Not many took a stab at the "spoilers and flaps" questons!

Ian pretty much got it right, and at least saw the paradox in my
questions, How can extra lift (flaps)increase glide slope while, reduced
lift (spoiler) also increases glide slope?

THere are two misconceptions in the above question.

The answer to both original questions is FALSE.

Spoilers do not "reduce lift". Spoilers increase drag. As drag
increases, glide slope steepens.

Spoilers redistribute lift, but not reduce lift.

Flaps do not "increase lift". Flaps increase drag. As drag increases,
gilde slope steepens.

Flaps change the coeffecient of lift, but not lift.

Another question:

Q) Two gliders, one is 40:1 racer and glider two is 20:1 trainer. Both
weigh 800#

Glider one has twice the lift of glider two. True or flase and why.


Cookie



At 22:17 18 March 2009, The Real Doctor wrote:
On 18 Mar, 13:45, Derek Copeland wrote:
In free unaccelerated flight with no thrust, i.e. no aerotow, winch,
or
turbo, a glider IS essentially gravity powered.

Not true. A glider can fly perfectly happily while increasing its
portential energy - exactly the opposite of being gravity powered.

Ian