CompeGPS is my program of choice for displaying and working with GPS tracklogs. It’s also the program we use for scoring competitions with GPS. The developers have been very active adding new features and format support to the progam, it supports a lot of different map formats.

The latest version 5.3 have a plug-in to support the newest 3D data from the US Geological Service, with a resulution of 100×100 meters. The maps cover almost the entire planet, with the notable exception of landmass north of 61° north. A lot of our flying in Norway is done above the 61° line. (Yes we have very good thermals) I have some GPTOPO30 3D data that covers all the world, but these have 1000×1000 meter resolution.

Wishlist for 2004 – Free vector based 2 and 3D maps for Norway with 10×10 meter resolution.

I’ve been flying with a Icaro Skyrunner helmet for quite a few years now. I got my first one when I started flying, and it saved my life when I flew headfirst into a rock after a failed takeoff from Vole. The one I fly with now have been with me since easter 98, and is quite beaten up by now. Icaro released the 4Fight half face “head fairing” last year, looks nice but have no protection. It was quite popular, and this made Icaro design a real helmet with the same shape.

Guess what I’m gonna get for Easter ? ;-)

Just downloaded CompeGPS 5.0 and played with yesterdays tracklog, most of the new features are in the 3D mode of the program. The thermals are calculated and marked from the tracklog, and you can view the flight in “realtime” with a glider that turns and banks like real. Update and evaluation version can be downloaded from http://www.compegps.com

These images are from my flight yesterday at Sundvollen. The orange and red cylinders are thermals.

Another useful program is SeeYou, a Slovenian program originally made for Sailplane use, but nice for all free flight logging. SeeYou’s killer feature is integrated 3D maps. You can download an avaluation version from http://www.seeyou.ws Both SeeYou and CompeGPS read IGC files for the tracklog. Newest version of GpsDump can write IGC files, as well as read old flights from the international flightlog and save to IGC format. Highly recommended!

Just got a call from TollPost speditor, my Brauniger Galileo have returned from service in Germany. Should have it on Monday. I’ll write a review when I have it back and can play with it some more to get all the details right.

I got an email from Moyes that my glider was sent last Tuesday. Should be here next week. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for no damages. Last year it was fine, but two years ago the box had forklift holes and a broken speedbar.

Gordon Rigg took his glider short packed in the luggage from Oz back to UK. When he got it at Heathrow it had a 45 degree bend in it. Both crossbars, leadingedges, keel and A-frame broken. Only thing whole was the speedbar. He took the sail in the suitcase so that was OK. BA charged him AU$1000 for the extra wheight. Hope they pay up for the damages.