New Varios from Braüniger and Flytec

Brauniger IQ One+

The new instrument range from Brauniger and Flytec seems to be aimed at the pilots buying their first instrument. The instruments have the most basic features, and looks more user-friendly than before. There is not much info on the websites yet (Flytec only have a picture, no info)

The display is as usual different between the factories, Brauniger have the traditional round vario indicator, while the Flytec version have the stacked bars. Judging from the fields visible in the display there is no GPS functions, the logger funtion seems to be a barograph only. The Braunigers are called One and One+, where the + version have an extended memory for logging up to 130 hours of flight data. Check out the Brauniger IQ One+ product page at the Brauniger website.

Oddly enough the Flytec version is called 6005 GPS, it does not look like a GPS enabled instrument, judging from the size and display. The Flytec version (Pic below) does not have markings on it – I call a marketing bluff from Flytec!

Flytec 6005 GPS ??

The market for a non-GPS enabled instrument cannot be that big, every pilots that I know like to look at the tracklogs in Google Earth or SeeYou after flight, even if it’s a sled ride or boring ridge soaring. But if the price is right (as in low enough) it might be a good idea. The electronics and housing should be much cheaper to produce now than when the IQ basis and 4005 was launched.

Drilling holes in the air

I spent the weekend flying and working on the Dragonfly tug. It was nice weather for flying both days, and not much movement in the air even with clear blue skies on Saturday. It was cold to fly, but covering all exposed skin and adding some ekstra layers of clothes made it tolerable.

I used my Loki jacket and pulled the integrated mitts over my Skyline gloves to keep the fingers warm. It was too cold with just gloves, so the extra mitts really worked well.IMG_1315.JPG

The tug needed some electrical work with the water temp gauge malfunctioning. I got a new digital engine management instrument, and mounted it on Sunday. It worked really well, but I wish I could have kept the old analouge rev counter as it was more readable. Picture of the revised panel, engine management is the lower digital instrument.

I also found a coolant leak from a rotten hose from the radiator, and replaced it with a new hose. Life is so much easier with a hangglider, no engine to maintain and just some wires that needs replacement every 100 hours. But then again I flew 2 hours in beautiful conditions on Saturday, while the hanggliders were having 5 minute sled rides from Norefjell. You can’t have it all…

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Finally some thermals

Brønstad in actionI went to Sundvollen on Sunday, it was windy, and I spent some hours checking over the Falcon that one of our students had landed in a tree. The glider looked suprisingly fine, it just had some marks in the sail. No holes or rifts, I disassembled both leading edges to check them thoroughly and they were OK.

Terje Brønstad carried his glider down the stairs, and was the only who flew in the windy period. He reported some turbulence. Since it was too windy for the Falcon, I went to Vik and had dinner with Frode and Krister. While we ate it calmed down and became soarable. I watched 4 gliders ridge soar, but it was too late for me to set up again.

Monday afternoon looked very promising with nice cu’s and NW winds. I met Steinar and Petter at Sundvollen again and set up the Falcon. The conditions were very good while we were setting up, but calmed down to almost nothing when we were ready. Typical… All 3 got a sled ride down. I had a borrowed old Moyes harness, it was too short and very difficult to get the right position in. Guess I should have held on to my Skyline until I got the new one.
Petter and Steinar went up for another flight, and Tor Inge came there too. I helped him set up and fly his new WillsWing U2 for the first time. He did well, but the takeoff was a little nose high.

It’s very easy to relax and make a sloppy takeoff when it’s “enough” wind, that’s when most pilots make the big turn back into takeoff. It’s much safer to keep the nose down and run like hell even if it’s windy, it gives you much more energy and thus more control. You might need it sometime, so it’s better to make it a habit.

Since I have no good harness I have to find some alternative way to get airborne. Today I went to Spydeberg and dug out the hangar with the Dragonfly from the snowdrifts. Thanks to Terje S who cleared the snow with his tractor it was quick not much work. The plane seemed fine, so I decided to take it for a flight. We probably need to cover the radiator, since the engine ran very cold in the sub-zero temperatures.

Tugging at SpydebergIt was very nice conditions, clear weather and nice thermals. I thermalled the Dragonfly in pretty good lift. I could see some very nice clouds, and lots of overdevelopment around. Over the Swedish border it looked like a small CuNimbus might develop, but it died out quickly and dumped lots of snow instead.

Some more pictures from the air today

Steinar had a good thermal flight from Ringerud, and Arne Kristian flew with PG from Grefsenkollen.

Picture contest

Kenneth Karlsen was the most accurate in the pic contest, he had been flying sailplane in the area with a turnpoint just east of where the photo was taken. Here’s another picture that explains the PG view :-)

Tugging at Kongsvinger

I took off from the strip at Kongsvinger with the Dragonfly, flew to Kirkenær and back again in beautiful but cold weather. Very nice flight after working many nights with maintenance on the engine.

I put all the pics online in a album. I am testing new album software, and this Ajax based zenphoto album was quite nice, but still have some bugs.