"Raymond Swartz" wrote in message
...
Yes, weight does have an impact on best glide speed. That is why glider
pilots in competition (or whenever they need a high speed, like long
flights limited by daylight) carry water ballast in the wing tanks. It
doesn't affect the glide angle too much

It doesn't affect the glide angle at all, oddly enough. The lift/drag ratio
remains the same, which results in the same glide ratio. You just have more
lift and more drag.