water ballast

The only time head or tail-wind affects inter-thermal speed or the need for
ballast is when the glide is to a fixed point on the ground, either a turn
point to be rounded before the next thermal is taken or a final glide to
landing.


....or when thermals are linked to ground features, such as when flying
above mountains which create energy lines

At 14:49 14 July 2015, Chris Rollings wrote:
Some of the confusion is caused by the fact that (at least some years ago
maybe not now, I don't know) the FAA written (on line) exam for a glide
pilot certificate required one to give the factually wrong answer to
question about inter-thermal speeds into and down-wind, in order to get
th
mark for the question. You had to answer that it was correct to fly
faste
between thermals when going into wind than when going down wind. This i
nonsense, but drawing the mistake to the attention of an FAA Inspector
onl
got his agreement and regret that he could do nothing about it.

The only time head or tail-wind affects inter-thermal speed or the need
fo
ballast is when the glide is to a fixed point on the ground, either a tur
point to be rounded before the next thermal is taken or a final glide t
landing.

Chris, you should perhaps read Brigliadori's Competing in Gliders. They
make a pretty convincing argument for flying a bit faster into wind between
thermals. Its in the appendices.

Jim

so, I gotta ask....wonder what the public is going to think if/when they find out a bunch of guys in their expensive racing sailplanes fill them up with water just so they can fly faster,and then dump it out over the desert.

Brad
GK

Just tell them it's chemtrails.

Is that the same public that gets it panties in a bunch at the mere
thought of an SUV?

On 7/14/2015 6:00 PM, Brad wrote:
so, I gotta ask....wonder what the public is going to think if/when they find out a bunch of guys in their expensive racing sailplanes fill them up with water just so they can fly faster,and then dump it out over the desert.

Brad
GK

--
Dan Marotta

On Tue, 14 Jul 2015 17:00:30 -0700, Brad wrote:

so, I gotta ask....wonder what the public is going to think if/when they
find out a bunch of guys in their expensive racing sailplanes fill them
up with water just so they can fly faster,and then dump it out over the
desert.

Much the same as their reaction when they find out that Formula 1 racing
cars have a wooden plank strapped to the underside[*].
[*] actually its Jabroc, not just a simple lump of dead tree.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |