The problem was likely the Blanik tailwheel, which can be damaged easily in a two-point or tail
first landing. How to train pilots for two-point or tail first landings when you only have a
Blanik? I never figured out how to do it in our club with our L13, so tried to compensate with
ground training while they were learning, and more advice when they got their own glider.
Dan Marotta wrote on 10/17/2020 8:57 AM:
Being taught to land with "no flare" did you a disservice as it requires landing at a higher
speed and, as we all know, energy is directly proportional to the square of the speed.* That
means longer landing rolls.* Not necessarily bad if you have lots of space but, when that
outlanding is at a short field and you don't land at the minimum speed, you might hit something
at the far end.
On 10/16/2020 5:37 AM, rec.aviation.soaring wrote:
On Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 10:55:54 AM UTC-4, ken smith wrote:
Thanks for all the useful feedback. I have heard that the L33 has a weak tail boom and is
prone to damage
and the Std Cirrus wants to spin. Would appreciate more info on these if you have experience
with them.
Hi Ken,
I owned an L33 for several years when I was a new pilot and I now have many flights in a
Standard Cirrus. I left the L33 tied out in South Florida protected by wing and canopy covers
and the horizontal stabilizer removed. Like the Standard Cirrus the L33 was not as easy to
assemble as some other ships. I did not find any bad handling characteristics in the L33 and
did not baby it. I was taught to always land gliders level on the main wheel with no "flare."
Having trained in Blanik L23's I found the L33 comfortable, durable and fun to fly. I like
the Standard Cirrus that I occasionally fly as well and it is a significantly better
performer but I do seem to recall that it drops a wing sharply in a stall.* The only reason I
would consider a 1-26 (have only one flight) is if I was planning to leave it assembled for
local flights but an L33 is a better glider for that.
Stuart
--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1