On 29 Jan 2004 10:08:20 -0700, (Mark James Boyd)
wrote:


There is a paradox though. If spins are prohibited with water ballast
how can a pilot know how the glider will behave. All my deliberate
spin attempts in the 19 and 28 were dry, but nearly all of my flying
is with ballast.

An excellent point. Has anyone practiced spins with water ballast?
With just one tank full? In a Nimbus DM? With the pylon extended?


Ask Martin Heide, the current Schleicher chief designer.
His first task at Schleicher was the spin-testing of the first ASW-22.

When he did what you described (spin with only one full water tank),
the first 22 prototype broke apart inflight.

Hereupon this test was removed from the German LBA certification
requirement.

BTW: Martin was convinced that the 22 would break up in this kiind of
test.
Bye
Andreas