Blanik L13 VS ASK13 handling and aerodynamics ?

[Matthieu]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LET_L-13_Blan%C3%ADk

"These are in effect typical of wood-and-fabric primary trainers such
as the ASK 13, which the Blaník resembles in handling, though not in
materials, construction and aerodynamics.

For this reason, pilots trained in the Blaník require differences
training in a modern two-seater before transitioning to high
performance plastic single seaters."



Greetings,

I am wondering what the differences they refer to in this article
are...

Would anyone be kind enough to take me through a comparisson of the
Blanik L13 vs the ASK 13 and later on the fiber glass gliders'
handling. I am surprised by this statement that tends to say the ASK13
would be closer to fiber glass gliders in terms of handling and
aerodynamics... so the Blanik L13 would be different, away from the
crowd.

My own personal understanding would tend to say that the L13 and ASK13
are closer with each others in terms of handlings. And the modern
fiber glass machines would be a lot different.
So what's the L13 difference? Sharper when stalling or entering spins?
What's that point about the laminar wings? Don't modern gliders have
kind of laminar profiles too?

Look forward to reading you guys...

Many thanks,

Lovely Sunday,

Matt

[Bruce Hoult]

On Aug 1, 8:49*pm, Matthieu > wrote:
> Would anyone be kind enough to take me through a comparisson of the
> Blanik L13 vs the ASK 13 and later on the fiber glass gliders'
> handling. I am surprised by this statement that tends to say the ASK13
> would be closer to fiber glass gliders in terms of handling and
> aerodynamics... so the Blanik L13 would be different, away from the
> crowd.

No, that's not what it says. The Blanik and ASK 13 are very similar
in characteristics, and someone moving to a modern fiberglass glider
would need exactly the same briefing.

The differences are chiefly that the ASK 13 and Blanik have stalling
speeds 5 - 10 knots lower than modern gliders, and much more drag
which makes it easier to judge the attitude required to maintain the
desired speed.

The stall and spin characteristics of the Blanik are much closer to
modern gliders than the ASK 13 is.

When I learned to fly in the late 80's our club had a fleet of Blaniks
for basic training. In the mid 90's we sold them and moved to the
fiberglass and higher performance Grob "Twin Astir". Several years ago
we sold the Grobs and are now using two ultra-modern high performance
DG1000's for training, right from the first flight.