Wheel brake effectiveness standards

Folks,
I'm former USAF and have really enjoyed flying gliders. I love this topic as it has mystified me and I've heard some amazing things..."if you fly a glider properly you don't need brakes." I also saw a 1-26 brake that was a flexible piece of metal that rubbed against the tread. Personally, I expect a fully applied brake to stop wheel rotation and cause a skid. Clearly the FAA does not feel that is essential in a glider....

Best regards!
John Murtari

@On Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 7:35:10 PM UTC-6, wrote:
Folks,
I'm former USAF and have really enjoyed flying gliders. I love this topic as it has mystified me and I've heard some amazing things..."if you fly a glider properly you don't need brakes." I also saw a 1-26 brake that was a flexible piece of metal that rubbed against the tread. Personally, I expect a fully applied brake to stop wheel rotation and cause a skid. Clearly the FAA does not feel that is essential in a glider....

Best regards!
John Murtari

When I did my glider transition training the Blanik L-13 i was using was waiting for brake parts from the factory and as a result did not have a working wheel brake. I did all my dual flights, most of my solo flights and my check ride in this glider with no working wheel brake.
Definitely possible to fly without a wheel brake in many, maybe even most situations, but a good wheel brake is a great safety device.

Brian

I think the summary so far is that there's an amazing range of brake effectiveness. One takeaway is that we like having brakes, but so far there are no stories about why having highly effective brakes saved the day, or alternatively why having no brakes led to an unpleasant outcome. This is a not altogether surprising result, considering that my experience mirrors the accounts here.

I'm unsure what conclusion to draw here. It certainly seems that, arguably, effective wheel brakes are seen as a nice-to-have and great wheel brakes are an unneeded luxury. As unsettling as that is to me, if after all these years there's no data to support their need, and even CS-22 barely pays them lip service, then it doesn't seem wholly unjustifiable.

I'd love some hard numbers, if they're out there.

I consider that a very peculiar conclusion. No you don't "need" a brake. You don't "need" 50:1 glide either, though it's nice to have. You don't need a parachute, except every once in a great while. You really don't "need" a glider at all.

There are plenty fo gliderports where it is expected that you will roll clear of the active runway, without hitting parked gliders, cars, spectators - for that you need a brake. If a motorglider that does any taxiing, you need a brake. If there is ever a chance of landing off field, you need a brake..

I would not own a glider without a brake. And I am quite happy to own one with a very effective brake. And most especially if designing a glider or a brake system for one, I would consider it abject incompetence in this day and age to design an ineffective one. Would you skimp on the brake to save a pound, so you can add a pound of water ballast? What exactly is the point?

On Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 7:54:28 PM UTC-7, Kenn Sebesta wrote:
I think the summary so far is that there's an amazing range of brake effectiveness. One takeaway is that we like having brakes, but so far there are no stories about why having highly effective brakes saved the day, or alternatively why having no brakes led to an unpleasant outcome. This is a not altogether surprising result, considering that my experience mirrors the accounts here.

I'm unsure what conclusion to draw here. It certainly seems that, arguably, effective wheel brakes are seen as a nice-to-have and great wheel brakes are an unneeded luxury. As unsettling as that is to me, if after all these years there's no data to support their need, and even CS-22 barely pays them lip service, then it doesn't seem wholly unjustifiable.

I'd love some hard numbers, if they're out there.

Originally Posted by jmurtari

Folks,
I'm former USAF and have really enjoyed flying gliders. I love this topic as it has mystified me and I've heard some amazing things..."if you fly a glider properly you don't need brakes." I also saw a 1-26 brake that was a flexible piece of metal that rubbed against the tread. Personally, I expect a fully applied brake to stop wheel rotation and cause a skid. Clearly the FAA does not feel that is essential in a glider....

Best regards!
John Murtari

I have a lot of time in 1-26's , they have the effective brake system you mentioned .
But I had the most longest and terrifying off field landing roll in a 1-26.
I had a failed ridge transition and picked a very long field ,it had some rolls but pretty much level. After touchdown I kept going ,and going ,and going.
I pulled and puled on the brake but Nothing! Coming to a stop 50' from the trees after what seemed like a quarter mile I exited the canopy and got down on my knees to check the brake and found the main wheel off the ground by 4"!!
Apparently the crop was not soy beans like I thought it was Alfalfa . Very dense and when crushed produces water and a slimy substance .
I guess 1-26s are not very ground loop prone in high crops LOL .