Minnesota Soaring
Waypoints, Airspace and Tasks
Waypoint data files are now easy to
create using SeeYou and
StrePla software. Files can be generated
that are compatible with a wide variety of soaring flight computers, soaring
flight software programs, and flight recorders. Let me know if you
want a file created for your device.
I have also created airspace files in several formats.
They were generated on March 17, 2006 by importing DAFIF data into
StrePla and exporting airspace data in the Tim Newport-Peace and
Open-Air formats. I then added coordinates for the outline of the
state of Minnesota to the Tim Newport-Peace file. The files were
generated after the change in the Class B airspace in Minneapolis.
Tasks
Below are links to collections of soaring tasks originating from airports in or near Minnesota. The collection was created using SeeYou and StrePla. They make it easy to create and edit tasks on a PC. I used them to find the tasks and to print the task data below. The original SeeYou and StrePla waypoint and task files are included. If you use SeeYou or StrePla you can open the files on your PC to see details on the tasks or modify them. The PDF files are great for printing and bringing to the airport.
Disclaimer
The tasks found below were created on a computer while viewing maps of the
region. The tasks are designed to meet distance requirements and other
considerations. Some of the tasks may look good on paper but may not
be great to fly. For example, some of the tasks extend into Northern
Minnesota and Wisconsin. There are many forested areas in those
regions, and few airports. Plan your flights carefully. I cannot
be held responsible for flights into regions with few landing options.
Also, many private airports are used as waypoints. Many private
airports are great for landing gliders, others are not. The database
used includes all public and private airports in the USA as of April 2006.
| Task Files | |||
| Faribault, Airport, MN - Home of Cross Country Soaring | |||
|
File | Format | Description |
| Faribault and Entire USA.cup | SeeYou Waypoint & Task File | Includes dozens of soaring tasks originating from Faribault. It is a large file because it includes every public and private airport in the USA. You may want to remove some of the distant waypoints from the file. | |
| Faribault and Entire USA.st2 | StrePla Waypoint & Task File | Includes dozens of soaring tasks originating from Faribault. It is a large file because it includes every public and private airport in the USA. You may want to remove some of the distant waypoints from the file. | |
| Faribault-Short-Task.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics on the
Faribault Short Task (FST). This is a new task designed to
promote cross-country soaring. The task includes 3 turnpoints
which are all less than 6.5 miles from Faribault. The total
distance around all 3 turnpoints and back to Faribault is 34.1 miles
(54.9 km). It is a great way to practice cross-country soaring
and speed tasks without ever getting to far from home.
Time yourself to see how fast you can fly the task. Then do it again
and try to improve your speed. Task Rules
|
|
| Faribault-Triple-Crown.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics on the Triple Crown task. To be awarded the Triple Crown you must fly a sailplane over the 3 soaring sites in (or near) MN including Faribault, Stanton and L O Simenstad Airport in Osceola, WI. The total task distance is about 97 miles. | |
| Faribault-FAI-Triangles.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics of many FAI triangles from Faribault. Great for printing and bringing to the airport. | |
| Faribault-Out-and-Returns.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics of many out & return tasks from Faribault. Great for printing and bringing to the airport. | |
| Faribault-Straight-Distance.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics of many straight distance tasks from Faribault. Great for printing and bringing to the airport. | |
| L. O. Simenstad Airport, Osceola, WI - Home of the Red Wing Soaring Association | |||
| File | Format | Description | |
| Osceola and Entire US.cup | SeeYou Waypoint & Task File | Includes dozens of soaring tasks originating from Simenstad Airport. It is a large file because it includes every public and private airport in the USA. You may want to remove some of the distant waypoints from the file. | |
| Osceola-Short-Task.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics on the
Osceola Short Task (OST). This is a new task designed to
promote cross-country soaring. The task includes 3 turnpoints
which are all less than 9.5 miles from Osceola. The total
distance around all 3 turnpoints and back to Faribault is 54.5 km. It is a great way to practice cross-country soaring
and speed tasks without ever getting to far from home. Time yourself
to see how fast you can fly the task. Then do it again and try to
improve your speed. Task Rules
|
|
| Osceola-Delbert.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphic of the Delbert Trophy | |
| Osceola-Triple-Crown.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics on the Triple Crown task. To be awarded the Triple Crown you must fly a sailplane over the 3 soaring sites in (or near) MN including Faribault, Stanton and L O Simenstad Airport in Osceola, WI. The total task distance is about 97 miles. | |
| Osceola-FAI-Triangles.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics of many FAI triangles from Osceola. Great for printing and bringing to the airport. | |
| Osceola-Out-and-Returns.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics of many out & return tasks from Osceola. Great for printing and bringing to the airport. | |
| Osceola-Straight-Distance.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics of many straight distance tasks from Osceola. Great for printing and bringing to the airport. | |
| Stanton Airfield - Home of the Minnesota Soaring Club | |||
| File | Format | Description | |
| Stanton and Entire USA-2008.cup | SeeYou Waypoint & Task File | Includes dozens of soaring tasks originating from Stanton Airfield. It is a large file because it includes every public and private airport in the USA. You may want to remove some of the distant waypoints from the file. | |
| Stanton and Entire USA.st2 | StrePla Waypoint & Task File | Includes dozens of soaring tasks originating from Stanton Airfield. It is a large file because it includes every public and private airport in the USA. You may want to remove some of the distant waypoints from the file. | |
| Stanton-Short-Task.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphic of the Stanton
Short Task. This has been a very popular first cross-country
soaring task at Stanton. It is designed to promote
cross-country soaring. The task includes 4 turnpoints which
are all less than 7.1 miles from Stanton. The total
distance around all 3 turnpoints and back to Faribault is 34.7
miles. It is a great way to practice cross-country soaring
and speed tasks without ever getting to far from home. Time yourself
to see how fast you can fly the task. Then do it again and try to
improve your speed. Task Rules
|
|
| Stanton-Delbert.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphic of the Delbert Trophy | |
| Stanton-FAI-Triangles.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics of many FAI triangles from Stanton. Great for printing and bringing to the airport. | |
| Stanton-Out-and-Returns.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics of many out & return tasks from Stanton. Great for printing and bringing to the airport. | |
| Stanton-Straight-Distance.pdf | Adobe Acrobat PDF | Details and graphics of many straight distance tasks from Stanton. Great for printing and bringing to the airport. | |
Airports
New Airport Database Files for the entire
USA
I did some digging at the FAA and found a free source for electronic
versions of the FAA airport database. I relayed the data to John
Leibacher who created waypoint files which include all the public and
private airports in the USA. They are saved in files that are
formatted for SeeYou and StrePla. The files are available here:
http://soaring.aerobatics.ws/TP/FAA
Glide Navigator II and Cambridge
302 Waypoints
Below are new waypoints file for MN and surrounding states for use in
Glide Navigator II. The new files use a new FAA database that includes
all public and private airports as of March 2006. Also included
are non-airport turnpoints such as cities that are used for soaring
tasks.
Note: These files are sized to also fit into a Cambridge 302 or 302A.
Faribault-Sm-2008.dat
Faribault-Lg-2008.dat
Osceola-2006b.dat
Stanton-Sm-2008.dat
Stanton-Lg-2008.dat
ILEC
SN10 Waypoint and Airspace Database
MN-2006c_s10.ndb - format: ILEC
SN10, This file includes the new MN airspace and waypoints in southern
MN, northern IA, and western WI.
Note: The "c" version of this file uses a newer waypoint database and I
also changed the attributes of all the airports to "L" for landable so
that they will appear on the alternates page in the SN10.
Non-Airport Waypoints for Minnesota
The files below contain non-airport waypoints that I use in Minnesota.
They include cities and other landmarks that have been used for soaring
tasks such as the Stanton Short Task and common badge and record
triangles. What I do is open the large USA airport databases
listed above in SeeYou or StrePla and then open or import the
appropriate file below.
MN Non-Apt
Waypoints.cup - format: SeeYou waypoint file
MN Non-Apt
Waypoints.st2 - format: StrePla waypoint file
Airspace
Minnesota and Surrounding States
MN-Airspace-2008.sua - format: Tim Newport-Peace, Compatible
with Glide Navigator II, includes outline of Minnesota
MN-Airspace-2008.txt - format: Open-Air, Compatible with
WinPilot and SeeYou
Entire USA
Entire USA
Airspace 2008.sua - format: Tim Newport-Peace, Compatible with
Glide Navigator II
Entire USA
Airspace 2008.txt - format: Open-Air, Compatible with SeeYou
and WinPilot