Soaring Society of America » All Posts https://www.ssa.org/forums/forum/soaring-safety/feed/ Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:30:03 +0000 https://bbpress.org/?v=2.6.14 en-US https://www.ssa.org/forums/topic/unassisted-towed-takeoff-faa-2024-glider-flying-handbook-errors/#post-193710 <![CDATA[Unassisted towed takeoff FAA 2024 Glider Flying Handbook errors]]> https://www.ssa.org/forums/topic/unassisted-towed-takeoff-faa-2024-glider-flying-handbook-errors/#post-193710 Fri, 28 Mar 2025 15:17:02 +0000 Mark Mecikalski The recommendations, both for regular and crosswind takeoff, in the 2024 FAA Glider Flying Handbook, as to which wing to put down before takeoff, are exactly the opposite of the recommendations in the 2013 edition. The 2024 recommendations are wrong. MM

]]> https://www.ssa.org/forums/topic/lower-cost-adsb-out-for-gliders-2/#post-117340 <![CDATA[Reply To: Lower cost ADSB-out for gliders]]> https://www.ssa.org/forums/topic/lower-cost-adsb-out-for-gliders-2/#post-117340 Sat, 15 Jun 2024 02:43:36 +0000 Dan Kvinge Our club has installed a used SkyBeacon on our Grob and it works very well. You can turn off the LED lights in the software and mount it internally on a fiberglass aircraft. Power draw is extremely low. It’s very nice to let other general aviation aircraft see us, and in my experience most power planes that have ADSB out also have Foreflight to monitor traffic. It’s also great for those on the ground to be able to track club ships and know altitude and location, especially if a landout looks imminent (hasn’t happened yet).

]]> https://www.ssa.org/forums/topic/lower-cost-adsb-out-for-gliders-2/#post-96040 <![CDATA[Reply To: Lower cost ADSB-out for gliders]]> https://www.ssa.org/forums/topic/lower-cost-adsb-out-for-gliders-2/#post-96040 Fri, 12 Apr 2024 02:11:14 +0000 Dennis Burke Our club refuses to put ADSB-out in any club gliders, prob because of the cost. But the club tow plane has the SkyBeacon…cause it has to since 1-1-2020. We are just outside of a mode-C veil, so avoiding that mode C might allow skipping the Transponder need.

The safety of being visible to other GA aircraft in a highly congested area would be worth it.

]]> https://www.ssa.org/forums/topic/lower-cost-adsb-out-for-gliders-2/#post-62220 <![CDATA[Lower cost ADSB-out for gliders]]> https://www.ssa.org/forums/topic/lower-cost-adsb-out-for-gliders-2/#post-62220 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 18:47:09 +0000 Dan Kvinge I have recently learned that both the FAA and uAvionix allow equipping gliders with a SkyBeacon or TailBeacon device. These are ADSB transceivers for general aviation, and have been installed by the thousands to meet the 2020 ADSB mandate. They typically work in concert with a transponder when going into controlled airspace, but still function fine as an ADSB-out only device without a transponder if the airspace does not require it. They sell for about $2000, which is less than 50% of the TRIG option. uAvionix sent me a set of instructions on how to install and program for use without a transponder, and a sample 337 Form to send to FAA. It can also transmit a 1202 squawk code, which is set while on the ground and is not changeable in the air. It would be very easy to mount this internally in a fiberglass aircraft.

Has anyone used these without a transponder?
Is anyone using ANY device for ADSB-out without a transponder?

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