My observation is twofold. I agree with Phil's synopsis, an easy glider to fly is a better mount for less experienced pilots, and the more expereinced just wish they had the easier glider to fly, but get away with it.
For a low experience pilot they can probably achieve 80kph whether in the Cirrus or the Discus, because their lack of experience doesn't let them get the benefit of the higher performance. If you spend 50+% of your flight circling then the glide performance is not as beneficial. In a handicap class you are therefore better to have a lower performance glider that is better matched to your individual performance than to have a high performance glider which you cannot utilise fully, and have to pay a handicap penalty. Quite a few examples where pilots with good potential suddenly get access to a good ship and are really disheartened when their overall placing decreases. Hopefully they hang in long enough to use the better glider properly and quickly move up the placings again. Terry > Hi all > > Good pilots will do well no matter what they fly. However for less > experienced pilots I feel that modern machinery has an edge. That is because > they are more forgiving. Older gliders can be made to perform well with > experience but aren't tolerant of sloppy flying. > > For example I flew a DG200 for several years and it is one of the busiest > flapped gliders I've ever flown. It has to be in just the right flap setting > to get close to it's best performance and there are from memory about 7 > settings -8, -4, 0, +4, +8, +10, +12 and the correct setting is dependent > upon cruise speed and thermal smoothness. It took me over a year to get the > hang of it. Once I did though I found it to be a great glider. A modern > flapped glider often has only 3 or 4 settings to cover the thermaling to > flat out speed range - much harder to be in the wrong gear. > > Apparently the LS8 almost tells you where the thermal is and will hang on in > even the roughest thermal - a Hornet is a great glider in a straight line > but it takes real skill to make it climb well. > > So to answer the question originally proposed "is a modern glider an > advantage?" I think for most people it is initially. If you can't get your > hands on a modern glider then get a lot of experience in one type/particular > aircraft. Or else be naturally talented like it seems James is! > > Philip Ritchie > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
