Overspeed Recovery question

On 2/10/2015 7:58 PM, wrote:
If you inadvertently fly into the yellow range and kiss the red range, and
you get into the high speed vibration, what is the best way to slow before
the wings depart the glider. My sense is to reach for the spoilers and
slowly extend to slow. Any opinions on that matter?


Priority One: Undo what you last did to get yourself into that situation -
which as stated appears to have been too much forward stick. Assuming gravity
(and not your straps or "purely" centripetal force) is keeping your butt
pressed into the seat, get the stick back promptly, which will have the almost
immediate effect of reducing the rate of energy increase, and even better - if
you get the nose up high enough - reducing its accumulation.

Once you're happy with your energy-state, you can can consider doing "other
stuff"...dropping the gear (will mostly make noise), spoilers (if below their
max opening speed and you're physically/mentally prepared for a "Holy S&*%!"
experience if this is your first opening of them at any speed not fairly close
to your normal pattern entry opening speed); etc.

Priority Two: Throughout, keep your mental cool, rationally assess the effect
of everything you do before doing something else, and seriously consider
landing ASAP depending on the nature/seriousness of the vibration (which, of
course you really can't completely assess from inside a flying cockpit).

Priority Three: RTFM (if the ship has one; U.S. Exp. Amateur Built ships may
not have much of one, if any)!

Bob W.

P.S. Of course, RTFM is actually Priority One, but the question as-posed
precludes reasonably doing so. :-)