midtoad's blog

Using a PDA in a glider

I'm now setting up a Palm TX to act as a flight computer for sailplane flying, using a Wintec WBT-201 Bluetooth GPS for positional data, and logging, and SoarPilot as the navigational software.

SoarPilot can act as a final glide computer, telling whether you can make it to goal or not, and if so, at what speed you should fly. But even en-route, it can also tell you what speed to fly between thermals, while taking into account your glider's performance polar curve, and the expected strength of the thermals (McCready ring setting). SoarPilot also has a moving-map display that will show you where you are in relation to your waypoints, and to designated airspace that you may need to avoid. You can define a task and it will help guide you around the course. If you load in terrain elevation data, it will even tell you what your ground clearance is.

The only hitch in using this software, and my hardware, is the energy consumption. With Bluetooth turned on, my Palm will run down its batteries in under 5 hours. So I picked up a sealed 2.2 Ah lead-acid battery (about the thickness of a VCR tape, though not as tall), and attached a dual cigarette-lighter plug to it that I bought at Canadian Tire. From there, I'll power my Palm with a car charger, and I'll power the GPS with a car USB cable.

In order to manage some of the data I needed, I got a copy of SoaringDotNet. I used its airspace editor (and a copy of Transport Canada's Designated Airspace Handbook) to define the airspace I'll need to avoid.

I've got everything loaded up now on the Palm. Now it's time to go for a flight and test it all out (I've already been testing it while driving around in my car).

Here are some files that may be useful:

* airspace data for the Columbia Valley and SW Alberta: suadata.sua
* waypoints for the same area: waypoints.cup
* flight polars for many gliders: polars_spl.pdb
* 3D terrain data for all southern Alberta & BC: SoaringPilot_terrain_db.pdb
* all the main Rockies peak names, in Google Earth format (from peakfinder.com): RockiesPeaks.kmz

Mountain biking from Canmore to Banff, and back

Today I went for a little ride on the Cannondale hard-tail, which I picked up at Bow Cycle on the way out of town. I started out in downtown Canmore, and rode to Banff on the wild west side of the Bow River, then back again on the highway side. I found a little adventure along the way.

30 years of flying Mt. Swansea

Barry Howie launching off Mt. Swansea in 1977 with an Eagle Cloud, built by him in Invermere.

Stewart launching off Mt. Swansea in 2006 with a Wills Wing XC; photo by Reni

On August 13, 2006, I celebrated an anniversary of sorts by flying my hang glider of Mt. Swansea. 30 years and a few days earlier, on August 9, 1976, I made my very first flight off the same mountain. Some things have changed, and some have remained the same, in the intervening years

Problems with tracklogs displayed in GoogleEarth

There's a problem with flight tracklogs (at least for my part of the world) displayed in GoogleEarth. They are not overlaid in the correct position on the satellite image. Nor are any of the roads in the Canada Roads overlay, either. But worse, as you drag the satellite image around on the screen, the tracklog moves around as well, either increasing or decreasing the error in its location.

Big wind, big thermals, big height

With the jet stream sitting right over Invermere on the weekend, there were some strong winds aloft: SW at 45 kts at 12000', and over 50 kts at 18000'. On the ground, the wind was over 30 km/h all day Saturday. But around 17:00 it suddenly began to lighten off, and pilots began to take an interest in flying. I prepared my rented PW-5 glider and was second off, at just before 18:00. Then the fun began.

Crossing the valley

(pic above: Mount Nelson from the west)

Recently I had a chance to achieve a personal first while soaring in a sailplane at Invermere, BC: cross the Columbia River valley and get up on the mountains to the west. It's a whole different world over there!

Low-and-overs: good or bad idea?

Last Sunday, while I was pushing a 2-33 glider off the runway at Invermere, a sudden flash of movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was a sailplane travelling at right angles to the runway, 2m off the ground, at 200 km/h in close proximity to people, buildings, gliders and spectators. This is of course what is blithely referred to as a low-and-over. I'd like to kick off a discussion as to whether this manouver is a good idea or not.

Two GPS units for sale

I've got two GPS units for sale, both in excellent shape.

First one is a Garmin Geko 201, a very small unit perfect for paragliding or as a backup unit for hang gliding. It records in 3D (i.e. it records your altitude as well as position) and has room for 10,000 track-log points (that's enough for an 8-hour flight at 3-second intervals). It goes aboout 12 hours on 2 AAA cells. I'll throw in a neck lanyard and a waist clip for it, and an adaptor for a handlebar mount. You can get full specs here.

Price $100 Cdn.

Second one is a Garmin eTrex Vista, only slightly larger than the Geko, but with a higher resolution screen. It also records in 3D with 10,000 track-log points. But it has glide-angle software, so you can tell how well you're gliding and what the required L/D is to your goal. It also has a barometric altimeter and a digital compass which is very handy when you trying to find your way out of the woods after landing out! It goes about 12 hours on 2 AA cells. I'll throw in a padding waist-clip / carrying case, and an adapter for a handlebar mount, as well as a USB download cable. You can get full specs here.

Price $160 Cdn.

Free delivery to Golden is included!

reach me at: stewart 'at' midwinter 'dot' ca, or (403) 714-4329.

American Cup competition back in 1986

Reprising a post I made on the HPAC mailing list yesterday, with the addition of a few pictures...