Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Mar 6, 8:12 pm, Bret wrote:
Hi, do any gliders have full-span flaperons that also act as airbrakes
(say at 70-90 degree), or do you lose all aileron authority when the
flaperons are that deflected?

Kestrel 19 has full span flaperons. The inboard section, in climb and
cruise settings, deflects half the range of the outboard sections. A
second, panel mounted, landing flap handle, allows half or full
landing flap deflections of the inboard sections, to a maximum of 35
degrees. This generates high drag and lift for glide path control
when landing. Half landing flap may be used when ground launching and
will add 200ft or more to the launch height. Derek Piggott has
described it as a rather complex cockpit as gliders go, as there are
also air brakes and a tail chute.

Frank Whiteley
Rather complex? Surely not.

You establish a nice steady final approach using thermal flap so you can
see the runway over the very high instrument panel.
Then you use your left hand to select 55-70kt flap (-2) - flaps forward
Then you reverse direction with the same hand and pull the separate
landing flap lever backwards to half or full flap. Best be sure you can
make the field before you do this as dumping the landing flap will
result in a lot of lost height and full landing flap steepens the
approach appreciably.
Simultaneously you use your other left hand to control the finer
approach sink rate with the modest airbrakes.
Maybe there is reason in this - you effectively have to allow the
airbrakes to retract as you apply landing flap.

While doing this you maintain roll and pitch control with your right and
on the stick, and adjust the trim using the trigger on the base of the
stick with your little finger.
Did I mention that you had best have not neglected to lock the
undercarriage down with your right hand on downwind. If not you use your
other right hand to do it now.
In the event that you are too high - or approaching a very short field
over obstacles you may want to deploy the parachute.
Now there are three identical feeling little handles down there between
the stick and the panel. Remember the left most will operate the cable
release, no use to you here. The left of centre one will release the
parachute in case you no longer want it and the little fairing for the
rudder... And the one you want is on the right hand side under your
thigh (inevitably) So you can use your other right hand to dig it out
and yank HARD. Then nothing happens till you wiggle the rudder, at which
point it is best to have already lowered the nose to counter the
surreptitious slow down. At this point - if you can see it over your
toes it is out of glide range.

Then you might want to pull the left hand (but not cable release) handle
to jettison the parachute as you cross the fence - in case the parachute
hooks on something well anchored (like a fence). In his instance it is
useful to have another left hand available as the airbrakes will tend to
close without something to hold them open, and the fence at the other
end of the field may be looming.

In practice it all works quite well, the Kestrel is very stable and
tolerates the hand swapping and general fidgeting - but it is a cockpit
you need to know before you try to fly it. There are lots of separate
controls in close proximity - and the correct combinations are important
lest the beastie rise up and bite you.

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