In the July, 2008 edition of "Gliding International", edited by John
Roake, there's this word on water landings:

"Walter Schneider and Wolf Lemke of LS fame carried out water landing
test and ditched an LS1 prior to the World Championships in Finland.
They were worried about the lack of land out options and the
proliferation of lakes. They assumed that landing wheel up would be
the preferred option, but discovered that the glider 'bounced' off the
surface and dropped a wing as the fuselage entered the water because
of its shape. They tried it again with the wheel down, deliberately
put the tail down first and discovered that the wheel acted as a
gentle brake and controlled the whole process much better."


So, there has been at least one LS1 that has been tested for water
landings.

Questions:

1. Who do you find as a test pilot for these things?

2. What would you, the test pilot, say when Herr Schneider or Herr
Lemke says, "Go land in the lake." Maybe one of them did it and they
didn't have to ask a test pilot to do it?

3. Which version and serial number of the LS1 made this landing, I
mean, landings (plural)?

4. I have an LS1-c/d (Built as a 'c', changed to a 'd') and it was
flown by Helmut Reichmann in the 1970 World Gliding Championship. Was
it this glider they tested? Serial number 27.

5. My 'c' model does not have any type of box around the landing
gear. Seems like the fuselage could quickly fill and drag it to the
bottom. I wonder if they did their tests with the 'f' model, which
does have a sealed landing gear box?

Well, I know if I ever am faced with the challenge, the things to do,
not including panic radio calls...
1. Extend the landing gear.
2. Close the air vents.
3. Close spoilers.
4. Land tail first (as always).
5. Hopefully land towards the mainland and not an island, wind and
topography permitting.
6. Hope the insurance is paid up.



Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA