Soaring Backup Systems

You spent more money then you care to admit to your spouse on upgrading the panel of your sailplane. It's functional and sexy, it's no longer using wire and twist-on cap splices purchased at Home Depot. You even prepared for different failures. But can you actually fly on it?

In my nimbus 3, I had a 302/303 and a 302a for my backup. I also flew with an iPAQ running SeeYou mobile. In case of a battery failure the 302a was connected to its own power. One day out on task I had GPS antenna issues with the 302 and needed to rely on the 302a. I did not have a navigation screen connected to it... It was recording but not helping me navigate. The next season I was running a 303 display and a second iPAQ connected to the 302a. This might have looked overkill, but it was the way to make the backup system race-able in-case of a main battery or 302 failure.

You spend the extra time and money to have the redundancy. You are ready for failure, can you really use that backup system? If you lose your primary vario, how well can you fly without the audio? Do you think you could fly speed to fly without the speed director from your fancy new computer?

Turns out if you have been flying with audio for many years going back to a mechanical vario can be somewhat of a challenge. This was proven by one pilot at Perry last month. He had an audio failure and thought he would be able to race around the course quietly. Turns out he could not. It is very different to race, cruise at speed, pay attention to other sailplanes, etc without the audio help. You might say you remember your first 5hr flight in a 1-26 with a pellet vario... But that was many years ago, could you really do that now?

It only takes a little distraction to miss a thermal or two.

Plan for the unexpected when building your panel. Practice the unexpected.

 Garret Willat holds a flight instructor rating with over 8000 hours in sailplanes. His parents have owned Sky Sailing Inc. since 1979. He started instructing the day after his 18th birthday. Since then, Garret has represented the US Junior team in 2003 and 2005. He graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics. Garret represented the US Open Class team in 2008 and 2010 and the Club Class team in 2014. Garret has won 3 US National Championships.