[Cumulus] Some Cumulus experiences

[Eggert Ehmke]

Hello,

some remarks from the user point of view. I am currently attending my first 
competition (the "Berliner Meisterschaft") and use Cumulus on my N810.

Hardware: it is important to have the internal battery loaded when starting a 
task. When connected to external battery with empty internal battery, it 
starts charging and is not usable in this state. This seems logical and I just 
ignored the fact. So my first competition day had to be done without Cumulus 
:-( The LX20 did not show me a restricted area in advance, so I earned some 
penalty points.

Next day, I had the N810 loaded and it worked fine for a 5:30 hours flight, 
with external battery connected. We had area tasks with 40 km radius for two 
turning points. Unfortunately, the area task setting is a general setting, so 
also the final destination was regarded as turning point with 40 km radius. 
When I was on my final glide, 40 km ahead of the destination Cumulus told me, 
the target area was reached and did not do any more glide path calculations.

The airspace warning worked very well, no penalty this time! :-)

I think we need area setting not as a general configuration, but for each turn 
point separately. This would allow to give the destination point (that must 
not be the airport) a radius of zero or 500m, while the other turn points are 
handled as defined by the competition.

I know this is work, and Axel already does load of work. Depending on my job 
situation, maybe I can contribute again in this winter. But please comment on 
this objections.

If interested, you find the competition web site here:
http://www.blms-2011.de

The flights launched from Neuruppin this year (including the "Berliner 
Meisterschaft" flights on 26/27.7) you find here:
http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightsOfAirfield.html?aa=NEURU1&st=olcp&rt=olc&c=C0&sc=&sp=2011

Happy flying
Eggert