Martin Gregorie wrote:
Phil Collin wrote:
Whilst I have enjoyed reading this thread there is one thing bugging me.
you all keep referring to spoilers, when in actuality I believe you
are referring to airbrakes.
Spoilers, as those of you that have and do fly gliders / motor gliders
which utilise spoilers will know how different
their behaviour is to that of airbrakes.
sits back and awaits #flames#

I've noticed that Americans tend to refer to airbrakes as spoilers. I
wonder if this is because most (all?) Schweitzer iron is fitted with
spoilers rather than Schlemp-Hirth air brakes. Most Americans seem to
have learnt in the SGS 2/33.

Hmm, I was taught:
Schemmp-Hirth style glide path control devices are spoilers (kill the
lift, make drag by sticking into the wind and requiring greater induced
drag through higher aoa). Spoilers increase stall speed.
The trailing edge thingees on my old Ventus and Mosquito are dive
brakes. They don't affect lift or stall speed much.
The things on 2-33s remind the student it's time to begin a slip ;-)


Shawn