.  I recommend that you start with threshold and dampening setting lower than you think would be appropriate and slowly increase the settings (if necessary) after flying the instrument in typical air.

Accessing these setting differs depending on the series instrument and is covered in their documentation.  Below are simplified instructions:

6030:

Dampening: Menu>Basic Settings>Acoustic vario>Customize sound>Damp.  (range 1-35) Acoustic threshold: Menu>Basic Settings>Acoustic vario>lift audio threshold> range 0 to 40 ft/min or 0-20 cm/s

6015:

Dampening: Menu>Vario set>Vario filt> range 0, 1, 2, 3 Acoustic threshold: Menu>Climb Aud>Climb thr> range 0 to 40 ft/min or 0-20 cm/s

6005/6010:

Dampening: 3 sec.  Press Speaker key=Set mode> range 1, 2, 3, 4 Acoustic threshold: 3 sec.  Press Speaker key=Set mode>3 sec.  Press Speaker key= Option mode>2x short press of Speaker key= level 3option mode> adjust with up/down keys (each blinking segment is 4 ft/min or 2 cm/sec)

5030:

Dampening: Menu>Basic Settings>Vario tone>Damp.  (range 1-35) Acoustic threshold: Menu>Basic Settings>Vario audio threshold>range 0 to 40 ft/min or 0-20 cm/s

4000 series:

Dampening: 4 sec.  Press Speaker key=Set mode> range 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 Acoustic threshold: 4 sec.  Press Speaker key=Set mode>short press 2 option keys= Option mode>short press of Speaker key= level 2 option mode> adjust with up/down keys (each blinking segment is 4 ft/min or 2 cm/sec)

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Today I went for a ride

Wed, Aug 29 2012, 9:09:50 am MDT
And got a partner to ride with

As my cousin Peter was busy I decided to take the aluminum road bike for a forty mile round trip up the Boise Greenbelt from Garden City to the Lucky Peak dam at the end of the bike trail.  A couple of miles into it, I passed a couple of guys, one in a three wheel recumbent bike (sic), sitting by the edge of the trail.  It was just a quick flash and I didn't see much.

About a mile later I saw that this recumbent biker (sic) was gaining on me, so I sped it up. I know that recumbent bikes just aren't that fast.  Another mile and he's still there gaining a bit on me. A little while later and he passes me and I see that he ain't using his legs, just his arms.  This is what he's riding:

That's right, he can't use his legs and has to use his arms to pedal.  His feet are strapped to the useless pedals on the front wheel and he is almost completely horizontal.

I chase after him but over the next five miles he slowly gets 300 yards ahead of me. I can't keep up with the guy.  There is plenty of foot and bike traffic on the Greenbelt and going as fast as possible can be a bit dangerous especially as we are downtown in the heaviest use area, but he is passing people one after the other and I'm breathing hard trying to get back up to him.

Finally, as we get a few miles out east of town, there is a little detour around some construction on the bike path and I catch him.  For the next fifteen miles I'll ride with him, going 21 mph when he does his intervals and 17 mph (more my pace) when he slacks off between them.  It is a great workout for me and for him.

Turns out that he is in training to get on the "Emerging Talent" team for the US hoping to go to the Paralympics to be held in Rio in four years.  He is a US veteran (US Navy). He's got to shave 1.5 seconds off his per kilometer time in time trials to get on the team and then get support from the Department of Defense for training.

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to Table of Contentsto next topic 2012 Team Challenge full up

Wed, Aug 29 2012, 9:10:32 am MDT
Now is the time to pay up

Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2012|video

Ollie Gregory «Ollie Gregory» writes:

Registration for Team Challenge shows we will fill up.  We just hit fifty registered.  About half have paid up so far.  We plan to cap the numbers for Team Challenge at fifty, so if you haven't paid the competition fee, go to http://tennesseetreetoppers.org and pay now at the Team Challenge link.

You can use the Paypal button.  If you are on the list and haven't paid the registration fee, you name will be removed on August 30th.  So that means lots of slots will open August 31st and first come first served when ya pay up!  It is gonna be a lot of fun!  Don't miss out!

http://vimeo.com/album/1736305/video/31481751

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to Table of Contentsto next topic European Championships

Wed, Aug 29 2012, 2:34:12 pm MDT
A tough day.

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Corinna Schwiegershausen|Primoz Gricar

http://outdoorfestival.org/view.php?page=1

http://corinnaflies.blogspot.com

http://klemencicmatjaz.blogspot.com

The first task (those at goal):

# Name Nat Glider Time Total
1 Primoz Gricar SLO Combat L 13.5 09 GT 01:47:06 901
2 Alessandro Ploner ITA Laminar Z9 14.1 01:47:16 888
3 Christian Zehetmair GER Combat L 13.5 09 GT 01:47:32 878
4 Walter Mayer AUT Litespeed RS 3.5 01:50:04 866

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Super Race in Brasilia

Wed, Aug 29 2012, 2:45:51 pm MDT
Day four

Curt Warren|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Jon Durand jnr|Wills Wing|Wills Wing T2C

The fourth day:

The task: http://www.superrace2012.blogspot.com.br/2012/08/brasilia-prova-4-136-km.html

http://www.superrace2012.blogspot.com.br/2012/08/resultados-prova-4-brasilia.html

# Name Nat Glider Time Total
1 André Wolf RS Moyes LS RS 3.5 02:41:20 1000
2 Max Turiaco RJ Aeros Combat 02:41:48 961
3 Robert Etzold SC Moyes LS RS4 02:42:44 940
4 Sergio Galvas SP Wills Wing T2C 02:47:55 903
5 Michel Louzada SP Wills Wing T2C 144 02:50:47 877
6 Ricardo Cesar Finard Campanha SP Moyes LS RS4 02:51:08 861
6 Fabio Cardoso Nunes RJ Wills Wing T2C 02:50:29 861
8 Marcello Pereira RJ Aeros Combat 02:59:09 810
9 Eduardo Oliveira MS Wills Wing T2C 154 02:51:54 794
10 David Brito Filho SP Wills Wing T2C 144 02:52:13 791

The total:

# Name Nat Glider Total
1 Curt Warren AUS Moyes LS RX 3.5 3659
2 Michel Louzada SP Wills Wing T2C 144 3440
3 Eduardo Oliveira MS Wills Wing T2C 154 3366
4 André Wolf RS Moyes LS RS 3.5 3339
5 Sergio Galvas SP Wills Wing T2C 3308
6 Glauco Pinto DF Icaro Laminar Z9 3274
7 Jonny Durand AUS Moyes LS RX 3.5 3223
8 Brenno Albuquerque RJ Wills Wing T2C 3173
9 David Brito Filho SP Wills Wing T2C 144 3165
10 Marcio Rosadas RJ Moyes LS RS 3.5 3098

http://www.warrenwindsports.com.au/blog/competitions/ring-fire-brasilia-superrace-task-4

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to Table of Contentsto next topic PWC, Guy recovering

Wed, Aug 29 2012, 2:58:11 pm MDT
Walking wounded

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/xcmag/posts/10151028954089103

I’m just back from seeing Guy in hospital, he is doing just fine and is in great spirits, his usual jovial self.

He has a stable fracture of the pelvis, 6 broken ribs, a broken humour (at the top near shoulder), a lacerated kidney and cuts and bruises around his face.  They have not operated on his shoulder yet as they have to wait for the swelling to go down, they expect Thursday.  Everything else will heal in its own time and is not serious.  In the meantime he is enjoying some great pharmaceuticals.

He had an epic experience, to put it mildly.  Two nights out in freezing conditions enduring thunderstorms, rain, severe pain, hallucinations and moments of delusion.  He was not at his wing when we found him, after the first night he decided to get himself out and managed to walk with all the above injuries about 2 miles in 2 days through pretty difficult terrain.  He was in a bit of a state when we finally found him from the helicopter, walking with the aid of a big stick making three inch steps with clothing draped over his head and his arm in a makeshift sling.  He had water and i am confident he would have kept going for another few days and saved himself without the massive SAR operation.

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Moose on the loose

Wed, Aug 29 2012, 3:05:07 pm MDT
Last week we were riding up Jug Handle mountain

And here are momma moose and her little one playing in the water at the base of the mountain:

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The Oz Report, a near-daily, world wide hang gliding news ezine, with reports on competitions, pilot rankings, political issues, fly-ins, the latest technology, ultralight sailplanes, reader feedback and anything else from within the global HG community worthy of coverage. Hang gliding, paragliding, hang gliders, paragliders, aerotowing, hang glide, paraglide, platform towing, competitions, fly-ins. Hang gliding and paragliding news from around the world, by Davis Straub.

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