View Single Post
  #3  
Old February 15th 11, 07:27 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Andy[_10_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 261
Default Typical glide angles with airbrakes deployed

On Feb 14, 1:15*pm, Ronald Locke Ronald.Locke.
wrote:

Given a Blanik at, say 28 to 1 no brake deployed, would around 8 to 1
full brake and say around 15 to one half brake sound about right?

Thanks in advance.

Ronald Locke


If they're terminal velocity brakes then 0:1 (straight down) is
possible without exceeding Vne. Form drag is highly speed-dependent so
speed affects the answer a lot. The size of the brakes also matters so
it is unlikely you will get a consistent number across multiple types.
You'd also need to define "half brake" - halfway out, half the
additional drag, half the difference in glide angle, one brake in and
one out?

Given all the variables I suspect it's possible to fly a Blanik to
achieve the glide angles you describe. The tricky calculation would be
to estimate the best L with dive brakes deployed. I'm trying to
figure out the circumstances under which someone would try to achieve
best L with the brakes out rather than just retracting the brakes.

9B