On Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 2:00:13 PM UTC-5, CindyB wrote:
IFR in dust..... peek alternately at your wingtips. If you learn to use your neck vertebrae in general to turn your personal nose, and leave the glider nose on track, you will find you can see LATERALLY quite well and keep tips level. There will be naysayers this heresy, but my students can do this. When they subsequently hear tales of 'thought I was gonna die', they slant eyeballs to me, and grin. This works for knowing level on takeoffs. It also works for peeking at tips on landings. It allows us to know how low you can place that windward tip toward earth on honking crosswind landings, or taxiing tips over obstructions. Oh....this was about ropes. 215' of hollowbraid 3/8 poly on dirt/pavement. We put both style rings on the glider end, no adapter chasing hunting. Retire after one end has been shortened maybe twice. Subjective retirement....I know. No unscheduled failures.

I like looking to the sides (wingtips) at times, but apparently that's a controversial idea. Years ago I got scolded by an instructor (in a "Cezzna") when I looked sideways to gauge the height above the runway in the landing roundout. I guess for some people that may induce unintended motions in the hand holding the control stick/yoke. But perhaps it only needs practice.. I certainly rubberneck on my bicycle, without affecting the steering. And in a gaggle this is a necessary skill.