Nick, I used the faster time constant Winter mechanical on every single flight (the standard Winter is a nice instrument, but the faster version is magnificent). It wasn't there as a backup (although it obviously could have served that purpose). It was there as the primary. It was better than any electric I flew with, and came with a guarantee that no computer algorithm was between the reading and what I could feel.
I often flew with the audio volume low - so that I could hear the air. This was particularly important in the Discus at high wing loadings, as the feel was damped. I heard Ingo on this subject (turn down the audio volume) in casual conversation. If it was good for Ingo then I figured it was worth doing too. My view is that any volume dial has "turn up for SLOW" as a consequence not just the radio. That's not an argument against audio vario - it's an argument to use it judiciously and not drown out the sound of the air. The Winter got me home on the last weak thermal of the day a couple of times. The electrics were still working fine, but the Winter had greater sensitivity. By the way, I also tried a Sage mechanical for a couple of seasons, and went back to the Winter. Get your wiring right. Don't save cents on low grade wire. Replace batteries regularly, and install a backup. Use a good charger. Probability of failure reduces from low to very unlikely. But still have a mechanical because it helps centering, and in weak lift, and helps you to figure out the language of the air moving past the cockpit. Cheers Bruce Sent from my iPad from a comfortable couch seat in temporary retirement (from gliding) > On 27 Apr 2015, at 7:14 pm, Nick Gilbert <cirru...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Surely a backup electric vario is a more useful backup than a mechanical? > With its own emergency battery you get a backup audio and averager as well as > the needle. With all the stress that goes with a power failure having to > stare at the instrument would make things worse. > > Nick > > >> On 27 Apr 2015, at 5:41 pm, Peter Champness <plchampn...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> I have just been choosing instruments for a new glider. >> >> I did wonder for a moment after reading Adam's post whether I had wasted >> money on the Winter Vario. >> >> However I agree with Mike. A set on basic instruments (redundancy) is good >> insurance. In my case I have something in case of electrical failure. >> >> No doubt thermal can be found and used without any instruments, but it >> difficult. >> >>> On Mon, Apr 27, 2015 at 5:32 PM, Mike Borgelt >>> <mborg...@borgeltinstruments.com> wrote: >>> At 08:14 AM 27/04/2015, you wrote: >>> >>> There’s no need for a winter backup now >>> >>> Maybe not a Winter vario as backup but you should have a backup. Adam's >>> advice is probably the silliest thing I've read in a long time. >>> >>> The only time you may reasonably want to rely on one vario is in a >>> motorglider if you are prepared to start the motor and fly home if the >>> single vario fails. >>> >>> Too bad if you are half way round a 500km triangle and set to win the >>> Nationals if you do reasonably this day. >>> >>> For the paleo engineless gliders you are likely to risk an outlanding with >>> its attendant hazards. Pretty stupid to risk breaking your glider or >>> yourself over lack of a backup. >>> >>> If you are serious about competition you should be equipped to cope with >>> single failures of equipment. Most people carry two flight recorders for >>> good reason. >>> >>> A main navigation system and some reasonable backup is also necessary. >>> Hint: fly with the backups working. The time to find out they have failed >>> is NOT when you've had another failure. >>> >>> The backup vario may also have a different speed of response and will >>> likely just display TE vario. Your primary should be showing netto >>> (airmass) or relative netto ( airmass offset down by the sink rate in >>> circling flight - this means it always shows the rate of climb you would >>> get if you slowed down and circled, no matter your current airspeed). The >>> two varios may show slightly different information without changing modes >>> which can be useful. >>> >>> We've all had even modern electronic equipment fail. Phones, PC's GPS , etc >>> etc. It is pretty good nowadays but anyone doing what Adam says is tempting >>> fate, Murphy's Law and what a physics teacher of mine called "the innate >>> cussedness of inanimate matter". >>> >>> When you decide to use a backup you might like to consider that the Winter >>> doesn't have an audio or an averager. Do you really want to be sharing >>> thermals with other gliders without an audio? If flying cross country you >>> would find you would miss the averager. >>> >>> If you have a backup electronic vario it should have its own independent >>> backup power supply. While a glider electrical system can be fused properly >>> so that the radio for example developing an internal short doesn't take out >>> the main battery fuse (and if everything dies because of this or similar , >>> are you going to simply flip the switch to battery 2 and take out *its* >>> fuse also?) I suspect many aren't. >>> >>> If you decide to join the 21st century for your backup vario get in touch >>> and I'll sell you something you'll be happy to fly with when you need it. >>> >>> Mike >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> ____________________________________ >>>> Aus-soaring mailing list >>>> Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net >>>> To check or change subscription details, visit: >>>> http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring >>> Borgelt Instruments - design & manufacture of quality soaring >>> instrumentation since 1978 >>> www.borgeltinstruments.com >>> tel: 07 4635 5784 overseas: int+61-7-4635 5784 >>> mob: 042835 5784 : int+61-42835 5784 >>> P O Box 4607, Toowoomba East, QLD 4350, Australia >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Aus-soaring mailing list >>> Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net >>> To check or change subscription details, visit: >>> http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Aus-soaring mailing list >> Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net >> To check or change subscription details, visit: >> http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
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