"Mark James Boyd" wrote in message
news:4023fa90$1@darkstar...
Arnold Pieper wrote:
I've done quite a few turns with level wings and using rudder
to turn below 2 feet. I've done it both on the takeoff
roll (to line up from being way off) behind the towplane, and
after landing to line up with the takeoff runway (about
120 degrees left).

In the first case I probably should have simply released immediately.
In the second case I should have stopped straight ahead.
Not because this was necessary (it wasn't, since de facto
everything worked out fine) but because it would
be better practice for flying a higher performance glider,
where both of these circumstances could possibly create a
ground loop.

The competition pilots stay REAL straight at low airspeeds.
I suspect a few ground loops have convinced them not to
put in adverse yaw (and rudder to turn) during taxi.


Sometimes you have no choice. I had a tow pilot suddenly brake to a halt
just as I lifted off. My choice was to try a flat turn and risk a ground
loop or hit the tug. My wheel brake was useless for the task of stopping
short of the tug and anyway, my wheel wasn't on the runway. Fortunately, I
succeeded in turning the Lark 45 degrees before touchdown using rudder
only - and avoiding a groundloop. (Then I had an eyeball to eyeball talk
with the tug pilot.)

Bill Daniels