Sharing a thermal

"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Bill Daniels wrote:
OK, this is going to get good.

Eric thinks wide fast turns work best for him.

"Fast" is relative: at 8.2 lb/sq ft, going a slower is
counterproductive. I can slow down to 45 knots from the usual 50, but
the glider isn't very steady, feels "draggy", and it doesn't climb any
better, even in very smooth thermals (this measurement done when
circling with other gliders). In anything but very smooth thermals, the
50-52 knots is needed to have decent control, anyway.

I think 45 degree turns are
best on average with steeper turns useful in small cores. If fly as
slow as
I can without risking a stall.

This may be appropriate for the Nimbus 2, but not for the ASH 26, where
the stall is noticeably lower than minimum sink. Waibel told me once
that he considers this a safety feature.


Lets have a poll. Tell us how you thermal.

And what, and where. These are likely important reasons for your bank
angle and speed preferences.


I just examined some IGC traces of mine and, correcting for density
altitude, the IAS was about 43 mph in what looks like a 40 - 45 degree bank.
I'm still looking for a representative climb in a small, strong core but I
think I should have one from Moriarty, NM.

The Nimbus 2C ailerons become very ineffective at low IAS but it still
responds nicely to rudder inputs. I use Dick Johnson's slipping turn so the
ailerons stay neutral and I fly the bank with rudder. The big glider is
very stable in slow turns.

If there's a strong core, I'm not concerned with sink rate in slow, steep
turns. The strength of thermal cores will easily offset that.

Bill Daniels