Glider down near Reno - pilot OK

these pilots have more in common
with astronauts than garden-variety pilots like me...

I applaud the efforts of these pilots, who I consider
among the most sophisticated and daring pilots on the
planet.



Right On!

MM

It's worth noting that a solid state turn and bank instrument is available
that's claimed to give an accurate bank indication 3 seconds after power up,
even if the aircraft is in a turn when it is turned on. It's made by a USA
company called TruTrak (www.trutrakflightsystems.com).
I have one on order, haven't received it yet, but others have commented
favorably on it (Google Trutrak).
I have no commercial connection to this company.
Ray Roberts
Ventus 2cM "Q"

wrote in message
ups.com...
Marc Ramsey wrote:
Here's a snippet from a message that came from Stew Crane (SSA Gov, NV),
concerning the accident:

===
In the Mt Rose wave he found himself climbing very rapidly
again, over 1,000fpm and between lenticulars. What he did
not notice due to canopy icing at the back edges of his
canopy was that he was being blown back into cloud due to
the change in wind direction. He did turn on his artificial
horizon when he realized his predicament but, due to
instrument spin up time, it was not enough. He went full IFR
in an instant without a working horizon at altitude and
probably at or above true airspeed redline. Vertigo ensued
and in an instant he felt the wings snap off, no strong stick
forces, just a snap.
===

Marc



http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...04X01789&key=1

I've used the TruTrak through this season and have posted about it here
before. You'll like it! Power consumption is minimal at 150 ma, and as
mentioned, power can be left off as the unit is ready to provide turn data
within 3 seconds of applying power.

It's available from http://www.oxaero.com/TruTrak-TurnAndBank.asp configured
to the preferred 1 minute rate for a glider, for less than $450.

Disclaimer - - no interest in company or dealers.

This thing WITH adequate training, can save your life.

bumper
"Ray Roberts" wrote in message
...
It's worth noting that a solid state turn and bank instrument is available
that's claimed to give an accurate bank indication 3 seconds after power
up, even if the aircraft is in a turn when it is turned on. It's made by a
USA company called TruTrak (www.trutrakflightsystems.com).
I have one on order, haven't received it yet, but others have commented
favorably on it (Google Trutrak).
I have no commercial connection to this company.
Ray Roberts
Ventus 2cM "Q"

wrote in message
ups.com...
Marc Ramsey wrote:
Here's a snippet from a message that came from Stew Crane (SSA Gov, NV),
concerning the accident:

===
In the Mt Rose wave he found himself climbing very rapidly
again, over 1,000fpm and between lenticulars. What he did
not notice due to canopy icing at the back edges of his
canopy was that he was being blown back into cloud due to
the change in wind direction. He did turn on his artificial
horizon when he realized his predicament but, due to
instrument spin up time, it was not enough. He went full IFR
in an instant without a working horizon at altitude and
probably at or above true airspeed redline. Vertigo ensued
and in an instant he felt the wings snap off, no strong stick
forces, just a snap.
===

Marc



http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...04X01789&key=1

What about pitch? Wings don't generally break off because of turning.

They commonly come off because of loss of control turning.Pitch is easy
as long as you haven't lost control in a turn due to no idea which way
you are turning.
UH

wrote in message
ups.com...
They commonly come off because of loss of control turning.Pitch is easy
as long as you haven't lost control in a turn due to no idea which way
you are turning.
UH


That's right.

Part of instrument training is flying "partial panel" with selected
instruments failed by covering them. Instructors, being basically devious,
fail the artificial horizon (AI) and make the hapless pilot survive with
turn coordinator (not nearly as good as the TruTrac for this). They even get
you into unusual attitudes and then tell you to save yourself. Great fun.

Bottom line is that the roll axis is most critical, pitch is comparatively
easy, even with the pitot iced up and the ASI inop.

bumper

As an instrument rated pilot, I find that "partial panel" flying is one of
the IFR skills that can be kept sharp using Microsoft Flight Simulator with
the attitude indicator selected as failed. Much cheaper than practicing it
in an airplane, though for peace of mind I do confirm the skill in the
airplane from time to time.
Ray Roberts
Ventus 2cM "Q"

"bumper" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
ups.com...
They commonly come off because of loss of control turning.Pitch is easy
as long as you haven't lost control in a turn due to no idea which way
you are turning.
UH


That's right.

Part of instrument training is flying "partial panel" with selected
instruments failed by covering them. Instructors, being basically devious,
fail the artificial horizon (AI) and make the hapless pilot survive with
turn coordinator (not nearly as good as the TruTrac for this). They even
get you into unusual attitudes and then tell you to save yourself. Great
fun.

Bottom line is that the roll axis is most critical, pitch is comparatively
easy, even with the pitot iced up and the ASI inop.

bumper

Don't delude yourself by thinking that going IFC at red line in the
Sierra Wave with just a turn and bank is anything like a Microsoft
flight simulator with a partial panel or an instrument flight in a
small plane with a partial panel and an instructor.

needle , ball, airspeed...
the airspeed is your pitch..

BT

wrote in message
oups.com...
What about pitch? Wings don't generally break off because of turning.

Please excuse this stupid question from a non-power pilot who knows
little about IFR instruments -- apart from the absence of information
about pitch, is there any difference between the display of the TruTrak
and the display of an artificial horizon?


BTIZ wrote:
needle , ball, airspeed...
the airspeed is your pitch..

BT

wrote in message
oups.com...

What about pitch? Wings don't generally break off because of turning.