Greg Arnold wrote:
Eric Greenwell wrote:


Is there an operational reason for putting the brake on the stick
instead of the spoiler? As opposed to, say, cost reasons?

I've always preferred the wheel brake on the spoiler handle, even
though it sometimes confused people when they saw the spoilers open as
the towplane began to take up slack.



I have had gliders that did it both ways, and it seems to me that it is
easier to modulate the brake in small amounts with your hand than with
your entire arm. But that could just be me.

Perhaps it's the glider. I found both my ASW 20 C and my ASH 26 E very
easy to modulate. The wheel brake takes more force than holding full
spoiler at landing or takeoff speed, so it's easy to know when I am
applying it. It's easier for me to modulate the total braking effort
with one arm (brake on spoilers), instead left arm (spoilers) and right
hand (wheel brake).

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

* Updated! "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* New Jan '08 - sections on Mode S, TPAS, ADS-B, Flarm, more

* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org