Flytec
Wills Wing

Oz Report

Volume 6, Number 207
5 pm, Tuesday, October 8 2002

https://OzReport.com
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

to Table of Contentsto next topic 2002 Columbian Nationals

Tue, Oct 8 2002, 10:00:00 am EDT

Colombian Nationals 2002|Daniel Vélez Bravo|Hector Corrales|Jose Antonio Mejía

Jose Antonio Mejía «josean16» writes:

The Colombian Nationals were held in Roldanillo – Valle, 17-24 August, 2002. 8 days racing with tasks between 55 to 130 kms, 21 km/hour average speed with no wind, not bad for our level, we are learning.

1st place Daniel Velez WW Talon Medellin - Antioquia
2nd place Jose Mejía Icaro MR 700 WR Cali - Valle
3rd place Hector Corrales WW Fusion SP Medellin - Antioquia

Discuss "2002 Columbian Nationals" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Tue, Oct 8 2002, 10:00:01 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Shuttle over Quest Air

Bob Lane|Dragonfly|Quest Air|William "Billo" Olive

Flytec USA «flytec» sends:

Quest Manager “Awesome” Bob Lane flying Greg Billow’s Altair Saturn.  Shuttle launch 39B in the background, October 7, 2003. 3:48pm EST.  Photo platform – The Flytec 912S Dragonfly.

Discuss "Shuttle over Quest Air" at the Oz Report forum   link»

to Table of Contentsto next topic Galileo display – black display

Tue, Oct 8 2002, 10:00:02 am EDT

Galileo

Bräuniger GmbH «info» writes:

1. We discussed the possibilities to get displays with a modified polarisation angle of 90 ° with our manufacturer.  It is possible, but we lose contrast.  It's not so a problem at normal LCD with multiplex rates at 1:4, but we here have 1:240 at the graphic LCD of the GALILEO.

If we get a positive response for a small production lot, we will order it for pilots who have problems with special sun glasses.  So your problem should be solved and may be for some others too.  (This is the first time we had a pilot with such a problem.  I think you should have a look at your notebook computer with your glasses too!  )

2. To change the firmware will cause a lot of other problems, so we will not do any thing in this way.

3. NMEA on line data we will not add to this version of GALILEO, may be at a later update.

Discuss "Galileo display – black display" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Tue, Oct 8 2002, 10:00:03 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Small carbon fiber repairs

carbon fiber|Steve Daleo

Steve Daleo «daleoenterprises» writes:

It's important to keep all the fibers in the skin aligned and unbroken to maintain the full integrity of the wing and the only way to do that is to patch the small holes with some carbon cloth and resin.  It doesn't have to be a messy involved process.

Simply prepare the area to be patched by sanding a small circular area about a half inch outside the crack (I'm assuming these are tiny rock dings). Then, lay a piece of carbon cloth on a heavy piece of clear plastic and impregnate it with resin.

Cut out a circle of the appropriate size and the plastic will keep the edges from unraveling.  If you want to make it really easy, go to the hardware store and buy an arch punch the right size for patches and just punch them out like cookies.

Put a little resin on the prepared skin, flop the patch on with the plastic still intact (be sure you line up weave of the cloth with the fibers of the skin). Use a knife to carefully pull the plastic off of the surface of the patch.  Then, use some clear Mylar packing tape and just pull it tightly over the patched area.  The epoxy will not stick to the tape.

When it's dry, just pull off the tape.  No sanding, no mess and a perfectly smooth surface.

If the patch is bigger, simply lay a piece of Mylar over the patched area, put some foam on top for pressure and tape it down tight.  There's no reason you should ever have to sand a properly done repair.

If this seems like too much work, take the glider to your local dealer for an inspection and touch up. I strongly suggest getting any patches you have done using some other method repaired correctly.

Discuss "Small carbon fiber repairs" at the Oz Report forum   link»

to Table of Contentsto next topic GPS – let’s get vertical

Tue, Oct 8 2002, 2:00:04 pm GMT

Mark "Forger" Stucky

Mark Stucky «stucky_mark» writes (and there were a number of other responses on the Oz Report discussion group – see details for enrolling below):

You are correct that most GPS units derive their 3D position from the GPS signals themselves.  They really do it by solving a series of simultaneous equations (the receiver has to solve for the four unknowns -- latitude, longitude, height, and time). Yes, time.  You may think your GPS receiver has exact time but it needs time down to the nanosecond since a 1/100 of a second error would cause a position error of 2,000 miles.

Anyway, to solve for a 3D position it needs four satellites (to solve the four unknowns). It will resolve a 2D position (no height) with 3 satellites and will only resolve time with less satellites than that.

Due to satellite geometry, GPS altitude error tends to be about twice that of the lateral errors.  This was especially evident when the DoD had the selective availability (fuzzy signal) turned on and altitude errors of hundreds of feet were common.

GARMIN added a barometric altimeter function to some units to tighten up the altitude response as well as allow an altitude readout in areas with poor satellite reception (such as canyons).

Discuss "GPS – let’s get vertical" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Tue, Oct 8 2002, 10:00:05 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Australian Competition Rules

calendar|CIVL|USHGA

calendar|CIVL|Michael "Zupy" Zupanc|USHGA

calendar|CIVL|Michael "Zupy" Zupanc|USHGA

Craig Worth «hgfaops» General Manager, Hang Gliding Federation of Australia www.hgfa.asn.au writes:

The Aussie rules are reviewed by the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia Competitions Committee after each comp season.  The people mentioned in the previous article make up the committee, all are volunteers except myself.

We meet once a year, usually soon after the comps, review the rules, and draft changes as required (we also sanction events and set the comp calendar for the next season). The committee convener, Mike Zupanc, updates the HGFA Competition Manual and circulates a draft to the committee for review prior to its release (Zupy also does this for the CIVL Section 7).

The HGFA has for many years funded this committee to foster competition and to improve our Aussie comps - having clearly laid out rules certainly makes for better events.

Looking forward to a great season - summer is here already!

(editor’s note: One might want to contrast and compare this organizational method with that used by the USHGA.  The number of people is one issue.  The focus of the committee is another.)

Discuss "Australian Competition Rules" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Tue, Oct 8 2002, 10:00:06 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Prizes from the USHGA

USHGA|video

C. J. Sturtevant «georges» writes:

Something to add to your list of what USHGA offers its members: Big boxes of cool prizes for fly-ins!  The goodies include books, videos, license plate holders plus a hefty assortment of T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats

Discuss "Prizes from the USHGA" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Tue, Oct 8 2002, 10:00:07 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Wireless mice

calendar|Worlds

The last time I looked at wireless mice, I was working on Windows 98 Secrets for IDG Publications.  Brian Livingston, my co-author, had a wireless Logitec mouse.  It required a separately powered receiver module plugged into a serial port and line of sight to the infrared receiver from the mouse.  It didn’t work so great.

Given that experience I wasn’t all that interested until recently when I saw a wireless Microsoft mouse for $29.99 at Costco.  Found a GE wireless mouse at the same price at Target and a Logitec at $39.99 at Target.

I purchased the wireless optical Microsoft mouse.  Came home and unplugged my existing USB optical Microsoft mouse and plugged in the USB receiver for the wireless mouse.  My Dell portable running Windows XP found the new hardware and I was up and running without manually installing anything.

The mouse has a radio frequency transmitter.  The receiver is also radio frequency and can be up to six feet away from the mouse.  It is powered of the USB or PS/2 port, so there is no extra power supply.  The mouse feels and works great (just like my wired optical Microsoft mouse), and it doesn’t have a cord, which I’m quite happy about.

Comes with batteries. 

2003 XC/Competition calendar

Australian Open, Deniliquin, NSW, 28th Dec 2002 to 4th Jan
Bogong Cup, Mt Beauty, Vic, 6th to 14th Jan
Australian Nationals, Hay, NSW, 17th to 25th Jan
2003 Flex Wing Worlds Brasilia, Brazil, 17th Aug to 30th Aug

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Discuss "Wireless mice" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The Oz Report, a near-daily, world wide hang gliding news ezine, with reports on competitions, pilot rankings, political issues, fly-ins, the latest technology, ultralight sailplanes, reader feedback and anything else from within the global HG community worthy of coverage. Hang gliding, paragliding, hang gliders, paragliders, aerotowing, hang glide, paraglide, platform towing, competitions, fly-ins. Hang gliding and paragliding news from around the world, by Davis Straub.

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