ClearNav |
Eastern Sailplane Announces Retirement as U.S. Schleicher Representative After more than 30 years, John Murray, the U.S. Schleicher representative based in Waynesville, Ohio, has decided to spend time on other personal pursuits. "Linda and I have been committed to Schleicher and promoting soaring as a profession and a passion. But it's time now to pursue other things besides the day-to-day business of being a representative," Murray explains. "I approach this with great anticipation for the next stage of my life. And, I have huge doubts that I'm doing the right thing. Then I look again and realize it is the right thing and the right time," Murray says." I deeply thank all of you who have supported me so loyally all these years. It has been a wonderful ride." Effective June 6, 2015, Eastern Sailplane will begin the transfer of support inventory to Rex Mayes at Williams Soaring in Williams, Calif. Rex and Noelle are the next Schleicher dealers representing the U.S. As such, Williams Soaring will handle sales, service and parts for Schleicher. Contact Williams Soaring at 2668 Husted Road, Williams, CA 95987; Phone 530-473-5600; Fax 530-473-5315; Email info@williamssoaring.com. Says Murray, "I wish them and Schleicher nothing but continued success. They are certainly on a roll at the moment with the best trainer, 18/15 meter, 20 meter two place, 18/21 meter self launch and open two place. Their product line is remarkable at present. I hope that continues." Murray will not quite float away as Eastern Sailplane will continue its FAA repair station. "As an active repair facility I will maintain spares stock as necessary to support repair activity. I'm looking forward to maintaining many of the friendships I made over the past 30-plus years. I'm very grateful for those many years of support." John Murray, Eastern Sailplane "If you have not updated your in flight computer system for a while, NOW is the time!" From John Murray (LX). It has been many years now since I first flew the ClearNav when Chip Garner had to leave a contest unexpectedly and sort of handed me a pile of very beta looking hardware and said "Good Luck. Please let us know what you think". Amazingly with no manual or printed words or Chip present, I started to figure it out while also winning New Castle that year. Since then there have been about 6 upgrades in software and three complete hardware revisions. Neilsen Kellerman (NK) is very serious about bringing out a serious soaring instrument and has expended tremendous resources to improve this product. There are many times I would have walked away saying "better is the enemy of good enough" but they have been brutal at taking a design which is really quite good and improving it further at great effort and cost. My hat is off to these guys. I think they will be deeply involved in US Soaring for many years to come. Not only are they supporting CN equipment but they have hired Gary Kammerer away from Cambridge (About 10 years experience with CAI all the way back to Vermont days) and he is supporting L-NAV and M-20/25 GPS which CAI has ceased doing. Neilsen Kellerman IS A CLASS ACT! They deserve our support. The Difference
So what is "hidden"? Simply, it is everything you would need for flight setup and ground set up. That is also how the menus are presented. One very easily found "press Menu!" for things you need in flight. List of points, Mc, Bugs, water, Wind, map orientation, back light task issues map and screen options... The second menu is for things probably done on the ground. It is also simple. Press Menu then enter the first menu box "setup menu" this drops you into things like -pilot names, polar, special use airspace, Task directory, way points, flight recorder, tools. The point is that it makes a lot of sense. 1- seldom do you need to change from main screen while flying. 2- Press "menu" and you have the things you need once in a while while flying. Like bugs, water or find a point not on the screen on a complete alphabetic or dist list. 3- Press menu and then locate setup icon and you go to things usually done on the ground. (like enter polar or change databases.) It does make sense, at least to me!
USB Panel Mount
Mounting options The Tunnel Mount : If you have all small inst. and a new panel I suggest an in panel mounting. There is Big news here! Last fall a customer developed a "tunnel" mount for his ClearNav which allowed panel mounting in a tiny panel (Dianna) It sets back the installation of the ClearNav about 1.6 in. behind the panel so that space is saved by allowing small Winter instrument to "underlap" the ClearNav. More important to most of us is that it is a drop dead beautiful installation! Even if the recess in not necessary for space, It just looks great! I used the first one in my ship and really like the results. See the picture of my new panel. We call it the "tunnel mount" Not only does the recessed mounting display the ClearNav beautifully, it also provides shade which seems to allow for the lowest back light setting which has a positive effect on current draw.
Eastern Sailplane has developed with fellow club member Joe Simmers, (ASW-27 owner) a better stick grip controller for ClearNAV. The goal was to keep it in the $325 price point, but present a better looking and more durable controller, with the same excellent ergonomics as the earlier design . The side benefit is easier installation. before, we had to shorten the stick. That is no longer necessary. We made and tested some aluminum prototypes They were very comfortable to the hand and the controller pad was very easily accessed. We think we will switch to black Delrin (a hard plastic) as the color is deeper than anodizing so scratching is not an issue. Check this out. It is very cool!
You can email me at john@easternsailplane.com or call the shop at 513.897.5667. I will be waiting to hear from you. Thanks, |