News

June 2022

I am still not flying LS6 yet

I have been fit and well and capable since 2019, but a couple of little tumours left over from 5 years ago have costed me dear (in terms of getting my driving license back and flying solo)

Thank you very much to my "David's 2-Seater Chums" who have done lots of good flying with me 2019,2020,2021 and 2022. For some reason I seemed to gravitate to gliders with a CNv ...
Thanks especially to:

L99 (ASK 13) which we added a CNv to
954 (Nimbus 3DT) with a CNv
CC (Ash 30) with a CNv
X66 (Arcus T) with a CNv
620 (Duo Discus T) which we added a CNv to

The main work I did was until last year was the colour display. But I have been laying down foundations for future developements and I am hoping I get back to more of a normal development / release cycle for the CNv. There are several interesting developments to come - more of this in the coming months...

Now the HAWK is out I really want to get back to the work I was doing in 2017 - where I very nearly had the inertial platform working and that would have led to the inertial gust filter and instantaneous winds...

Spring 2017 (retrospectively)

Cancer strikes!

Things were going so well in Spring 2017...

LS6 and my trusty CNv had some good flights (test flights*))

* all flights are test flights :-)

A couple of 5,000 pointers on the ladder:

And a fast O/R Hembury Hill along with a couple of fast LAS-CBN-HUN-LAS

Ladder - Apr 19th

(which ending up give me the Chilbolton-Hungerford Cup for the fourth year running)

CNv Development

Work was progressing on the inertial platform which is a large step towards the inertial gust filtering - the "Holy Grail" of variometry.

... and then Cancer strikes!

As I reported on LashamWeather soaring forecasts I had been diagnosed with stage 4 malignant melanoma, with tumours popping up all over the place.

And only two days after getting the diagnosis I had a bleed on the brain I hadn't even seen the oncologists yet, but now they had my attention...

... and lots of stuff had to go on the back burner.

I won't bore you with all the details of my treatment and recovery - I'll do that another day or another place.

But I do hope you bear with me and understand I haven't been able to give my full attention to everything:

Flying LS6. I miss it so much - it is sh!t here on the ground.
CNv development. Actually a great deal of work has been done, not necessarily in the order I would have liked (or customers would like), but the foundations are there for making the "best vario in the world" even better
Other ClearNav development. I have not had much time to work on new technology which would help allow for new software, running on a variety of platforms, to integrate with the CNv. I have tried some interesting stuff though...
Soaring forecasts (LashamWeather). I did actually do a nearly full service in 2017. In 2018, with the demise of parts of the LashamWeather site and without the ability to send emails I did not do a full service. However, I did try out a lot of new stuff on a lucky/select few and would be good to be able to share new capabilities like that with everyone...
Forecasting software. I intended to rewrite my weather software - which helps making and presenting soaring forecasts. I have been threatening this for years. I'd still like to find the time for that...
ClearNav UK I have been supporting customers, but have not been pushing sales. I need to do something about that now...

David Masson (written Feb 2019)

News Archive

11th May 2018

CNv Release 3.6.4512

For more details please see the following on the ClearNav website:

27th March 2017

CNv Release 3.6.4250

Vario release

The 3.6 release incorporates all changes (new features, improvements, bug fixes) made since the last public release, 3.3.3899. This includes the final versions of changes made during the 3.5.x beta releases.

For my UK customers:
- If you on any older release then I recommend you take this new release - but do read all the release notes please!
- I won't be supporting any old beta versions - I will simply suggest you upgrade to this new version
(Please ask if you are not sure!)

CNvUtility release

This release goes along with the CNv 3.6.4250 release. It incorporates all changes (new features, improvements, bug fixes) made since version 2.7 (which went with CNv version 3.3.*).

My Thoughts

In my other roles (as the developer and happy user) I will say a bit more:

The improvements in this release concentrate on things that support the pilot in flying faster – better cruising, better support for the decision to climb or not, improved cruise/climb transition, better averages and aids which help with better centering.

I am making a few bold claims – I think altogether it is a greater step forwards that any previous release. It is worth a few kph – and that is worth a fortune!

I hope you all agree...

David

For more details please see the following on the ClearNav website:

1st February 2017

ClearNav Instruments Under New management

See announcement on the CNI site

12th November 2016

CNv Release 3.5.4155 beta

Vario improvements

This release adds some minor improvements and bug fixes over 3.5.4089 beta.

For my UK customers at least I would say:
1) If you were already on the 3.5.4089 beta I do recommend you take this new release
2) If you are on an older version (eg: 3.3 or earlier) and are going to fly before next season you could think about it
(Please ask if you are not sure!)

CNvUtility 3.5.2 improvements

This release adds some minor improvements over the 3.5 beta

If you muck about with polars this is quite nice:

Graphical display of polar at min and max wing loadings (dry and full ballast)

Display units may be changed

For more details please see the following on the ClearNav website:

14th May 2016 (retrospectively)

Congratulations to Graham McAndrew & Bernie Morris...

... for what is probably the biggest and best flight on the BGA ladder in 2016 - on the BGA ladder

(The KRO syndicate love their CNv)

21st October 2016

Congratulations to Adam Woolley...

... who is now the Australian 15m national gliding champion - soaringspot

(Adam is a keen ClearNav user and loves his CNv)

July 2016

CNv Release 3.5.4089 beta

The improvements in this release focused on supporting the pilot in flying faster – better cruising, better support for the decision of when to stop and climb, improved cruise/climb transition, and better cruise/climb averages.

Vario improvements

CNvUtility - new options

Speed to fly mode (none / classic / block)

Speed up tone & Slow down tone

Pre-empt climb

New option to to use TE in cruise

Deadband (is also alterable on the CNv)

For more details please see:

July 2016

UK Promotional Prices!

Please check out the extra special prices for UK bundles.