GPS and Watches for Ximango Flying - Apr 2008

Once in a while there is a company that engages in studying and 
manufacturing products that can help almost all of us to have more fun with our  planes
and our sport flying.

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Date:         Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:08:24 EDT
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Chuck Cheeseman <XimangoUSA@AOL.COM>
Subject:      GPS and Watches for Ximango Flying
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XOG-ers,
 
Once in a while there is a company that engages in studying and 
manufacturing products that can help almost all of us to have more fun with our  planes
and our sport flying.  Such a company is Suunto, a Finnish  corporation that has
a history of manufacturing ship compasses for many  years. 
 
They have more recently gotten involved in multi-function watches, or  "wrist
computers," as you might describe them.  Personally, I have worn a  titanium
Suunto Observer, off and on, for over five years.  Its altimeter  is as good
as the one in your aircraft!  The digital compass requires  attention to
calibration, but is at least as good as your whisky compass.   And this is
seven-year-old technology!  Now you can buy a Suunto with even  more features, such as
a GPS.  I recommend you all take a look at what can  be bought these days as a
recreational wrist-piece, to make your Ximango flying  more fun!
 
Please pass along what your experience is along these  lines!
 
Chuck
Ximango USA
 
_http://www.suuntowatches.com/_ (http://www.suuntowatches.com/)



**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car
listings at AOL Autos.     
(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
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Date:         Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:10:07 EDT
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         John Lawton <Thrmlseekr@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: GPS and Watches for Ximango Flying
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In a message dated 4/24/2008 10:08:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
XimangoUSA@AOL.COM writes:

I  recommend you all take a look at what can  be bought these days as a 
recreational wrist-piece, to make your Ximango flying  more  fun!
Hey Chuck,
 
If flying a Ximango got to be more fun I'm not sure I could stand it!
 
On another note,  I visited the SSA Region 5 North  glider contest in Perry,
SC, on Thursday. 75+ gliders and pilots attending  the contest with 4 classes
competing (15m, 18m, Sport and Standard classes).  Perry is the big annual
event in the glider world in the Southeast. Folks  come from as far as the west
coast to attend. Perry is a really great private  field, too. 5000' of
manicured turf with really nice purpose built facilities  for top notch hosting of the
event. The soaring in those parts this time of year  is usually excellent,
too.
 
We arrived after the pilot's meeting as the entire fleet was gridded and 
prepared for launch. This meant that we had to land over about $12 million worth 
of plastic and EVERYBODY was watching. Fortunately, I pulled off a  greaser.
 
I was really amazed at the level of interest in the Ximango.  Apparently, not
many people had ever seen one up close. Since they were  about to launch the
fleet there wasn't time for any rides, but I think I could  have easily done a
dozen rides if I'd chose to stick around. Given that there  were about 10
self launchers competing, and a Stemme rep who was there who  wasn't competing,
it appears that self launchers are gaining steam in terms  of popularity
amongst the glider crowd. I think a lot of glider drivers are  starting to see the
advantage of self launching.
 
On yet another note, we recently completed a total refinish on an Urban Air 
Lambada motorglider. The owner is a long time friend and when he came to pick
it  up on Wednesday we had a chance to go flying together for a couple of
hours  for a little side by side comparison. Although we launched late (about
5:30PM)  it was a pretty decent day with 6-8 knotters going to about 8000'. The
Lambada  is clearly outclassed by the Ximango. I had a 160lb passenger, he 
didn't. I pulled away from him in every thermal in the 2 hour flight (and  he's a
very good thermal pilot). He had to crank his engine to keep up with  me on
the home run glide of about 30 miles back to my field at the end of the  day.
The difference in performance in all respects was striking.
 
This is one very happy Ximango driver who previously had a Lambada on  order.
 
Regards,
 
John  Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135



**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car
listings at AOL Autos.     
(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:36:01 -0400
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Randy Newberry <rgnewberry@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: GPS and Watches for Ximango Flying
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I monitor this list because I'm interested in buying a Ximango someday.  I
was flying the Lambada and even though I think the Ximango does have the
advantage over the Lambada, I didn't think I got burned as bad as John says.
The only time we glided together, was just after takeoff and I followed him
for a couple of miles.  I know it is no true test for such a short time and
he was 3/4 miles ahead, but I thought glides were similar, at least for
those few short miles.  In the first lift he found I came in later and was
circling up to his level, I noticed his prop turning.  Mine was off. He left
and I continued to work.  A few miles down the ridge he hit a nice one and
took it to cloudbase.  I finally came under him, climbed to within 1500' of
him, lost it and we both left to search for the next one, in different
directions.  Me across the valley and he down the ridge.  I only found sink,
started the engine and motored back up to where I'd left John.  He radioed
that he was half way back to the field and I didn't see him again (until I
landed).  I shut down and also glided back and did not restart until I
taxied to the hangar.  I'm new to sailplanes and motorgliders and it was my
first time flying with another glider. I think I'll stick to flying by
myself.



> On yet another note, we recently completed a total refinish on an Urban
> Air
> Lambada motorglider. The owner is a long time friend and when he came to
> pick
> it  up on Wednesday we had a chance to go flying together for a couple of
> hours  for a little side by side comparison. Although we launched late
> (about
> 5:30PM)  it was a pretty decent day with 6-8 knotters going to about
> 8000'. The
> Lambada  is clearly outclassed by the Ximango. I had a 160lb passenger, he
> didn't. I pulled away from him in every thermal in the 2 hour flight (and
> he's a
> very good thermal pilot). He had to crank his engine to keep up with  me
> on
> the home run glide of about 30 miles back to my field at the end of the
> day.
> The difference in performance in all respects was striking.
>
> This is one very happy Ximango driver who previously had a Lambada on
> order.
>
> Regards,
>
> John  Lawton
> Whitwell, TN (TN89)
> Ximango #135
>
>
>
> **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used
> car
> listings at AOL Autos.
> (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1398 - Release Date: 4/25/2008
> 2:31 PM
>
>
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Date:         Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:49:30 EDT
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         John Lawton <Thrmlseekr@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: GPS and Watches for Ximango Flying
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In a message dated 4/26/2008 11:46:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
rgnewberry@EARTHLINK.NET writes:

I  monitor this list because I'm interested in buying a Ximango someday.  I 
was flying the Lambada and even though I think the Ximango does have the 
advantage over the Lambada,
 
Hey Randy,
 
Sorry, wasn't meaning to throw off on you or your Lambada. No  offense
intended there mate! I am just thrilled that the Ximango performs  as it does. You
will recall when I ordered my Lambada in February of  2006, I entered into a
dealership arrangement with the distributor in  California and was supposed to
be the southeastern representative for  Urban Air. That was until Urban Air
repeatedly lied to me regarding  the status of my order, then decided they
couldn't deliver my  demo Lambada under the contract terms they fully agreed to 
over a year earlier. I am elated that my deal with Urban Air fell  apart the way
it did because the result was that I wound up with  Ximango #135! The Ximango
was the right choice for me and I think it'd be  the right choice for you,
too, especially being as tall as you are. I  firmly believe the Ximango is the
best kept secret in two place motorgliders  that are currently available.
 
I have and do fly with other gliders regularly, although I'd not  yet had a
chance to fly side by side with a Lambada to compare performance.  I previously
had opportunity to fly a Lambada in California, but it wasn't a  particularly
good day, so I was curious about the actual performance versus  what is
claimed by the factory. Performance measurements for my Ximango  show that the
published numbers are slightly understated, at least for  #135. I'm always
comparing performance with other people that I fly  with and have for 30+ years. I
try to squeeze every bit of performance  out of what I'm flying and I always
have going back to my earliest hang gliding  days in the late '70's. I'm sure you
do to, since that is the nature of pilots  everywhere, especially glider
pilots.
 
Fred and I were both very surprised at the obvious difference in  performance
between the Lambada and the Ximango, that's all. We  expected your Lambada to
go much better, especially with fresh paint  and seals. I know you are a
great thermal pilot, so that only leaves  the airplane. Published numbers show
that the two are supposed to be  much closer in performance than what we saw on
Wednesday. The Ximango weighs  almost twice what the Lambada does, yet only has
about 2 meters more wing  (and no flaps). The Lambada wing is very closely
related to  the Schempp-Hirth Discus, essentially being designed by the same
engineer.  Thus, the Lambada wing is a much more modern design. The Ximango  is a
much older design and doesn't have many of the modern  design features that
are incorporated into the Lambada wing. Despite  that, the Ximango clearly has
significantly higher performance in all respects,  i.e., engine on cruise
speed, engine off glide and sink rate,  etc. You even said so yourself after I
picked you up at Marion County  airport and we worked our way back to my field
running along the  west plateau.
 
The clouds we motored to and were working up near  Pikeville were perfect for
comparing engine off performance, i.e.,  wide 6-8 knotters going all the way
to base. That is precisely why I lead you up  that way. Sorry, Randy, but
neither Fred, nor I ever saw you up  anywhere near where we were. We rapidly
climbed away from you early on  under the first cloud after I shut down. We stayed
higher and  well out front the rest of the flight. We loitered under the first
 cloud for a good 15 minutes waiting for you to catch up, but that  never
happened. Ultimately, we moved on to the next cloud and then the  next. We were
expecting you to stay in closer for pictures, as we had  talked about before we
took off, but that didn't happen. We figured if you could  have, you would
have been closer. I understood that you were not used to  flying close with
other gliders and I intended to give you a wide berth if you  were close by so as
to not make you nervous. I even told you that before we took  off. I'm
comfortable in a crowd so long as everybody is turning the same way, so  there was
really nothing to worry about.
 
When I decided to head back to the field I called you on the radio and  told
you I was heading back because the clouds were breaking up and the  soaring
day was ending. Fred saw you turn and presumably head towards  the field after I
called, although your return radio transmission at the  time was
unintelligible. I only stopped to turn in lift once on the  way back, and then only for a
couple of turns. At that point we  saw you and you were still well behind and
below us. Fred said he  thought he saw you crank your engine on the way back
and initially I  figured that your radio distortion was coming from alternator
noise. I guess  not. We did a dozen wing overs over my field to burn off
altitude upon  arrival because we arrived back after a 30+ mile glide at over 5000'
agl. I  was fueled up and put away in the hangar well before you  landed. 
 
You probably should have your radio and antenna system checked. I have the 
test gear and I'd be happy to sweep your antenna and coax for you to  determine
if that is the source of the problem. The antenna you have installed  isn't
the best choice for airborne transmission on a plastic airplane. That type 
antenna is designed to be used on a metal airplane, not a composite  airplane. I
noticed when we had your bird in the shop that the ground plane  installed for
your antenna is very poorly done and is probably too  small to be effective.
That could be the culprit causing the distortion. A  dipole antenna would work
much better than the half dipole that you  have installed, since a dipole
doesn't need a ground plane. I would  recommend this antenna for your setup:
_http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/antennasystems.php_
(http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/antennasystems.php)    I have one of these on
my Europa and routinely talk to ATC 60+ miles  out. The antenna also does not
need to be out in the breeze on a composite  airplane, since fiberglass is
invisible to RF. Sometimes a bad  coax connector will show up as distortion with
the "antique  modulation" (AM) radios, too. I also have the test gear to check
the  output power of your radio, but my experience tells me your problem is 
possibly in the coax connectors, but more likely caused by the antenna  and
ground plane or your radio is off frequency slightly and needs  adjustment.
 
Obviously, I ruffled your feathers. I'm fully aware that you  monitor this
forum and I certainly wasn't trying to upset you. I'm just  thrilled with my
Ximango! Perhaps you'd like to do another flight and  compare again?  I'd be
happy to meet you up at Clinch Mountain if you'd  like to compare again. Lunch is
on me.
 
BTW, I see Jim McCann still has that Ximango I told you about a while  back
advertised on Wings and Wheels.....
 
Regards,
 
John  Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135