Gliding - airbrakes in final turn
Originally Posted by mary meagher
Theres only one thing for it, you must pay us a visit! Volcanos permitting, of course.
Should I ever get over there I would love to check out the local soaring hospitality. Perhaps some day business will take me there.
I suspect that though we root through the differences on these threads, it is hard not to find common ground while in the air, or even over a beer talking flying. I have found this whole discussion rather interesting.
Hope your health issues subside, and you can get airborne again.
-- IFMU
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They are also encouraged to do a well banked turn (say 30 degrees) since there is evidence that it is more difficult to spin from such a turn as compared to a flat turn if speed is lost.
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I'm intrigued - my gliding instructors have taught me to turn final at 30 deg but my power instructor wasn't keen on anything above 20 deg. Is there a difference between gliders and power here, or just different traditions? Anybody any idea? Any books I can read that explain a bit more?
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Yeah - I was a little reluctant the first couple of times I was told to execute a "well-banked turn onto finals" at about 60k in a K21 (unaccelerated stall at MAUW is ~40kts I think), but I'm happy enough doing it now. Not sure I want to do it much slower than that, though one instructor suggests I should pull the whole base/final segment back to 50...
But I was particularly interested in the suggestion that well-banked turns are less likely to produce a spin than, say, a gentle 15 degrees. Anybody got any more info on that bit? Or is it just because there's less chance of a subconscious boot to the rudder to pull the nose round?
But I was particularly interested in the suggestion that well-banked turns are less likely to produce a spin than, say, a gentle 15 degrees. Anybody got any more info on that bit? Or is it just because there's less chance of a subconscious boot to the rudder to pull the nose round?
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Or is it just because there's less chance of a subconscious boot to the rudder to pull the nose round?
Low-timers have a tendency to look down at the landing area rather than over the nose. An underbanked turn with a bit too much back pressure slows the glider down, add in your subconscious boot . . .
In a well banked turn, the tendency is for the nose to drop a little and the glider picks up a few extra knots - untidy but safe.
Stall speed for the K21 is in the high 30s, yellow triangle speed is 49 knots. I would consider 50 knots to be a safe minimum approach speed for perfect conditions (ie dead calm, clean wings, flat airfield).
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Part of the reason is that many (most even?) gliders don't have enough elevator authority to stall the aircraft in a well-banked turn. In my Open Cirrus I can thermal at 45 degrees with the stick full back, though the buffet shows I'm near the stall and a gust can tip the balance.
Something to explore at height I'd say.
Another reason is that a 45 degree banked turn completes the turn with the lowest possible height loss - although the glider sinks faster than at 20 degrees the amount of time in the turn is less and more than compensates.
All these are explained properly in the standard books for pre-solo glider training.
Something to explore at height I'd say.
Another reason is that a 45 degree banked turn completes the turn with the lowest possible height loss - although the glider sinks faster than at 20 degrees the amount of time in the turn is less and more than compensates.
All these are explained properly in the standard books for pre-solo glider training.
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Stall speed for the K21 is in the high 30s
Thanks all, interesting stuff. And cats_five, let me know who you are on Thursday
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I'm probably being too cautious, then... it was dead calm (or nearly) and of course when we did turn final at 50k the thing was solid as a rock, no lack of authority, no buffet, etc - but I was rather keenly aware of how good my speed control had to be. And of how finely controlled my round-out - er - isn't yet.
Thanks all, interesting stuff. And cats_five, let me know who you are on Thursday
Thanks all, interesting stuff. And cats_five, let me know who you are on Thursday