I'd continue to use them interchangeably until we have a glider with
independent controls for spoilers and airbrakes. However, if you like
precision, I'd opt for spoilers. I can't recall having seen a modern glider
that didn't have upper surface spoilers when equipped with lower surface
airbrakes. If during a positive control check the pilot corrects your call
of "spoilers," look under the wing for the extra control surface.

"ContestID67" wrote in message
...
I spotted the following statement in Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoiler_%28aeronautics%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_brake_%28aircraft%29

"Spoilers differ from airbrakes in that airbrakes are designed to
increase drag while making little change to lift, while spoilers
greatly reduce lift while making only a moderate increase in drag."

I had always used the terms spoilers and airbrakes interchangeable.
This statement makes it seem like they are not. So what does the
typical sailplane have? Spoilers or airbrakes?

- John "67" DeRosa