The Unofficial XCSoar Manual

From XCSoar

Symbology refers to icons and other graphics overlaid on the map area but which are not specifically map objects.

A north arrow is displayed on the top right corner of the map display.

Wind

A continuous display of wind strength and direction is provided. The wind information is derived from the gliders wind drift during thermal flight (climb mode).

The wind direction and speed are displayed as a wind vector on the moving map display and optionally in numeric form in the data display fields. The length of the vector indicates the wind magnitude, and this magnitude is also displayed near the wind vector.

The wind data is one of many data sources used to calculate final glide information. It is possible to manually adjust the wind used in all calculations.

Altitude required

On the left side of the map display, a box displays the calculated height difference required for the glider to complete the task, or reach the final waypoint. If the glider is above the minimum height required, a green arrow bar is drawn above the box indicating the amount of excess height. If the glider is below the minimum height required, a red arrow bar is drawn below the box indicating the amount of height deficit.

Speed command chevrons

When used in conjunction with an intelligent variometer that produces indicated airspeed measurements, then a speed command chevron is drawn on the right side of the map display. If the glider is flying slower than the optimal speed, the chevrons are red and point downwards. If the glider is flying faster than the optimal speed, the chevrons are green and point upwards. If the speed is approximately optimal, no chevrons are drawn.

Optimal cruise track

The glide computer accounts for wind drift during circling to provide an 'optimal cruise track' vector, which indicates the track the glider should follow during cruise such that it will arrive at the waypoint in minimum time. This vector is displayed on the map as a blue arrow. When wind is negligable, or in final glide mode, this arrow will point along the black line that indicates the track to the next waypoint.

Thermal profile

Statistics on climb rates in thermals are collected and displayed in a thermal band meter. This is shown above the final glide difference bar on the left side of the map display. It is not shown when the glider is above final glide.

The thermal band meter shows a graph, where the vertical axis is height above the break-off height and is scaled according to the maximum height achieved. The horizontal axis is the average climb rate achieved at a particular height band. The horizontal axis is scaled according to the MacReady setting, and an arrow indicating this setting and the glider's current height is overlaid on the shaded area. This scaling and arrow makes it easy to see how the pilot's MacReady setting compares with achieved thermals and to plan the desired working height band.