Low test numbers on Standard Cirrus, what could it be?

How do you plan to take the wind out of the equation?

I have performed succesful tests with wind and thermals (in Condor
though, not real life) where by alternating the direction you fly in
and then averaging, you get pretty okay results.

The only huge flaw I can think of in this setup is the assumption that
the wind field is the same for the entire altitude-range.

Roel

Yes, I realized after I wrote the post that calculating LD can't be done without speed, distance and altitude lost. You can figure out feet per minute sink, but then there is the airmass wild card.

The original test with the Cirrus was flown in a straight line at the following IAS. 70, 60, 50, 40. Then I turned the opposite direction and flew the same speed sets. Might be better to fly one speed, do an immediate 180 and fly the same speed. Probably for longer that the 45 seconds per speed that I used.

Also realize that TAS has to be computed, ASI calibrated, winds and airmass.. ... Aaron

I think it was George Moffatt who suggested that a glider designer who claimed a 45:1 L/D should be towed to one mile altitude and released....45 miles OFFSHORE!

That's a good one. They would probably make it to shore, fly to California City, then north to Minden and land back in California city all before sunset.