News

December 4, 2000: We will have a booth at the 2001 SSA Convention in Indianapolis,  where we will be showing the latest and greatest in Pocket-PC glider software, and the compatible hardware.  Please stop by the booth to take a peek and say hello.

November 27, 2000 Version 2.03:

• Simplified flying Area Tasks - now the Assigned Areas can be shown on the screen independently from the task (turnpoints) being flown. This has been accomplished by always showing Areas defined in task A, regardless of which task is selected as active. This allows selection of turnpoints within an area to compute the final glide. 
• To optimize performance on particular platforms, separate builds have been created for Casio E-11/15 and Compaq Aero 1530 (Windows CE 2.11), Compaq Aero 1550 (Pocket PC - Mips), and iPaq (Pocket PC - StrongARM).

November 24, 2000

1. We have just come back from a week-long visit to Filser factories in Germany and Slovenia. It looks like there is a strong interest from both sides to cooperate. We should have quite a few announcements on this soon.
2. For pilots going to South Africa we have the airspace and turnpoint files available here.
3. Mr. Peter Zander has added support for WinPilot ADV in the SR940 Flight Computer - corresponding changes in WinPilot should be done soon.
4. The beta test of WinPilot PRO and ADV for Compaq iPaq is going very well, people who are using the unit are impressed with its performance. It looks like the iPaq will be the platform of the future for WinPilot software. Currently, there is also a monochrome version available in Europe, for people who prefer a slightly better contrast over having a color display.
5. The Preview Release has fallen so far behind the commercially shipping versions, that it is no longer an indication of what to expect in WinPilot Advanced, or WinPilot PRO. To solve this problem, we have suspended its availability on our web site, and we recommend that people interested in WinPilot load one of the commercial versions, and run it in the Simulator mode (almost all the features can be tested there) - click here to download. Additionally, we are planning on enabling the commercial versions to run without a license for an hour, or so - please let us know if you are interested in testing such a version.

October 25, 2000

The beta of WinPilot PRO and ADV for Compaq iPaq  has been made available (click here to download). It includes a new installation routine, which hopefully will make the setup process much easier. There is just one file that needs to be downloaded and run from the desktop, and it installs all the pieces in the right places on the iPaq.

October 10, 2000:
An updated and edited WinPilot manual has been published.

September 7, 2000:

We now have in stock custom cables for Compaq AERO 1550/1530 that include +12V Voltage Regulator. They can be bought at $75 (no software purchase necessary). To order, click here.

August 21, 2000 :

To celebrate our third season on the market, we have some goodies both for the existing users, are for the potential new ones.
For the existing users we are introducing a new, hopefully more attractive update program. The price of an update in the new program stays the same - $49, but instead of a single update, it now buys all the available updates within either the first, or second half of a year. That is, for $49, a user gets all the updates between January 1st and June 30th, or July 1st and December 31st. As an added bonus, all updates until the end of this year are free, and can be obtained from our Download page.
For the potential new users we are introducing a new option of purchasing WinPilot. Since Windows CE devices have become more popular, and many pilots have become familiar with them, it is our assumption that there are quite a few people who wouldn't need our full phone and email support to operate WinPilot. Therefore, as an experiment, we are offering an option to purchase WinPilot software only, without (or with a very limited) support at a reduced price. See the Prices page for details. 

Version 1.196:

• Added Auto-Start task triggered by the glider going through the defined start line.
• Reimplemented Statisctics. Now, Stats are decoupled from the Fly Task page, and have their own page accessible through Menu.Stats. 
• Added display of current leg cross-country speed in the lower right corner of the map.
• Start Gate is now visible also at higher Zoom level (Zoom 50).

August 8, 2000 Version 1.195:

• Added another Task Editor, more suitable for in-flight task editing. It allows insertion of a turnpoint into a task via the GoTo page, and changing the order and number of turnpoints in a task.
• The new Task Editor comes with a 3-touch task generator. If no task is currently set, invoking the GoTo.Task... page creates a task to the finish point (attribute 'F'), or Home point (if 'F' not present) via the turnpoint selected on the GoTo page. All of this can be accomplished with just three touches of the screen.
• Invocation of the GoTo page via the map screen has been enhanced. The pilot still moves his finger in the direction of  intended flight to get the list of turnpoints in that direction, but now it is also possible to select if only the close-by turnpoints should be shown (vs. all of them), depending on the length of the drag arrow.
• In addition to selecting turnpoints in the direction of the drag arrow, the GoTo page when invoked via the Menu now also allows displaying turnpoints located in the direction of flight.
• At the request of competition pilots, the GoTo page when invoked via Menu.GoTo, now also has an option (filter) enabling turnpoints from a selected task to be shown for selection. This simplifies flying Area and Post Tasks.
• The GoTo page now also remembers the most recently selected filter (task, direction of flight, all, etc...), and applies it when invoked via Menu.GoTo.
• Simplified CF installation - better troubleshooting, no logger connection needed for setup (accessible via Menu.About page).

July, 24, 2000. Several pilots will be using WinPilot in the upcoming European Gliding Championships in Lusse, Germany.
Thanks to our German representatives (and Volkslogger manufacturers) Johannes and Georg Garrecht, we have an airspace file available for that contest. Click here to download it (file updated 7/31). Johannes and Georg will also be present at the competition to provide support for WinPilot and Volkslogger users.

July 15, 2000. Version 1.191:

• Implemented a new way of selecting the next turnpoint. All the pilot has to do is touch the screen and move finger in the direction of the intended flight. This results in a list of turnpoints in that direction, from which the pilot can select the one he wants to fly to. The GOTO page is also accessible from the Menu page.
• Pilots can now switch between True and Magnetic North for navigation (using Menu.Map.True North checkbox)
• Implemented reading serial number of the B50's - this makes using CF cards unnecessary for people who don't have a logger (requires a B50 made after June 15).

June 12, 2000. Version 1.183:

We have reclaimed the lost territory! (screen territory, that is :). There was a problem with switching off the Taskbar in the newest release of Windows CE named Pocket PC. Version 183 of WinPilot removes this limitation. Here is the full list of changes:

• Made it possible to run WinPilot full-screen on Pocket PC devices like Compaq Aero 1550. To run the software full screen, select Menu.Map.Full Screen (available on Pocket PCs only - on older machines the Taskbar can be turned off by a WinCE command: Start.Settings.Taskbar.AutoHide.
• Made airspace and turnpoint files optional. If turnpoint file is not found, a default turnpoint (Minden) is created.
• Implemented automatic assignment of HOME airport (if no turnpoint with 'H' attribute is found in the turnpoint file, the first airfield, or the first turnpoint on the list become HOME).
• Added check-box allowing switch the Climb Maximizer on or off, for times when pilot is thermaling very close to a restricted airspace segment. It can be accessed on the Menu.Map.Climb Maxiximizer page.
• Enlarged the thermal crossection display in WP PRO.

June 9, 2000
To better position WinPilot among existing software products, our product line has been revised.
WinPilot will now come in three versions.
The entry-level version (a subset of the old WinPilot Lite) will be called WinPilot Preview.
The more advanced version that has arrival labels for reachable airports, full logger support, 3D wind display, area tasks, and other features now becomes WinPilot Advanced, priced initially at $399. 
The top-of-the line WinPilot PRO remains unchanged - current price $499.

May 20, 2000. Version 1.178: 

• Per request of record seekers added the '% of task distance' column to task editor, so pilots can now easily verify if  legs of a task adhere to the 28% (or 25%) rule (Sporting Code - 1.4.6b ). To provide more help with setting up FAI triangles,  a 'FAI' indicator has also been added. Now, when the task being created is a closed task with four entries (start point, two turnpoints and a finish point), and no leg is shorter than 25% or longer than 45% of the task distance (for flights of 750km and more), or no leg is shorter than 28% (for shorter flights), WinPilot will automatically display the 'FAI' indicator on the Set Task page.
  
• Added an option to separate attributes of airspace (like color, line width, etc.) from the airspace definition file itself. Therefore, if a user defines his own preferences for how the airspace should be displayed, they will be preserved even when a different airspace file (like an update, or a file from a different site/country) is loaded. For airspace authors this also gives an option to specify different colors for monochrome, or color screens.
  
• Simplified installation for systems without a logger (see FAQ #6).

May 6, 2000. Version 1.174: Added Playback speed control and time zone setting to IGC-File Playback, and made Bugs setting persistent (Std and Lite). The persistent Bugs setting has been introduced in response to requests from pilots who feel that the published polar data are too optimistic to their particular glider. This setting gives an easy option of adjusting the factory polar to reality.
Added PDF format to our User's Guide page.

April 20, 2000 Version 1.173: Added secure IGC-log transfer from Volkslogger. Made 1-touch-turnpoint setting persistent. Made invocation of the Fly Task page set the active one-touch turnpoint to the currently active task turnpoint.
WinPilot User's Guide has been updated to v 1.173.

April 12, 2000
With the new features related to handling IGC files, WinPilot now becomes a potent tool for analyzing/playing back flights. Pilots can now take their WinCE devices on a train ride, into a waiting room, etc, and use the time that otherwise would have been wasted to view (or play back) their flights, and hopefully learn from their mistakes (should there be any :). They can also use many PC-based programs for analyzing flights, WinPilot generated logs are now the most detailed in the industry (1-sec fix rate, all flight params recorded).
Here is a full list of new features added in version 1.169:

• IGC-Format Flight Recorder with 1-second resolution (records basic IGC plus Ground Speed, Track (Lt, Std) and additionally TAS, and Compensated Vario (Pro)).
• IGC-File Viewer
• IGC-File Playback
• Climb Maximizer has new orientation of the graph (vector-up indicates the place of roll-out)
• Active Task is now persistent between program's invocations

March 29, 2000
To help new users with troubleshooting cable connections between GPS and Windows CE device, we are making available an application that shows the NMEA stream (if any) as seen by the serial port. See our faq page for more details. 

March 27, 2000
We are pleased to offer a scaled down version of WinPilot Lite called WinPilot Preview Release  free of charge to all who request it. This version contains functionality of a basic flight computer with a  moving-map. Click here for details.

WinPilot Easter '2000 Price Special - We are offering a $100 discount on all versions of WinPilot until the end of Easter '2000. See the Prices page for details.

March 25, 2000

WinPilot version 163 adds IGC file transfer functionality. Now, after the flight is over, the pilot can copy IGC logs from a Volkslogger to his Windows CE device (these devices have enough memory to store all flights from an entire season). The function also copies  log files to a Compact Flash Card, if one is present.

March 6, 2000
Current UK Standard Class Champion shares feedback after flying with WinPilot PRO and L-NAV side by side - click here.

March 6, 2000
WinPilot release 162 adds the following:

• Improved painting of Area Turnpoints (when a Turnpoint Area covers a segment of SUA airspace, both the airspace and Area are now visible)
• When a new task is selected in Task Editor, the AREA button shows whether or not this task contains Areas
• Turnpoint labels underneath an active pop-up are now touch insensitive
• Added coordinates display to Task Editor
• Statistic pages are now disabled for AREA tasks

February 24, 2000
WinPilot family welcomes its newest member: the Westerboer VW921/922 flight computer.
Starting with release 1.158, WinPilot PRO and WinPilot Standard can be used with that system.
Also, Dr. Westerboer, Hofhansel & Cie GmbH company has joined the list of WinPilot dealers.
This is a very exciting development, especially for the European market, where over 1200 VW921/922 systems are already in use.

February 17, 2000
WinPilot version 157 adds the following features:

• AREA turnpoints (as per FAI Sporting code, Section 3, Annex A)
• Start Gate for FAI tasks (badges or records)
• Gps-altitude readout from $GPGGA sentence.

February 8, 2000
WinPilot Release 1.155 breaks free from the requirement of having a logger for the Std and Pro versions (the Lite never required a logger). 
Now, a GPS-Altitude from a general-use GPS unit  can also be used (12 channel receivers are strongly recommended). Please note that the GPS Altitude is less accurate (Garmin site states that errors can be +/- 150 m, or +/- 450 ft). This accuracy is however quite sufficient for the 3D Wind Display and Climb Maximizer features to work properly in WP Std and Pro. For the Final Glide, users with GPS Altitude now have the following choices: a) add the worst case altitude error to the usual safety margin, or b) select Altitude Required to be shown.

February 3, 2000
Due to popular demand, a table comparing features of different WinPilot versions has been added to out web site, click here to see it.

February 2, 2000 Those interested in learning more about WinPilot will get a chance to do so at the two upcoming WinPilot talks:

• 2/19/2000 (Saturday) - at Carl Herold's Cross-Country Seminar at Berkley, CA, there will be a talk titled: "Cockpit Displays Enabling Safe Recreational XC Pilot Decisions"
• 3/16/2000 9.a.m. (Thursday) The first talk of the SSA Convention in Albuquerque : "WinPilot: the arrival of Palm-sized PCs in your cockpit"

January 29, 2000
WinPilot release 1.154:

• Changed the semantics of pop-up boxes. Now, when a turnpoint is touched, its pop-up box stays on until the screen is touched again. The pop-up boxes are now updated in real-time.
• Improved error reporting for invalid Airspace and Polar files.
• Added Statue Miles as Distance Units.

January 11, 2000
A page with ready-to-load polar files for almost 50 gliders has been added to our web site. All the data comes from Carl Herold, a well known authority on the subject. Now, WinPilot users can get polar data file for the glider they are flying with just few clicks of a mouse.

January 8, 2000
WinPilot release 1.149 adds the following:

• Fully customizable menu page - now any function can be assigned to any button, with any text in any language
• 'activate on button-up' semantics of menu activation - if the wrong button is pressed the first time, the user can slide finger to the correct button without activating the first one
• NAV Boxes are now touch insensitive, preventing inadvertent invocation (they can now be changed from the main menu)
• enlarged "Menu" hit test rectangle now is easier to invoke 
• Pop-up messages now have brighter background and larger font on E-15 
• Start/Stop Task Button moved from main menu to the Fly Task page 
• Max L/D added to Polar Page 
• Audio added to Climb Maximizer (WP Pro only)
• Added an option to manually set variation in turnpoint files - useful for loggers that don't report variation (e.g., Colibri)
  Now, a magnetic variation can be specified in a turnpoint file, and it will overwrite whatever the GPRMC record says. The relevant part is at the end of the record, after the comment, where you can put: *Vnn (where nn is an integer number, negative for E variation)   For example, to specify Easterly variation of 20 deg for a given soaring site, place: *V-20 after one of the records, like this: 16,39:00.000N,119:45.200W,4718F,ATH,MINDEN ,12/30 122.8 *V-20

January 4, 2000
Introduction of the SkyClimber of the Year Award for the best average rate of climb in a thermal of
at least 1000 meters altitude gain, in a glider in free flight, made in the calendar year 2000.
Click here for details.

December 18, 1999

With release 1.146 WinPilot PRO users have the benefit of a 3D Thermal Analyzer. Click here for details.

December 13, 1999

The prices for a new E-15 drop BELOW $200.

December 11, 1999

WinPilot Article in Sailplane&Gliding, Dec/Jan 1999 

 Thanks to Ed Johnston, a '99 UK Standard Class Champion and WinPilot STD user,  UK pilots had a chance to learn more about WinPilot, thanks to Ed's excellent article published in Dec/Jan issue of S&G. Page 1 Page 2

December 9, 1999
With the release 1.143, the users of WinPilot Pro and Standard now have the most advanced wind display available anywhere! 
The 3D Wind Display clearly shows wind speed and direction at different altitudes using easy to interpret 3 dimensional vectors. 
Click here for details!

December 1, 1999
The Chat Room session went quite well, we had several people asking questions and suggesting ideas. Until the next time, everybody.

As an experiment,  there will be a live WinPilot chat room available on our site on  December 1st, at 12:00 (noon) Pacific Standard Time (20:00 GMT). Stop by for a visit, learn about future plans for WinPilot, suggest your ideas, voice your complaints (hope there won't be too many of these :), or just interact with other people interested in WinPilot. You can check out our chat room even now, by clicking here.

November 20, 1999
    With the release of version 1.138, WinPilot Lite switches to CompactFlash distribution model.

November 15, 1999
    As per popular demand, version 1.136 added easily selectable multiple polar, turnpoint, airspace and task files.
Renters can use multiple polar feature to quickly switch to another glider, and frequent travelers can switch to another turnpoint/airspace database in an instant. In case of very dense airspace/turnpoint coverage, pilots can also create files for selected directions, and quickly choose between them right before takeoff (or even during a flight).

November 9, 1999
    We are very excited to announce that Paul Crabb, pilot well known on the international gliding competition scene, and also a computer engineer, has decided to join the WinPilot Team as representative for the UK! 
    Paul's unique mixture of top-level gliding talent and knowledge of issues related to writing computer software makes him a great source of input and advice that will help guide WinPilot into the future.

Below Paul talks a little about his background:
My brother and I ( Stephen -- the other half of Crabb Computing ) have been
gliding for the last 12 years, we both have LS8's, fly for Ireland as the
Irish team in international comps ( competed at the worlds at Bayreuth - won
the first day, ended up 18th and 22nd ) , I am the current European Standard
Class champion (poland 1998), have flown in UK nationals for the last 7
years, have flown in competitions in Spain, France, Hungary, Germany,
Poland, Finland, South Africa.