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Old December 20th 05, 01:59 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
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Default Discus polar curve at high speeds

In article , Eric Greenwell wrote:
Gary Emerson wrote:

To go from level flight at 125 knots to 250 knots would require losing
over 2000 feet in this zero lift flight, much of which would vertical. I
have to wonder how a pilot could resist pulling back on the stick or
opening the spoilers for such a long distance! And how carefully he'd
have to fly to avoid G forces that would remove the wings; after all,
this maneuver isn't in the usual glider training syllabus.

You might also want to consider the twist in the wings.
Ever looked along your wing at high speed and noticed the tips bending down?

At really high speed you can twist your wings off. A blanik did that in
NZ a few years ago. One wing twisted off leading edge up, the other went
leading edge down.

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Philip Plane _____
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Glider pilots have no visible means of support