Sounds Like
The old F-8 Crusader, although the purpose on that A/C was to improve viz. on short final. Doesn't raising the Angle of Incidence create more Drag (LIFT) assuming the Fuselage keeps its Pitch Angle? That sounds like trading AS for Altitude, Down draft or no. The net gain (loss) of altitude depends on the velocity of the airmass downward. Merely climbing (in an updraft) puts energy in the Bank for later. Or you can gain AS (energy). I may not understand correctly; I have small time in Hang gliders and sailplanes, my motto is Powerless flight is just a negotiation with the airmass, riding the elevator and looking for thermals. It is blessedly satisfying.
Last edited by airfoilmod; 8th Apr 2008 at 14:14.
Reason: Grammar