Probably a better idea to teach that they are used
as required, rather than automatically opening them
at a fixed positon irrespective of height. Doing this
could end in tears.


At 14:12 26 October 2007, Eric Greenwell wrote:
wrote:

I teach the use of approximately 1/2 spoiler from
a point abeam the
touchdown. This uses 'safety altitude up at a rate
proportional to distance left
to touchdown thus providing a fairly constant rate
of descent and pretty much
constant height margin. This assumes steady airspeed
selected for conditions.
Adjust spoilers moderately for changes in angles to
the touch down
point.
On final, the effect of spoilers changes. In the early
part of final
, they are rate(and angle at constant
speed) of descent control. As we transition into the
flare and touchdown phase the spoilers
become rate of deceleration control thus determining
when the glider no longer has
enough speed to fly.

How do you use the landing flaps on something like
an ASW 20 or 27? Use
them only on final? Save them for situations where
spoilers aren't enough?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change 'netto' to 'net' to email me directly
* 'Transponders in Sailplanes' http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* 'A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation' at
www.motorglider.org