On Feb 4, 5:05*pm, Martin Gregorie
wrote:
Look at what Andras Maurer has to say - he thinks '20 are very sensitive
to small changes in wing profile to the extent that almost every '20 has
different handling. Mine would sometimes spin without warning while
thermalling at 45 kts in a 40-45 degree bank and zero flap (did it twice)
but this was probably related to micro-turbulence in the thermal since I
was unable to reproduce that departure in still air later in the day, and
usually it was perfectly happy to thermal at that airspeed and bank
angle. OTOH mine was a perfect lady in zero and thermal flap at speeds
where others have said their '20 would certainly have spun.


I've owned a 20B, plus had several flights each in a couple of
different 20s and a 20C. The 20B and 20C both had beautiful handling,
no tendency to spin unless forced, and were well mannered in all
configurations. One 20 (low serial number, IIRC) would spin without
much warning in thermal or landing flap and always in the same
direction (over the top if I was turning the opposite way), the other
would do so only in landing flap, both seemed a bit twitchy at times.
I suspect Schleicher was still learning how to build glass gliders in
a repeatable fashion during the 20 production run, the 20B/C show the
benefits of experience (plus reduced landing flap travel)...

Marc