Maule Driver wrote:

Airbrakes are far superior to flaps for glidepath control but I'm sure you
are exaggerating to make the point. Few gliders can achieve 50:1 and I'm
not sure about 5:1 either.

Ok, I admit. So I'll reduce it to between 48:1 and 7:1. (48:1 being the
best glide for an LS8 with 18m, and JAR-22 requires a glide ratio of
less than 7:1 with airbrakes deployed.) Maybe I should even reduce the
upper limit to 45:1 for the bugs. :-)

I had the pleasure to do my initial training in a Schwiezer
2-22 where the difference in glide ratio with zero spoilers and full
spoilers was barely distinguishable (slight exaggeration).

The airbrakes of the Rhönlerche (aka Rhönstone) were called "noise
makers" because the only difference they made was the noise level. :-)
Slips were *very* effetive, however.

The PIK could be set down on a dime once the technique was learned.

Every airplane can be set down on a dime once the technique has been
learned (and is regularly practised!). Of course it may be more
difficult for some planes than for others.

But
when you the desired point was reached, you simply dumped the flaps and
flared for a 2 pointer.

Just smashing down the glider doesn't count. At least it doesn't at the
spot landing contests of our club. On the other hand, when outlanding,
the only thing which counts is the result and nobody will care about
style, of course.

Stefan