On Jan 28, 1:59*pm, Mark Jardini wrote:
Sailplanes have of necessity a polar with min sink at speeds where
circles can be small enough to center thermals, and L/Dmax only a few
knots higher. Ballast is added to raise the L/D max perhaps 10Kts
higher.

What might a wing look like that was built for optimum L/D @
80-100Kts? What kind of L/D might be possible?

(will this winter never end?)

Mark J

The wing you are talking about woudn't be a whole lot different than
current flapped ships with the flaps
in the first reflexed position. This is the target sweet spot for
these ships now.
UH