Re: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM

[Geoff Kidd]

No problem Bernard. I'll pinch the big mirror out of the dining room and conduct the test while my wife is in town.   Geoff     ----- Original Message ----- From: FUTURE AVIATION PTY. LTD. To: 'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.' Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 6:06 PM Subject: RE: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM Hello Geoff   Tests conducted by the manufacturer indicate that the shiny surface of a modern glider acts as a reflector and greatly enhances the overall effectiveness of a strobe light (fitted to the top of the fuselage). This is only one of the reasons why a simple visibility test over a range of distances is not fully indicative of the real benefits of such strobes.   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 Geoff Kidd Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 9:35 AM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM   Thanks for that Bernard,       I will trial the unit at the farm at distances of 500, 1000, 1500 & 2000 m and make a decision on the visibility, before fitting it to the ASW 28.       That way I can return it in good condition and without drilling holes, if the light isn't outstanding in bright daylight.       Does anyone in this forum know what work has been done with battery operated strobes in front of a focusing reflector to provide best strobe light in a defined direction?   Best regards   Geoff     ----- Original Message ----- From: FUTURE AVIATION PTY. LTD. To: 'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.' Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 9:54 AM Subject: RE: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM   Hello Geoff You are most welcome to trial the flashlight. If you don't like it you simply return it to me. Otherwise you submit EUR 278. How does that sound to you? 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 Geoff Kidd Sent: Wednesday, 6 July 2005 10:03 AM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM Bernard, If Peter doesn't take up your kind offer, I will offer to be the pig (Guinea). Regards Geoff ----- Original Message ----- From: "FUTURE AVIATION PTY. LTD." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.'" <aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 9:42 AM Subject: RE: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM > 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: aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > 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." >> > <aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> >> > 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 >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> 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 > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 _______________________________________________ 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

_______________________________________________
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