Hands off thermalling

John Jones wrote:

How many gliders can be trimmed for hands off thermalling?

An instructor showed me, with spoilers open and proper
trim, the glider will stabilize in a slow descending
turn. Claimed it was good for getting out of a cloud.

Neat, but would not want to thermal with the spoilers
open.


I have done it in the Schleicher K-6e that I used to own.
I was near the top of a pretty good thermal, fairly big. I was banked
about 15 degrees. I set the elevator trim, took my hands off the
stick and refolded my chart. I was pleasantly surprised when I
continued to climb.

There are other planes I would not ever take my hand off the stick for
a second.