Always check for that low airplane dragging it in on a long final.
JMF


At 18:08 05 March 2014, John Carlyle wrote:
Kirk,

Thank for writing that - very interesting that you mix approach types.=20

I'm not too clear about your comment "always flying the same pattern into
t=
he same airfield pretty much guarantees that your first landout will be
exc=
iting". I always use a downwind-base-final pattern, I've logged 10
landouts=
in farmers fields, and except for having to dodge an electric wire fence
o=
nce they were low or no drama events (although some of the retrieves were
i=
nteresting).=20

Your "de-stabilized" (non-constant airspeed) approach comment was also
inte=
resting. I tend to keep high until on final, just to keep my options
open,
=
but my speed stays pretty much constant. Being high has helped me on
severa=
l occasions to delay a bit (once a person behind me with no radio landed
un=
der me, another time someone drove onto the field). Do I understand
correct=
ly that you tend to keep your energy in speed rather than altitude?=20

-John, Q3

On Wednesday, March 5, 2014 11:30:30 AM UTC-5, kirk.stant wrote:
On Wednesday, March 5, 2014 7:35:51 AM UTC-6, John Carlyle wrote:
=20
Would you do a circling approach if you were going into a difficult
str=
ip, too? Say, a narrow cornfield surrounded by trees. I ask because the
Nav=
y pilots I know who fly gliders have reverted to the non-circling
approach.=
=20
=20
Depends. If low, yes - I'll fly whatever pattern I can to land safely.
I=
f I have more time and want to look over the landing area more, then I
migh=
t fly a higher, longer pattern to give more time to pick the best place
to
=
land. Also need to be able to fly bigger patterns when sequencing behind
ot=
her gliders, so all the skills need to be maintained.
=20
I think it's important to be able to fly a "de-stabilized"
(non-constant
=
airspeed) approach in gliders, so that energy can be maintained until
late
=
in the approach, and used or gotten rid of as required. Also should be
able=
to fly an approach from just about anywhere around the intended point of
l=
anding. Always flying the same pattern into the same airfield pretty
much
=
guarantees that your first landout will be exciting! Power pilots are
taug=
ht to fly "stabilized approaches" because that is how you land a big
airpla=
ne. Totally unnecessary in small planes, and IMO downright dangerous in
gl=
iders.
=20
As far as watching the ASI, after reaching the TLAR point where I want
to=
start the turn, I look just to the inside (11 or 1 o'clock) when
initiatin=
g the turn, monitor the ASI for trend (glider is trimmed slightly fast),
mo=
nitor the yawstring, then check how the turn is progressing, then back to
A=
SI - yawstring - turn, etc until time to roll out. If it's a busy runway
I=
might roll out momentarily to check the extended final, then roll back
int=
o the turn - those would be pretty aggressive rolls with lots of speed.
=20
Kirk