"I have amassed quite a bit of info on the subject now, some
interesting technical stuff that suggests that you cannot overstress a well
designed sailplane at Va no matter what you do."

Then you still have some reading to do!!!!

http://www.flyingmag.com/myth-maneuvering-speed

http://uras.gliderpilot.net/?op=s2&id=39082&vt=





At 12:02 04 October 2012, jams wrote:

Thanks for all the input.

I have found out a fair bit more info on aerobatics since I posted this
question. I think a better way of asking the question would have been:
What aerobatic manoeuvres can a 'semi-aerobatic' sailplane perform!?

I have amassed quite a bit of info on the subject now, some interesting
technical stuff that suggests that you cannot overstress a well designed
sailplane at Va no matter what you do. I will have a read up on it all
and post something here with my findings.

Kirk,

Your sentence: 'Glider acro (unless in a Swift/Fox, etc) is a relaxed,
gentle form of the art. It's not about pulling a lot of G, it's about
energy management, and not exceeding VNE.' Sums up exactly what I'm
interested in. I dont want a pure acro aircraft, because I dont want to
do anything to mad but would like to be able to explore more than just
loops and chandelle during flights.

Also having found what G forces are generated in the figures i'm
interested in (in the PIK aerobatics supplement), and your comment about
not much neg G occurring, suggests that most sailplanes could handle
what the PIK was doing in the video anyway.

Regards

James




--
jams