Average OLC flown distance by glider

Perhaps you can show price per LD point?

Roel,

Perhaps you can show price per LD point?

That idea was proposed by my friend Stefano Cherchi a few weeks ago.
I am considering it since that day. We'll see!

Thank you for your comment though, it is definitely inspiring.

--
Jacopo

On Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 9:06:53 AM UTC-5, wrote:
Perhaps you can show price per LD point?

i don't think thats a relevant metric. how often do we really fly at best L/D speed? best L/D is somewhat irrelevant. If all they were focused on was raw L/D, I'm sure they could make gliders with extraodinary L/D's, but they are trying to optimize the performance over a wide range of speeds.

On Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 12:02:06 AM UTC+3, ND wrote:
On Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 9:06:53 AM UTC-5, wrote:
Perhaps you can show price per LD point?

i don't think thats a relevant metric. how often do we really fly at best L/D speed? best L/D is somewhat irrelevant. If all they were focused on was raw L/D, I'm sure they could make gliders with extraodinary L/D's, but they are trying to optimize the performance over a wide range of speeds.

Don't forget the ASW12 had a 46:1 L/D in 1965!

But those guys running around in Australia at the moment and averaging up to 160 km/h (85+ knots) on task are obviously not doing a lot of flying at their 50 - 60 knot best L/D speed.

Jacopo,

Long ago (in the '70s) when the handicapping movement started (thanks Carl Herold) One of the metrics that was used was the -6kt sink speed. That is, at what airspeed did the polar have a 6KT sinkrate. If you look at the change in the polars over the last 40 years (I've been doing it a looong time, you'll see less of a best L/D change and a much greater speed where the -6 occurs. The polar's shape has been "flattening". Small tweeks in drag at the high end produce great results, while not affecting the best L/D much.. As most XC pilots know, it's the high-speed L/D that makes the difference.