Originally Posted by
18greens
I wonder how many power pilots do check the ASI ion the takeoff run Also why is it not a check in a glider?
When you're on the ground and stationary in a glider there's no way to reliably check to see if the ASI is working.
In gliding you're tought to fly by attitude and you quickly gain a feel for the right picture for various speeds. So an ASI failure isn't necessarily a big thing - but does focus the mind a bit. The trick is to remember to keep flying the aircraft and don't become completely fixated by an instrument failure. An altimeter failure isn't a big problem either (providing you're not near the base of airspace). Glider pilots don't use the altimeter for landing - they're taught judgement skills (often part of the training is to blank off the altimeter to make sure it's not being used as a reference - this develops a particularly useful skill for when you've taken off from an airfield that's a different height from where you're landing). Vario failure's not a problem either - if the houses are getting smaller, you're climbing!