Hi Peter
I can get these flashlights through a friend of mine.
He is even making one available for trails.
I will find out how much they cost and will get back to you.
If you like, you can be the guinea pig and pay me when you
are happy.
The flashlight draws under 20 watt.
Bernard Eckey
FUTURE AVIATION PTY. LTD.
10 Antigua Grove
West Lakes 5021
Adelaide / South Australia
Ph/Fax +61 8 8449 2871
mobile 0412 981204
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
Robinson, Peter B
Sent: Tuesday, 5 July 2005 1:59 PM
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Subject: RE: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM
Sounds good Bernard,
Where can they be purchased, how much do they cost and how much current
do they draw?
Regards
Peter
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of FUTURE
AVIATION PTY. LTD.
Sent: Tuesday, 5 July 2005 1:44 PM
To: 'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.'
Subject: RE: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM
Hi all
Sean, after such a subtle invitation I'm happy to pass on my thoughts on
prevention of mid-airs, Flarm and other safety enhancing devices.
Looking closely at Flarm I have come to the conclusion that,
realistically, we will hardly have more than just a few percent of
gliders equipped with such a device in the foreseeable future. No doubt,
Flarm is great - but it only works properly if all aircraft (not only
gliders) are equipped with it.
In other words, the owner only benefits if all other aircraft owners
also install it.
While attending the AERO trade fair in Germany earlier this year, I
learned about the terrible mid-air statistics in Europe. While flying
over the Alps, and while almost permanently in close proximity of other
gliders, I resolved to install high intensity LED lights. These new
generation LEDs are extremely bright and suitable for integration into
wingtips, nosecones and other non structural parts of a glider. In fact,
their intensity can be directly compared to traditional aircraft
flashlights. Best of all, they consume only a fraction of the power and
are even guaranteed for a service life of 5000 hours. They hardly
generate any heat and can therefore be encased in a clear resin block
which in turn becomes part of the aircraft extremities. As such there
are NO aerodynamic penalties but huge advantages in terms of attracting
the attention of other airspace users. Another big advantage is that the
pilot doesn't need to monitor them in flight.
Sean, you are right, I'm fitting such lights to the wingtip of my ASH
25. However, there is no need to go to such extremes as similar
flashlights are also available for installation behind the canopy. Sized
no bigger than 1/2 golf ball, they get attached with two screws and
hooked up to the on-board power supply. That's all. Pilots who want to
remove this feature while flying competitively can tape over the small
holes in the top of the fuselage.
To sum it up, I believe that with these new flashlights, private owners
and clubs now have the means of reducing the risk of mid-airs without
relying on other airspace users to invest in Flarm.
Fly safely and never forget to look out.
Bernard Eckey
10 Antigua Grove
West Lakes 5021
Adelaide / South Australia
Ph/Fax +61 8 8449 2871
mobile 0412 981204
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of jorgie
Sent: Tuesday, 5 July 2005 7:48 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM
I too want to be safe, however, I would be somewhat concerned if we just
decided to implement something like this without somebody providing some
scientific results of it's use.
The issues we may have is with the large number of new "toys" that we
are finding in the cockpits of gliders. A lot of which are taking the
pilots attention from outside of the aircraft to the inside.
In fact it's not uncommon to find some new pilots who have never know
any different and think that you "need" all of this technology to fly
long distances.
Part of the problem has got to be pilots not looking out of the cockpit,
the other part has got to be how difficult it is to see other gliders,
esp head on. The third part is simply that we can do all things at once
and sometimes you will simply never see the other aircraft in which case
something along these lines would indeed save lives.
Bernard Eckey has just ordered some new tips for his 25 which he has
asked to high intensity leds (I believe) to be fitted to see if that
improves the ability of other pilots to see his aircraft. Bernard,
perhaps you could enlighten us to exactly what you've done.
I'd be interested if somebody can point me towards some information
regarding these FLARMs.
Regards
Sean
---- Geoff Kidd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Mike
If this Flarm system or something better (and immediately available) is
not
picked up and implemented this year as the system of choice for OZ, then
the
Pilots, Owners and the umbrella organization all need to have a good
hard
look at themselves.
As previously mentioned by others in this Forum, the key is that
all/most
Sailplanes need to be fitted for it to be effective.
Given the reports back from Europe, the key issues for us are simply:
a Is this the best available system?
b Is something better on the horizon that is soon to supersede it?
c Is Flarm the defacto standard in Europe?
d What is the best way to implement it here?
All of the above seems to be an appropriate role for the GFA to take,
action, publicise and provide the necessary leadership in this key area.
But
a long evaluation and decision making time is not warranted and in my
view
it would be a travesty if this opportunity is wasted or someone here
thinks
they should now try from somewhere near scratch to come up with a better
Aussie mousetrap.
If the Swiss Rescue Helicopters have evaluated it as being also the best
for
them, then it might even be a no-brainer for us.
Look at what the basic pilots from Europe have said on the other thread
and
all of us should make up our minds.
I wonder what other members of this Forum, more experienced than me,
have to
say on this.
Regards & thanks for your reply
Geoff
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Borgelt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring inAustralia."
<[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 04, 2005 4:08 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM
At 01:56 PM 4/07/05 +1000, you wrote:
I have initiated and am in the midst of a thread on The Glider Forum
where
European pilots speak of Flarm in glowing terms ... both in the
Mountains
and the Flatlands.
It appears that the IGC has not banned its use and 2 pilots report
good
practical results with Flarm when used in contests.
Technically, under the FAI rules it was prohibited under the rule that
prevented data interchange. This was pointed out in an article in
Aerokurier magazine. Common sense has prevailed according to John
Roake's
latest column on gldingmagazine.com
Now we have what appears to be a proven and popular system that is
reasonably economical for Cost and Power.
52mA and A$1000 approximately per aircraft.
Given that mid-airs are a/the major safety issue for our sport, what
are
we waiting for?
Is it a fact that the spectrum is available or not?
Of course it is. Every wireless device attached to your PC uses it as
well
as your microwave oven.
If it is, the GFA should consider lobbying/acting to ensure that the
system is picked up for OZ and EVERY owner should be encouraged or
incentivised to install ASAP.
Given the general acknowledgement that we have a mid air problem in
gliding
you would think this would already be being done wouldn't you? Don't
hold
your breath.
Mike
Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments
phone Int'l + 61 746 355784
fax Int'l + 61 746 358796
cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784
Int'l + 61 429 355784
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
website: www.borgeltinstruments.com
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