Andrew and I will set and score XC tasks during this year’s Mingus Fly-in. The format will be similar to that of the past few years, and I’m inclined to continue the tradition of setting a single task each day for everyone, regardless of wing type or skill level.

To fly a task you need a GPS that can produce a track log. It will help immensely if you have one that can also be programmed with a route (a series of way points) and has some support for proximity cylinders around way points. If you have questions about whether your device is sufficient, contact me, and I’ll help you work it out. If you’re thinking about buying your first GPS for flying or you want to upgrade from something like an ETrex, Forerunner or Foretrex, contact me, and I’ll help you select the best approach for your needs and budget.

The waypoints are available, in several different formats, at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/w1u94wv5mcpu ... 1bBLsxqMXa.
If you know how push waypoints into your device, please pull them from the link above and push them into your device. If you don’t know how do this, don’t worry about it. I will be available in the mornings and the evenings to push waypoints into and extract track logs from your device. I will have the following cables with me:
• USB Mini (Newer Garmin 76 models, Flytec, Flymaster, some phones)
• USB Micro (Many phones)
• Garmin 4-pin RS232 (Older Garmin 76 models)

If your device requires another cable, please bring it with you. The laptop I’m using has a D-9 RS-232 serial connector as well as USB ports. If your device requires a special driver to connect it to a computer or you have some other requirement, please contact me soon so I can prepare accordingly.

If you know how to pull a track log from your device and you will have the ability to do so at Mingus, please feel free to pull it and e-mail it to me or bring it to me on a USB memory stick. Otherwise, please plan to connect with me in the evening or the morning on the mountain, and I will pull the track log from your device. This is important because to score the task I need track logs from everyone who tried to fly it.

If you have never flown a task before, but you have some cross-country experience, please consider joining us. There are plenty of pilots who will help you program your GPS device and provide advice for flying the task of the day.

If you have questions or need help with something, please contact me at j_r_wolfe@msn.com or 520-906-4868.