A fair bit of experimenting led me to think that flying
at normal best glide speed with about 2 degrees of
positive flap was least bad. I never tried to think
up theoretical explanations for that, but I'm reasonable
sure it was true.

At 00:06 03 May 2004, Bob Korves wrote:
One thing I found flying my old PIK-20d in the rain
and with bugs that
applies to any glider is to not fly too fast when the
wings are
contaminated. Most speed to fly information is based
on a clean polar and
it will be telling you to fly faster and faster as
the sink becomes worse.
You will find the ground quickly. I found that if
you just slow down in the
rain or with bugs that your achieved glide will be
much better (but, of
course, not good).

If you have a vario with a 'bugs' setting, and you
think you know where to
set it, you can try that, too.
-Bob Korves

'Steve' wrote in message
. com...
(Hank Nixon) wrote in message

I used to wash mine with very soapy water solution
and let it dry on
front 1/3 of wing. This would allow water to wet
out and flow off
wing. Good for about 10 minutes in the rain.
Good Luck UH

I have heard of people doing this. Has anyone tried
that new car
washing stuff I have seen advertised on TV? Says
it makes it so you
will never have to dry your car again. The water
sheets up and runs
off. Dries without spotting. Sounds ideal for those
of us flying the
ole 67K 150/170 sectioned gliders.

I have wanted to run a test by flying in a balast
dump trail. Prepare
a test section of wing and fly in the dumped ballast.
Do a visual
comparison of the standard and prepped sections.
I have seen the
dreaded 'wall of water' that forms on the top of the
wing. Not sure
if it is more depressing to see it on a 15 meter wing,
or a 22 meter
wing, though. ;-)

And I don't know if it was just the rain, or some
sink, too. But I
was on a 40 mile or so final glide in my Zuni with
an ASW-20. GPS
tracks showed neck and neck until I flew through a
small shower. He
made it home, and I landed 6 miles short. He said
he didn't get wet,
and looks to have been less than half a mile to my
side and a bit
behind. A year or so previous, that same 20 was out
ahead of me on a
final glide. He found sink and claimed picked up
a headwind. Landed
about 6 miles short. I started for home a couple
of turns after him
and a bit behind, and made it home. I guess what
comes around goes
around.

Steve Leonard
Zuni II (15 meters worth of water spoiler)
604 (22 meters worth of water spoiler)