On Feb 6, 10:42 am, Ian Cant
wrote:
Tony,
I think we'd all agree that with sensible
speed control and suitable instruments, then inadvertent
spinning is not very likely or even particularly dangerous.
However, before going into that cloud I'd think twice
about other things - other gliders doing the same thing,
other power traffic flying IFR, and the possible violence
of the turbulence. Using a nice little isolated summer
CU or descending through a thin high layer is one kind
of situation, entering a large CuNim or extensive stratus
near the deck would be quite another. The FAA's opinion
in a day-VFR-only Experimental might also influence
your decisions.

With an IFR clearance from ATC, the likelihood of encountering other
traffic inside the Cu is very small. The only other gliders I know of
that fly in cloud, legally or not, are either out west or in florida.
Using nice summer Cu's to practically double my thermalling height is
the reason I am pursuing this. I see diamond distance easily
attainable for the Cherokee with this capability. Not all of can be
super pilots like Jim Hard. Day VFR only is not really the FAA's set
in stone opinion on experimentals. There are quite a few
experimentals that are approved for night and IFR flying if properly
instrumented. I just trained a friend for his instrument rating in
his RV-7A in fact. No worries on the wingspan, 25 meters is over
twice what ive got. I believe it was Gordon Baxter, writer for Flying
Magazine, who said after he got his instrument rating that he decided
"Instrument flying was an unnatural act, probably punishable by god"
As Bill said, every instrument student feels the same way at some
point.