About to start gliding lessons
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Inverness-shire
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't worry - like almost every sport/skill one goes through a phase of thinking that you've cracked it and then it all goes to worms for a bit. Golf is a classic example (so I'm told!)
With gliding it's the same - you crack the operation of the stick. Then that difficult b******* in the back makes you start using the rudder & the stick control goes haywire for a while & then it all comes together. I expect you've done that bit.
Then when you've cracked landings with him doing the brakes, he makes you do the brakes and it all goes to pot again (but only for a while). So don't take it to heart, have fun.
Swapping from glass to K13 & back does not strike me as beneficial though. Try to stick with one or the other if possible.
With gliding it's the same - you crack the operation of the stick. Then that difficult b******* in the back makes you start using the rudder & the stick control goes haywire for a while & then it all comes together. I expect you've done that bit.
Then when you've cracked landings with him doing the brakes, he makes you do the brakes and it all goes to pot again (but only for a while). So don't take it to heart, have fun.
Swapping from glass to K13 & back does not strike me as beneficial though. Try to stick with one or the other if possible.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Rochdale
Age: 48
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well you are right about most of what you say, but you've lost that pound I'm afraid 
I am pretty gentle with the control column, in fact Sunday I was too gentle and ended up using too much rudder and not enough stick, although I'm told this is probably because of the twin to k13 issue. Some more experienced colleagues have pointed out that the twin, if anything, is under ruddered and the k13 has a massive great big rudder. So when I put a bootfull of rudder in, in the k13, and not much stick.......
My turns were awful, but at least I know what I was doing wrong!
I am pretty gentle with the control column, in fact Sunday I was too gentle and ended up using too much rudder and not enough stick, although I'm told this is probably because of the twin to k13 issue. Some more experienced colleagues have pointed out that the twin, if anything, is under ruddered and the k13 has a massive great big rudder. So when I put a bootfull of rudder in, in the k13, and not much stick.......My turns were awful, but at least I know what I was doing wrong!
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well you are right about most of what you say, but you've lost that pound I'm afraid I am pretty gentle with the control column, in fact Sunday I was too gentle and ended up using too much rudder and not enough stick, although I'm told this is probably because of the twin to k13 issue. Some more experienced colleagues have pointed out that the twin, if anything, is under ruddered and the k13 has a massive great big rudder. So when I put a bootfull of rudder in, in the k13, and not much stick.......
My turns were awful, but at least I know what I was doing wrong!
I am pretty gentle with the control column, in fact Sunday I was too gentle and ended up using too much rudder and not enough stick, although I'm told this is probably because of the twin to k13 issue. Some more experienced colleagues have pointed out that the twin, if anything, is under ruddered and the k13 has a massive great big rudder. So when I put a bootfull of rudder in, in the k13, and not much stick.......My turns were awful, but at least I know what I was doing wrong!
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wor Yerm
Age: 68
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The yaw string is a useful device, but when learning to fly, it's far better to look out at the horizon and use that as a reference for rudder application. It gets the pilot's eyes outside and the real horizon is very easy to use as a reference. May I suggest that the reason you are not using the correct amount of rudder is because you haven't learnt to look out properly (or rolling on a heading hasn't yet been demonstrated to you) and not because of a change of type. Flying a different glider does set some people back, but generally not for long. When you have the correct proportion of aileron to rudder, the glider will roll on its longitudinal axis and there will be very little yaw. Next time, when you turn (after your lookout) look to the horizon and apply the controls. Too little rudder and the nose will yaw away from the turn. Too much and you'll get yaw into the turn.
As for the effectiveness of the rudder, well anything you are likely to fly in the near future will have enough rudder. I say that after having flown a K13, Twin Astir, Acro, Janus, ASH25, K21, T21, T31, Caproni Calif etc. Our German friends have pretty good designers and test pilots (even Grob - I'm not a fan. But flying one is is like spending a night with a Kangarillapig, you'd do it but wouldn't tell your mates afterwards) and make sure that their products are properly controllable. Otherwise it wouldn't be sold.
PM
As for the effectiveness of the rudder, well anything you are likely to fly in the near future will have enough rudder. I say that after having flown a K13, Twin Astir, Acro, Janus, ASH25, K21, T21, T31, Caproni Calif etc. Our German friends have pretty good designers and test pilots (even Grob - I'm not a fan. But flying one is is like spending a night with a Kangarillapig, you'd do it but wouldn't tell your mates afterwards) and make sure that their products are properly controllable. Otherwise it wouldn't be sold.
PM
