[Red]

Campers,

I have no wish to start a debate, here. This is just a call for assistance, with a very interesting project. I realize that this is a topic which may generate a bit of heat at times. If you know what a Thermal Snooper is, you either love it or hate it. FWIW, I love it.

The inventor of the Thermal Snooper is now developing a new version. He is seeking a few good HG thermal pilots, who would be willing to test and report on his new version. Prior good experience with a Snooper would be most helpful, but I believe an open mind is equally valuable, here.

Please PM me with a bit about your flying, past and present, and I will pass a list of volunteer pilots to the inventor.

Thanks.

[Bob Kuczewski]

I have no wish to start a debate, here.

Why not? We could use a good debate to liven us up a bit.

This is just a call for assistance, with a very interesting project. I realize that this is a topic which may generate a bit of heat at times. If you know what a Thermal Snooper is, you either love it or hate it. FWIW, I love it.

The inventor of the Thermal Snooper is now developing a new version. He is seeking a few good HG thermal pilots, who would be willing to test and report on his new version. Prior good experience with a Snooper would be most helpful, but I believe an open mind is equally valuable, here.

Please PM me with a bit about your flying, past and present, and I will pass a list of volunteer pilots to the inventor.

Thanks.

I fly both mountain and coastal sites, and I usually fly a few times a month.

I would be interested in giving it a try. How much do they cost?

[Red]

BobK,

Mountain flying is what we need. This is a volunteer project, so far, but there will be no cost for the instrument; it just gets returned to the inventor, after all of the reports are sent in. Right now, I know of no commercial units available for purchase. I would expect the unit to be wasted effort, on a coastal site. Thermals, not lift, are the name of the game for this instrument.

I'm collecting names of future volunteer pilots, but I make no promises, there. The inventor will choose his team of testing pilots. You are welcome, on the list that I am collecting.

This is just a call for assistance, with a very interesting project. If you know what a Thermal Snooper is, you either love it or hate it. FWIW, I love it.
The inventor of the Thermal Snooper is now developing a new version. He is seeking a few good HG thermal pilots, who would be willing to test and report on his new version.
Please PM me with a bit about your flying, past and present, and I will pass a list of volunteer pilots to the inventor.
Thanks.

I fly both mountain and coastal sites, and I usually fly a few times a month.
I would be interested in giving it a try. How much do they cost?

[Bob Kuczewski]

BobK,

Mountain flying is what we need. This is a volunteer project, so far, but there will be no cost for the instrument; it just gets returned to the inventor, after all of the reports are sent in. Right now, I know of no commercial units available for purchase. I would expect the unit to be wasted effort, on a coastal site. Thermals, not lift, are the name of the game for this instrument.

I'm collecting names of future volunteer pilots, but I make no promises, there. The inventor will choose his team of testing pilots. You are welcome, on the list that I am collecting.

It sounds like a good project. I probably don't fly enough thermal sites regularly at this time, but if you're rotating it through a bunch of pilots, I might be able to dedicate a week to trying to fly a mountain site every day to help the cause. Besides, making a commitment like that would force me to get out and fly more often ... and that's certainly not a bad thing.

Good luck with your testing project. It's a cool idea, and I love that people are willing to try new things.

Bob Kuczewski

[satman2953]

Red;

Being a Pg and PPG pilot I don't get too much speed in my bag but I do search out thermals on a regular basis and have read about these units and have no Preconcieved notions on their reliability so if you can use a PGer put me on the list I fly @ Soboba.

Steven Snyder
602-686-3334

[Bob Kuczewski]

Hello Steven!!

It was great seeing you at our Second Sunday on the 14th!
The flying was a big zero, but we enjoyed your company!

Bob K.

PB140008sc.JPG (30.39 KiB) Viewed 13785 times

PB140009sc.JPG (23.54 KiB) Viewed 13785 times

[Pilgrim]

Well,
Did this go anywhere? I was unaware of this line of discussion as I just joined the group. Has a new and improved Snooper been developed?
Pilgrim

[DarthVader]

by Red » Sun Nov 14, 2010 1:38 pm

This was an old post or is it now? how did that get on here?

or is Red posting? if he is cool

[Bob Kuczewski]

Thanks for finding this topic. I'd forgotten about it, and your recent posts prompted me to send an email follow-up to Red. Maybe he can fill us in on what's happened with the project.

Also, for those who don't know about it, Red offers some good general hang gliding tips on his web page at: http://www.xmission.com/~red/. It's worth a little time to read.

[Red]

Well, Did this go anywhere? I was unaware of this line of discussion as I just joined the group. Has a new and improved Snooper been developed?
Pilgrim

Pilgrim,

The short answer is yes, but this is a work in progress. I sent the inventor a list of twenty names, and he chose some pilots to do evaluations on the new version. Some prototype units went to Australia. One unit has been sent back from the tester, but I do not know what results he got. That unit will now go to somebody else on the list. I do know the unit is not in "production form" yet, due to recommendations for batteries and mounting hardware, coming in from the testers. I have a lot of hope for the project, because I have had good flights due to the old Snooper that I still use. If the only thing it did was to warn me when not to launch into sink, I'd buy a new one today.

I do not speak for the inventor, but I can probably add more volunteers to the list, in case any more are needed. Interested pilots are welcome to PM me.